Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT): Where Are All the Customers? Good Question.

Of all the retailers named above, Safeway seems to trade at the most reasonable valuation, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 11. However, these names are all pretty much trading in tangent, with forward price-to-earnings ratios of 13 (Wal-Mart), 14 (Dollar General), 15 (Dollar Tree), and 16 (Family Dollar).

Do any of these look like a bargain right now? Heck, no. Even if Wal-Mart’s loss is Safeway’s or the dollar stores’ gain, some of the customers may not be going for anything other than necessities, which is missing money indeed. These are going to be tough times for many retailers. (I discussed several other grocers in this recent piece.)

Where do you think Wal-Mart’s customers and their money went in January and early February? Leave your thoughts in the comments box below.

The article Where Are All the Customers? Good Question. originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Alyce Lomax.

Alyce Lomax has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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