Wal-Mart History Timeline
-
1962-Company founded with opening of first Wal-Mart in Rogers,
Arkansas.
-
1969-Company incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. on October
31.
-
1970-Wal-Mart opens first distribution center and home office
in Bentonville, Arkansas.
-
1970-Wal-Mart stock first traded over the counter as publicly-held
company.
-
1971-First 100 percent stock split in May: Market price:
$47.
-
1972-Wal-Mart was approved and listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.
-
1972-Second 100 percent stock split in March: Market price:
$47.50.
-
1975-Third 100 percent stock split in August: Market price:
$23.
-
1977-Wal-Mart made first acquisition: 16 Mohr-Value stores
in Michigan and Illinois.
-
1978-Wal-Mart acquires Hutcheson Shoe Company.
-
1978-Pharmacy, auto service center, and jewelry divisions
introduced.
-
1979-First billion dollar year in sales, total sales: $1,248,000,000.
-
1980-Fourth 100 percent stock split in November: Market price:
$50.
-
1982-Fifth 100 percent stock split in June: Market price:
$49.875.
-
1983-The first SAM'S club was opened in April in Midwest
city, Oklahoma.
-
1983-Acquired Woolco stores within the United States.
-
1983-"People Greeter" program introduced at all stores in
April.
-
1983-First one-hour photo lab opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
-
1983-Sixth 100 percent stock split in June: Market price:
$81.625.
-
1984-Sam Walton did the hula on Wall Street. He promised
associates that he would do this if the company had a pre-tax profit of
8 percent in 1983.
-
1984-David Glass named company president.
-
1985-Seventh 100 percent stock split in September: Market
price: $49.75.
-
1985- Acquired Grand Central Stores.
-
1985-Wal-Mart stock traded on the Pacific Stock Exchange.
-
1987-Eighth 100 percent stock split in June: Market price:
$66.625.
-
1988-David Glass named Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc.
-
1988-First Supercenter opened in Washington, Missouri.
-
1988-Acquired Supersaver units.
-
1990-Wal-Mart positioned as the nation's #1 retailer.
-
1990-Acquired Western Merchandisers, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas.
-
1990-Acquired McLane Company of Temple, Texas.
-
1990-Ninth 100 percent stock split in June: Market price:
$62.50.
-
1991-Acquired 28 units from The Wholesale Club, Inc. of Indianapolis,
Indiana.
-
1991-Entered international market for the first time with
the opening of Club Aurrera in Mexico City.
-
1992-President George Bush presented Sam Walton with the
Medal of Freedom on March 17.
-
1992-First Wal-Mart store opened in Puerto Rico.
-
1992-Sam Walton passed away on April 5.
-
1992-S. Robson Walton named Chairman of the Board on April
7.
-
1993-First billion dollar sales week in December.
-
1993-Acquired 91 Pace Warehouse clubs.
-
1993-Tenth 100 percent stock split in February: Market price:
$63.625.
-
1994-Wal-Mart acquired 122 Woolco stores in Canada from Woolworth
Canada, Inc.
-
1994-Implemented Code Adam program, named after Adam Walsh,
in all stores.
-
1995-James Lawrence "Bud" Walton, co-founder, passed away.
-
1995-Three SAM'S Clubs and three Supercenters open in Buenos
Aires, Argentina.
-
1996-Wal-Mart listed on Toronto Stock Exchange.
-
1996-Wal-Mart entered Korea and China through joint venture
agreements.
-
1997-Wal-Mart became the #1 employer in the United States
with 680,000 associates.
-
1997-Wal-Mart replaces Woolworth on the Dow Jones Industrial
Average.
-
1997-Wal-Mart has first $100 billion dollar sales year: total
sales: $105,000,000,000.
-
1997-Wal-Mart introduced OneSource nutrition centers.
-
1998-Wal-Mart expanded into Germany.
-
1998-Wal-Mart exceeds $100 million in annual charitable contributions,
with donations totaling $102,000,000.
-
1999-Eleventh 100 percent stock split in March: Market price:
$95.
Information from Wal-Mart's Student Packet.