LITTLE ROCK — Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. repeated its appearance Thursday at the top of Fortune magazine’s list of the 500 American companies that generated the most revenue in the previous year.
The world’s largest retailer regained the top spot in 2010 after dropping to second in 2009 when Exxon Mobil Corp. realized large gains from record oil prices in 2008.
Wal-Mart Stores first earned a No. 1 rank in 2002 and maintained that spot until 2009, according to Fortune records.
Wal-Mart earned $421.85billion in revenue in 2010, well above perennial challenger Exxon’s $354.67 billion.
The top five was rounded out by two more oil companies, Chevron Corp. with revenue of $196.34 billion and ConocoPhillips with $184.97 billion, and the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, with $153.83 billion.
When it came to turning a 2010 profit, Exxon topped the list with $30.5 billion. Wal-Mart Stores fell to a distant sixth place with $16.4 billion, Fortune reported.
Despite the increase in net income, Wal-Mart Stores has posted seven-straightquarters of declining samestore sales. Same-store sales are a key measure of success in retailing because they eliminate the effect of stores opened or closed in the past year.
Wal-Mart reported April 12 that it is nearly finished restocking about 8,500 items previously removed from store shelves during “Project Impact.”
Project Impact was aimed at removing about 11 percent of the company’s merchandise designated as slowmoving items, but it actually tarnished the retailer’s reputation as a one-stop shopping destination.
Other Arkansas companies were included in the top 500 listing.
Springdale-based Tyson Foods Inc. was at No. 93, a few notches below the meatprocessing company’s 87th ranking last year. It reported revenue of $28.43 billion for 2010.
“We’re always pleased to see Tyson Foods listed in the top 100; however, the ranking is only a measure of our sales revenue. We’re also very proud of our efforts to consistently generate solid earnings through operational efficiencies, product innovation and customer service,” said company spokesman Gary Mickelson in an e-mailed statement Thursday.
Tyson Foods is expected to release its second-quarter 2011 earnings Monday.
Murphy Oil of El Dorado gained some ground in the 2010 list and moved to No. 113 after ranking at No. 125 last year. It reported revenue of $23.35 billion in 2010.
Little Rock-based department store Dillard’s Inc. lost some ground from its previous ranking of No. 348 to No. 370 on this year’s list. It reported revenue of $6.25 billion in 2010.
Business, Pages 29 on 05/06/2011