Wal-Mart Updates: Launches Social Media App ShopyCat

Wal-Mart recently launched ShopyCat, its first social shopping application, developed by its @WalmartLabs unit. The application helps Facebook subscribers to quickly find gifts for friends and family based on their tastes and interests. The application uses social data to recommend items from Walmart.com, Wal-Mart stores and other sites including RedEnvelope, Barnes & Noble and ThinkGeek. ^[1] Wal-Mart looks focused on leveraging social media to connect with its customers. We are optimistic about Wal-Mart’s social and mobile media efforts and believe over time these would provide a significant boost to Wal-Mart’s online sales.

Wal-Mart’s Mexican subsidiary recently reported a 12.6% increase in same-store sales in November from a year earlier. The increase in Mexico is the biggest since a 13.4% gain in December 2006. ^[2] The holiday sales helped Wal-Mart to lure customers to its stores in Mexico.

See our complete analysis for WMT stock here

Last week, India allowed overseas companies to own as much as 51% of retailers selling more than one brand. However, this move has faced huge opposition from different political parties and small retailers. We believe it will take a while before this could become a reality and retailers like Wal-Mart could enter fully into the world’s second most populous nation.

Its stock went ex-dividend last week and is payable on 3rd January, 2012.

Understand How a Company’s Products Impact its Stock Price at Trefis

1. Wal-Mart Unleashes Shopycat Holiday Gift Finder, Company Website [↩]
2. Wal-Mart de Mexico Same-Store Sales Jump Most Since 2006, Bloomberg BusinessWeek [↩]