Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is no one’s idea of an innovator. For most of its recent history, the retail giant was known for its rapacious expansion, paying rock-bottom wages, and offering the lowest prices around.
But that’s changing now. Competition from Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) and, to a lesser extent, Costco Wholesale has forced Wal-Mart to rethink its longtime strategy.