Wal-Mart, the top performing Dow Jones Industrial Average member during the credit crisis of 2008, is ready to reclaim that lead as it aggressively renews the price-cutting ways that turned the Bentonville-Arkansas store into the largest retailer in the world, according to a top retail analyst.

After climbing more than 10 percent in 2008 as the rest of the market plummeted, the shares fell 3 percent in 2009 (compared to a 28 percent gain in the S&P 500

.SPX loading...

Quote  |  Chart  |  News  |  Profile

[.SPX  Loading...      ()   ]) as investors fled recession safe havens and returned to retailers that benefit from a healthier consumer.

“Wal-Mart

WMT loading...

Quote  |  Chart  |  News  |  Profile

[WMT  Loading...      ()   ] is lacing up the gloves in the fight to win the modern day price war in food retail in 2010,” wrote Deborah Weinswig, Citigroup Global Markets analyst, in a note to clients this morning. Weinswig, the No. 1 broadline retail analyst according to Institutional Investor magazine, upgraded the shares to buy and predicted a 20 percent increase over the next 12 months.

Wal-Mart shares jumped nearly 3 percent today for the best performance in the Dow. Grocery competitors including Target

TGT loading...

Quote  |  Chart  |  News  |  Profile

[TGT  Loading...      ()   ] and Kroger

KR loading...

Quote  |  Chart  |  News  |  Profile

[KR  Loading...      ()   ]fell.

• Tamminen: Time To Bury Cheap Coal
• Oil: Bad Action Not Good for Prices
• Credit Card Data Signals Easing Consumer Stress

Wal-Mart lost customers last year that it had gained during the recession by spending more money on transforming the look of its stores and adding more technology. Meanwhile, supermarkets put their focus back on cutting prices.

“We believe shoppers no longer consider the price savings offered by Wal-Mart to outweigh the experience and convenience of shopping at the supermarkets,” wrote Weinswig. “Wal-Mart realizes that it must act now to keep the customer.”

While investors cheered this potential move by Wal-Mart, another Dow Average underperformer of the last 12 months continued to dig a deeper hole for itself. Exxon Mobil

XOM loading...

Quote  |  Chart  |  News  |  Profile

[XOM  Loading...      ()   ] said at its analyst day last week that it would keep its annual capital spending above $25 billion the next four years. Investors have been clamoring for Exxon to return more cash to shareholders through buybacks or dividends, rather than new projects or takeovers. Exxon shares are down more than three percent this year.

For the best market insight, catch 'Fast Money' each night at 5pm ET on CNBC.

______________________________________________________


John Melloy is the Executive Producer of Fast Money. Before joining CNBC, he was an editor for Bloomberg News, overseeing the U.S. Stock Market coverage team.

______________________________________________________
Got something to say? Send us an e-mail at and your comment might be posted on the Rapid Recap! If you'd prefer to make a comment but not have it published on our website send your message to .

Trader disclosure: On March 15, 2010, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders Adami Owns (AGU), (C), (GS), (INTC), (MSFT), (NUE), (BTU); Finerman's Firm Is Short (IYR), (IJR), (MDY),  (SPY), (IWM); Finerman Owns (AAPL); Finerman's Firm Owns (BAC), (BAC) Leaps; Finerman Owns (BAC), (BAC) Preferred; Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (GOOG); Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (JPM); Finemran's Firm Owns (WFC) Preferred; Finerman's Firm Owns (BSX), (OSIP), (TGT), (WMT); Finerman's Firm Owns (KFT); Kelly Owns (AMZN) Calls; Kelly Owns (ELX) Calls; Seymour Owns (BX), (EEM), (FXI), (MSFT), (XOM), (AAPL), (BAC), (GE), (F); Jon Najarian Owns (FCX), Is Short (FCX) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (MSFT), Is Short (MSFT) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (TGT), Is Short (TGT) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (WMT), Is Short (WMT) Calls; Jon Najarian Is Short (GOOG) Through Put Spreads; Jon Najarian Owns (GS), Is Short (GS) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (C), Is Short (C) Calls; Karabell Owns (FCX), (NKE), (GOOG), (FXI), (C); Nations Owns (MSFT), (SPY)

GE Is The Parent Company Of CNBC

For Brian Kelly
Kanundrum Capital Owns (JPM)
Kanundrum Capital Owns (GE)
Kanundrum Capital Owns (BRCM)
Kanundrum Capital Owns (ELX)
Kanundrum Capital Owns (GLD)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (RKH)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (KRE)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (SLX)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (X)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (FCX)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (AA)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (ACH)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (EWH)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (FXI)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short U.S. Treasuries
Kanundrum Capital Is Short Copper

For Mike Khouw
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. Is A Market Maker In (FDX)

For Anthony Scaramucci
Skybridge Owns (PEP), (XOM), (PFE), (LSTZA), (JNJ)

For Jeff Degraaf
DeGraaf Owns (C)

For Deborah Weinswig
A Director Of Citi Is On Board And Audit Committee Of (TGT)
An Employee Of Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Is A Trustee Of (TGT)
An Associate Owns (WMT), (LOW)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Owns 1% Or More Of (JCP), (SKS)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Has Managed Or Co-Managed Offering Of (DG), (KR), (SVU), (WMT)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Has Received Investment Banking Compensation For Services Provided In Past 12 Months From (DG), (KR),
(SKS), (SVU), (TGT), (WMT)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Expects To Receive/Seek Investment Banking Compensation From (WMT) In Next Three Months
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliate Received Non-Investment Banking Compensation From (HD), (JCP), (KSS), (KR), (M), (SWY), (SVU), (TGT), (WAG), (WMT), (COST) In Past 12 Months
(DG), (KR), (SKS), (SVU), (TGT), (WMT) Are Or In Past 12 Months Were Investment Banking Clients Of Citigroup Global Markets
(CVS), (DG), (HD), (JCP), (KSS), (KR), (M), (SWY), (SKS), (SVU), (TGT), (WAG), (WMT), (COST) Are Or In Past 12 Months Were Clients Of Citigroup Global Markets (Non-Investment Banking, Securities-Related Services)
(HD), (JCP), (KSS), (KR), (M), (SWY), (SVU), (TGT), (WAG), (WMT), (COST), Are Or In Past 12 Months Were Clients Of Citigroup Global Markets (Non-Investment Banking, Non-Securities Related Services)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliate Received Compensation From (DG) In Past 12 Months
Citigroup Global Markets Is A Market Maker In (CVS), (M), (COST)
Citigroup Global Markets And/Or Affiliates Has A Significant Financial Interest In Relation To (CVS), (HD), (JCP), (KSS), (KR), (LOW), (M), (JWN), (SWY), (SKS), (SVU), (TGT), (WMT), (COST)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Owns 5% Or More Of (SKS)

For Mark Mananey
Citi Employees Owns (GOOG), (YHOO)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Owns 1% Or More Of (AKAM), (NFLX), (PCLN), (YHOO)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Has Acted As Manager Or Co-Manager Of An Offering Of (PCLN)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Has Received Investment Banking Compensation From (PCLN) In Past 12 Months
(AOL), (MWW), Orbitz, (AMZN), (EBAY), (EXPE), (GOOG), (IACI),Tree.com, (WBMD), (YHOO) Are Or In Past 12 Months Were Clients Of Citigroup Global Markets (Non-Investment Banking, Securities-Related Services)
(AOL), (MWW), Orbitz, (AMZN), (EBAY), (EXPE), (GOOG), (IACI), (WBMD), (YHOO) Are Or In Past 12 Months Were Clients Of Citigroup Global Markets (Non-Investment Banking Non-Securities Serviecs)
Citigroup Global Markets Is A Market Maker In (MWW), (AKAM), (AMZN), (NILE), (EBAY), (EXPE), (GOOG), (IACI), (NFLX), OpenTable, (PCLN), Tree.com, (VCLK), Vistaprint, (WBMD) (YHOO)
Citigroup Global Markets And/Or Affiliates Has A Significant Financial Interest In Relatoin To (EBAY), (GOOG), (IACI), (WBMD), (YHOO)
Citigroup Global Markets Or Affiliates Owns 5% Or More Of (YHOO)