The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday edition that Walmart shares are far outshining those of Target and other retailers, as Wall Street anticipates the shopping behemoth's broad array of household necessities will offer more shelter from slowing economic growth. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post says that one year after both firms shocked Wall Street by slashing profit projections in the face of swelling inventories, Walmart's stock has proven the sure winner among investors. Its shares have climbed about 22 per cent in the past 12 months, adding $67-billion (U.S.) of market capitalization -- almost the same as Target's entire market value. In the same period, Target is down 6 per cent, while the S&P Retail Select Industry Index has dropped almost 5 per cent. The stunning outperformance drives home that Walmart's discount model and its strength in areas like groceries set it apart with consumers curbing discretionary spending as concern builds that a recession is ahead. Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joseph Feldman told Bloomberg, "In tougher times, Walmart tends to shine." Retailers generally have been under pressure since last year, when consumers began shifting spending to necessities amid soaring inflation.