Pursuits

From Prices to Patents, Target Is Losing the Battle to Wal-Mart

  • Wal-Mart has edge over its longtime rival across the board
  • ‘This is not your father’s Wal-Mart anymore,’ analyst says

Shoppers pass in front of the Target Corp. logo at a store in the Brooklyn borough of New York, U.S., on Friday, April 27, 2012.

Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg
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For years, Target Corp. had bragging rights over Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in at least one area: cachet.

With its sleek products and trendy designers, the company had an edge over Wal-Mart’s bland supercenters, and developed a cult following among customers.