It took 64 years to build Walmart. It took 3 years to turn it into a $1 trillion tech company

On the one hand, the fact that Walmart passed $1 trillion in market cap is notable, but not especially surprising. The company has long been the largest company in the world, measured by revenue. Almost everyone is familiar with the small five-and-dime store that started in one of the most rural towns in America and grew up to become the biggest retailer in the world.

On paper, this looks like just another milestone in a 64-year-old success story. But a closer look at how Walmart just...