Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) is thriving as recession grips the economy. As a cost leader in the retail sector, the company is benefiting from an increase in thrift. And it continues to expand its operations overseas. Horacio Marquez says Wal-Mart should emerge stronger than ever from this crisis, making it an essential part of any stock portfolio.

The world is changing. The American consumer has been the backbone of the global economy for the last quarter of a century. But the credit crisis is ushering in a new era of thrift. Is this the end of the world as we know it? Yes, says Justice Litle, but it isn’t necessarily a bad thing…

Cyber Monday was better for online retailers than most expected. But consumers were only interested in heavily-discounted goods. That’s why Andrew Snyder thinks eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) is well placed to turn a profit this Christmas. It not only attracts bargain hunters, but also sellers desperate to raise cash. And better still, it has a balance sheet that most companies dream of these days.