Walmart to stop selling handgun ammunition: Small risk, big statement

Walmart Inc. will phase out sales of ammunition for handguns and short-barrel rifles, eliminating a small chunk of its sales to make a big political statement.

The decision, announced Tuesday, also shows the growing power of shoppers who want companies' social and political stances to align with their own.

Walmart is a major player in the $2 billion U.S. ammunition market: Its approximately 20% share means it sells roughly $400 million of ammunition a year. Chief Executive Doug McMillon predicted its market share would drop to between 6% and 9% after the changes. The Bentonville, Ark., company does not break out sales figures for firearms and ammunition.

Considering that Walmart pulled in $514 billion in revenue in its latest fiscal year, analysts said its decision probably won't