In this Thursday, June 4, 2015, photo, shoppers walk from the checkout at a Wal-Mart Supercenter store in Springdale, Ark. Wal-Mart announced Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, that it is closing 269 stores, more than half of them in the U.S. and another big chunk in its challenging Brazilian market. The store closures will start at the end of January. Photo: AP Photo/Danny Johnston / AP