Wal-Mart surges ahead of Exxon Mobil to the top spot of the Fortune 500 The mega-retailer didn’t have a whole lot to complain about in fiscal 2010. Profits were up and, thanks to its sales, the company once again climbed to the top of the Fortune 500. Same-store sales were about flat for the year, but compared with Target’s 2.5% decline, flat is good.

Most remarkable was Wal-Mart’s image overhaul. It helped that former CEO Lee Scott beefed up health care coverage for employees, thought more about the environment and became a public presence. Certain critics will never be placated and fiscal first-quarter results weren’t the greatest. But there’s no denying Scott left new CEO Mike Duke a company in fighting form.