(NYSE: WMT) could be the stock you never knew you needed in your portfolio. Sure, the retailing giant has a reputation for being unexciting. It competes in a mature industry that's characterized by low profit margins and slow growth, after all.

Retailers are lucky to convert 5% of their sales into earnings after paying their considerable expenses. That's compared to the tech giants that routinely post profit margins north of 30% of sales.

But don't dismiss Walmart as a potentially excellent long-term holding. The retailer isn't nearly as risky to own as many of its high-growth stock market peers. And it has a good chance of boosting its earnings power over the next several years. All of that is available at a valuation that might seem like a steal in just a few years.

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Source Fool.com