Walmart Brick-and-mortar retailer Walmart (NYSE: WMT) may be one of the market's very best stock picks hiding in plain sight. Not only do investors seek out reliable defensive names when economic headwinds are blowing (like they are now), Walmart offers consumers the relief from inflation many of them need at this time. For instance, the company has earmarked $8 billion worth of expansion for its North Carolina battery manufacturing facility, directly tackling one of the EV movement's chief vulnerabilities.