CEO Of The Year Nominees: 4) H. Lee Scott Of Wal-Mart (WMT)

24/7 Wall St. will name its annual CEO of the Year next week. The executive will be picked from a field of ten which we will profile this week

The CEOs are chosen on the basis of their company’s stock market and financial performances compared with their own industry groups and all large companies traded on US markets. Only firms with market caps of more than $5 billion were considered. 24/7 reviewed revenue growth, operating margins, balance sheets, return on assets, and return on equity

When Wal-Mart (WMT) was being trash-talked by unions, "buy America" advocates, and cities and towns who thought the world’s largest retailer was killing this locals. Lee Scott took the crap. Now that Wal-Mart has re-established itself as one of the great earnings engines in the world, the man should get the credit.

Over the last year, WMT shares are up 15% or so. CostCo (COST) and Target (TGT) are not even in that neighborhood. Sears (SHLD) is off nearly 70%

Scott has to get gold stars for admitting that the retailer took its plans to get into apparal and upscale items too far. He axed most of that and moved back to giving customers "value" in the form of ingenious programs like the $4 prescription.

Same-store sales have been up even as the economy has dropped. It is easy to say the success is due to Wal-Mart merchandise being at a price point which appeals to consumers who are low on cash. If that is true, why aren’t the other "big box" retailers doing as well?

Wal-Mart is better run.

Other nominees:

James Dimon of JP Morgan(JPM)

Steve Jobs of Apple (AAPL)

Robert Iger of Disney (DIS)

Douglas A. McIntyre