There has been a prevailing concern among retailers in general, and Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) in particular, that competition from e-commerce juggernaut Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) would be the death of the American retailer. Wal-Mart has been on the defensive as more and more consumers opt for the ease and convenience of online shopping.When Wal-Mart reported its financial results, investors were looking for signs that the world's largest retailer could meet the challenges presented by the shift in consumer behavior.