Taking the right social stance on key issues can deliver substantial benefits for a company. For example, Walmart became more attractive to investors and consumers alike when it announced that it would restrict the types of firearm ammunition that it sells, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Two of the company's stores had experienced shootings - and mass shootings are a highly political issue in the US. The move to restrict sales reduced the potential for reputational damage that selling ammunition posed to Walmart's image.