A sputtering economy, implosions at financial institutions, or just plain bad management -- on any given day, investors can name a number of reasons to sell a stock. Yet while panic never benefits investors, it's nonetheless good practice to play devil's advocate with investments from time to time.

In Motley Fool CAPS, more than 125,000 members have weighed in on nearly 5,400 stocks, sharing bullish and bearish opinions alike.

A total of 5,601 members have weighed in on big-box retailer Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT) and its chances of success. Since I've already plucked out some of the bullish rationale backing Wal-Mart today, here are three counterpoints to consider, courtesy of CAPS:

1. Not immune from the recession
While Wal-Mart may be faring better than other retailers, its performance still fell short of many analysts' expectations, as most shoppers stuck to buying just the necessities. December in particular was a disappointing month for Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), American Eagle Outfitters, and many other retailers -- including Wal-Mart. And with companies like Costco (NASDAQ:COST) and Macy's (NYSE:M) providing bleak financial news, no retailer is immune from what looks like a weak retail environment in the months ahead.   

2. Slowing momentum
Analyst Michael Exstein from Credit Suisse sees Wal-Mart's momentum slowing. Exstein believes its low prices won't be as effective in the future, as companies like Target (NYSE:TGT) seek to gain market share through competitive pricing. Some CAPS members agree, arguing that shares in Wal-Mart are unlikely to repeat the great performance they've posted in the past.

3. Labor and business practices
Wal-Mart has had its share of issues with labor practices over the years, and the company even closed one of its stores in Canada after workers there unionized. Unions have caused past stir-ups at companies like General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Ford (NYSE:F), and some investors anticipate the new CEO at Wal-Mart might face challenges from the Obama administration over labor issues.

Wal-Mart has survived and thrived despite dozens of obstacles in the past. Whether the company can do so profitably going forward is a whole different question, and an excellent reason why CAPS is such a great resource to augment your own analysis.

To see what the very best CAPS members are saying now about Wal-Mart, click on over to Motley Fool CAPS and have a look.

Further Foolishness: