4 Dow Stocks You Need to Watch in March: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

One benefit of following the Dow Jones Industrials is that there’s always something going on with the 30 companies that make up the average. As the leaders of the U.S. economy and with presence throughout the world, the prospects of these companies have global implications for economic growth and prosperity.

With that in mind, I’ve picked four stocks from the Dow 30 that are especially worth paying attention to this month. Let’s take a closer look at these companies to find out what’s in store and whether they deserve a closer look as a possible investment.

1. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT)
After fighting reports of alleged corruption, the last thing Wal-Mart needed was another controversy. But conflicting news about the retail giant’s prospects have investors watching the company to see which version of its story proves correct.

On one hand, Wal-Mart beat earnings estimates in its fourth-quarter report. The retailer posted 1.3% same-store sales gains, came out with a strong earnings report last month. But leaked internal emails among Wal-Mart executives referred to “disastrous sales” for the beginning of 2013, and that prompted the company to temper its guidance for the current quarter. Citing the two-percentage-point rise in payroll taxes, rising gasoline prices, and IRS delays in processing tax refunds, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT)’s warning of flat sales for the quarter raised fears of whether a big financial hit to the retailer’s customer base will mean a return to the falling same-store sales trends that lasted for years following the financial crisis.

Wal-Mart doesn’t provide monthly same-store sales figures. But you’ll want to watch closely for any further guidance from the retailer about the current quarter, especially as pressure continues to build on lower-income customers.

2. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)
One of the biggest drivers of the stock market’s rally lately has been the housing market, which has finally started picking up. Home Depot was a big beneficiary of that trend in 2012, and the company has continued to see its stock move higher on optimism for the future.

With its favorable earnings report last week, which included both a higher dividend and a new share-repurchase program, Home Depot is poised to take out its all-time record high of $70 per share. Yet at 23 times trailing earnings, the home-improvement retailer will need to see housing keep performing well to justify the lofty share price.

3. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)
Once again, Disney is hoping for success from a March movie. Despite bad memories of 2012 box-office flop John Carter, Oz the Great and Powerful should have more box-office appeal when it comes out March 8, if only because of its connection to the much-loved 1939 classic Wizard of Oz. Yet with somewhat mixed reviews early on, investors will be watching the much-anticipated release very closely.

Long-term investors may secretly be rooting for a bad result from Oz to help send Disney’s shares down temporarily. The real potential for Disney is in its future, with the Lucasfilm acquisition promising billion-dollar blockbusters for years to come and content deals starting to ramp up. With any luck, attentive investors may be able to take advantage of Wall Street tunnel vision and pick up shares at a bargain.