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Two of the world’s largest family businesses had a mixed week. US retail giant Walmart saw profits drop, while Peugeot Citroen reportedly looked to team up with General Motors to better compete in the fiercely competitive European car market.

Walmart, the supermarket chain controlled by the Walton family, said net profits for the year ended 31 January 2012 fell by 4.2% to $15.7 billion (€11.69 billion), from $16.4 billion the previous year.

Two American businesses with strong family links have reported disappointing results – and both are predicting the first few months of 2012 will be difficult for their companies.

Thomson Reuters, controlled by members of the Thomson family, reported a fourth-quarter loss, because of a $3 billion (€2.27 billion) non-cash goodwill impairment charge related to its financial services business.

The family behind holding company Loews Corporation would prefer to buy back shares of the family business rather than pursue acquisitions, in the wake of falling revenues and profits at the American group.

That’s according to family member James Tisch, chief executive and president of Loews, whose operations span property, insurance, hotels, oil and gas.

Last year was a tumultuous time for markets on the back of fears of a second recession, but some family businesses look to have weathered 2011 remarkably well, reporting record revenues and profits.

Take for example the Bosch Group, the German car parts supplier controlled by descendants of the founding family. Revenues at the Stuttgart-based family business exceeded €50 billion for the very first time last year, according to preliminary figures released by the company this week.