After years of mounting losses, Walmart Inc. will close four Chicago stores. This will reduce its footprint by half in the third-largest US metro.

These closings are a sign of retreat by the nation’s largest retailer. Target Corp., Albertsons Cos., and Aldi face tough competition in Chicago. Walmart stated that it tried unsuccessfully to improve its performance through smaller stores, localizing merchandise offerings, and spending $70 million on store upgrades and training centers in recent years.