Wal-Mart ($51.84 +1.86) reported second quarter earnings of $1.09 per
share, $0.01 better than the Capital IQ Consensus Estimate of $1.08.
Revenues rose 5.5% year/year to $108.64 billion versus the $107.92 billion
consensus.
Wal-Mart reports U.S. second quarter comparable store sales of -0.9%%; co guided
for range of -1% to +1%; Sam's Club second quarter comparable store sales of
5.0%%; company guided for +3% to 5% (excluding fuel).
For the third quarter, the company issued earnings guidance of $0.95 to $1.00
versus the $0.97 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate. Wal-Mart expects to see U.S.
third quarter comparable store sales of -1% to +1% and Sam's Club comparable
store sales of +3% to 5%.
In fiscal year 2012, the company sees earnings of $4.41 to $4.51 versus the
$4.49 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate (note: the company did not guide fiscal year
2012 EPS after the first quarter but this
is up from $4.35 to $4.50 in February. During the second quarter, the company repurchased $1.4 billion of
shares, representing approx. 26.1 million shares.
"I'm encouraged by the sales improvement in our Walmart U.S. stores. Comp sales
have increased sequentially month to month within the quarter. In fact, this was
the best quarterly performance since the third quarter of 2010... We're
committed to deliver positive comp sales by widening the gap on price, and we
have a specific plan to deliver EDLP to every customer... I'm encouraged by the
sales momentum we have from the second quarter. Our grocery and health and
wellness business, representing two-thirds of our sales continued to deliver
positive comps. Our hardlines and apparel businesses are improving... This is
the sixth straight quarter of comp improvement for Sam's."






