BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 3 -- The Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has approved an increase in the annual dividend to $0.60 per share, a 15.4% increase from the $0.52 per share paid during the previous fiscal year. For fiscal year ending January 31, 2006, the annual dividend of $0.60 per share will be paid in four quarterly installments of fifteen cents ($0.15) per share, according to the following record and payable dates:
Record Date Payable Date
March 18, 2005 April 4, 2005
May 20, 2005 June 6, 2005
August 19, 2005 September 6, 2005
December 16, 2005 January 3, 2006
Based upon this announced increase, the Company plans to return more than $2.5 billion to its shareholders in the form of dividends this fiscal year. Wal-Mart has increased its dividend every year since its first declared dividend in March 1974.
The Company announced April 5, 2005, as the record date for the annual shareholders' meeting that will occur on June 3, 2005.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. Internationally, the Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The Company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com.
SOURCE Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
CONTACT: investor relations, 1-479-273-8446, or Jay Fitzsimmons, 1-479-273-6445, or Pauline Tureman, 1-479-277-9558, or media relations, Gus Whitcomb, 1-479-273-4314, all of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc
