BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 2 -- The Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has approved an increase in the annual dividend to $0.67 per share, an 11.7% increase from the $0.60 per share paid during the previous fiscal year. For fiscal year ending January 31, 2007, the annual dividend of $0.67 per share will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.1675 per share, according to the following record and payable dates:
Record Date Payable Date March 17, 2006 April 3, 2006 May 19, 2006 June 5, 2006 August 18, 2006 September 5, 2006 December 15, 2006 January 2, 2007
Based upon this announced increase, the Company plans to return more than $2.7 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 of $0.05 in March 1974.
The Company announced April 5, 2006, as the record date for the annual shareholders' meeting that will occur on June 2, 2006.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. The company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, 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.
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