Feb 02, 2006 -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) reported net sales for the four-week period ending January 27, 2006, and January 28, 2005, as follows (dollars in billions):
4 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended
Percent Percent
1-27-2006 1-28-2005 Change 1-27-2006 1-28-2005 Change
Wal-Mart Stores $14.555 $13.170 10.5% $209.416 $191.059 9.6%
SAM'S CLUB 2.762 2.511 10.0% 39.701 36.952 7.4%
International 5.358 4.120 30.0% 63.846 56.803 12.4%
Total Company $22.675 $19.801 14.5% $312.963 $284.814 9.9%
The 30% increase in international includes sales from Seiyu and our acquisition in Southern Brazil.
Comparable sales for the periods ending January 27, 2006, and January 28, 2005, were as follows:
4 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended
1-27-2006 1-28-2005 1-27-2006 1-28-2005
Wal-Mart Stores 4.0% 3.3% 3.2% 2.9%
SAM'S CLUB 8.2% -0.8% 5.3% 5.8%
Total U.S. 4.7% 2.5% 3.6% 3.4%
"During January, our associates achieved the highest monthly comparable stores sales increase in this fiscal year," said Tom Schoewe, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "We believe the initiatives we are undertaking in merchandising and operations will improve the Wal-Mart customer experience. Our strategic plan is directed at maintaining Wal-Mart's tradition of price leadership and at becoming more relevant to a broader range of customers shopping our stores."
During the four-week and fifty-two-week periods, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. added over $2.8 billion and $28.1 billion in sales, respectively, Schoewe said. He also added that the company opened 69 new stores and clubs in January, a company record for one month.
The company estimates comparable sales in the U.S. for the February four-week period to be in the 2 to 4 percent range.
Our earnings release for the fourth fiscal quarter is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, 2006 before the NYSE opens. The dial-in number is 203-369-1090 and will be available for 36 hours after quarterly earnings are announced. The information from this pre-recorded phone call will also be available on our website at http://www.walmartstores.com/earnings .
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 .
This release contains statements that Wal-Mart believes are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by that Act. These forward-looking statements, which discuss the company's merchandising and operations initiatives and our management's forecast of comparable sales for the February four-week period appear in the first and third paragraphs, respectfully, following the comparable sales table in this release. They are identified by use of the words "believe" and "estimate". These forward- looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, domestically and internationally, including, consumer spending patterns and debt levels, weather conditions, competitive pressures, currency exchange fluctuations, trade restrictions, and other risks. We discuss certain of these matters more fully in our filings with the SEC, including our last Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. This release should be read in conjunction with that Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC through the date of this report. We urge you to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating these forward- looking statements. As a result of these matters, including changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other circumstances, our actual comparable sales for the February four-week period may differ materially from forecasts discussed in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this report, and we undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
SOURCE: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Investor relations, Carol Schumacher, +1-479-277-1498
Pauline Tureman, +1-479-277-9558
Investor Relations, +1-479-273-8446
Media relations, Marty eires, +1-479-273-4314
All of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
