Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. net sales for the five-week month of January increased 9.6% to $20.473 billion compared to $18.684 billion last year. Comparable store sales increased 1.9%.
5 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended Percent Percent 2-2-2007 2-3-2006 Change 2-2-2007 2-3-2006 Change Wal-Mart Stores $20.473 $18.684 9.6% $230.065 $213.545 7.7% Sam's Club 3.671 3.531 4.0% 42.278 40.470 4.5% International 7.549 6.418 17.6% 79.738 61.683 29.3% Total Company $31.693 $28.633 10.7% $352.081 $315.698 11.5%
Total sales for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2007, were approximately $344 billion. The Company reports sales on a monthly basis based upon the retail 4-5-4 calendar. For earnings releases, the Company reports sales based upon the calendar months within the quarter and the fiscal year.
Comparable sales for the periods ending Feb. 2, 2007, and Feb. 3, 2006,
were as follows:
5 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended 2-2-2007 2-3-2006 2-2-2007 2-3-2006 Wal-Mart Stores 1.9% 3.6% 1.9% 3.5% Sam's Club 3.4% 6.6% 2.9% 4.0% Total U.S. 2.2% 4.0% 2.0% 3.6%
The 17.6% increase in International's net sales for the five-week period includes 4.1 percentage points from the consolidation of Wal-Mart Central America. The 29.3% increase in International's net sales for the 53-week period includes the impact of the consolidation of Seiyu and Wal-Mart Central America and the acquisition in Southern Brazil, which added 16.1 percentage points to the net sales increase for that period.
In the month of January, Wal-Mart announced the opening of two Neighborhood Markets, four Wal-Mart discount stores and 64 Wal-Mart supercenters — a record number of stores to open in one month. There were four new Sam's Clubs opened in January and two Club relocations.
Strengths Continue in Grocery, Entertainment, Pharmacy
Throughout the fourth quarter, including the January five-week reporting period, sales were strong in entertainment, grocery and pharmacy. While overall sales continued to be soft in apparel and home, men's apparel had above average comps for the January period.
“Colder temperatures throughout the United States drove sales of cold weather-related items,” said Eduardo Castro-Wright, Wal-Mart U.S. president and CEO.
In electronics, Wal-Mart's sales were strong in both laptops and desktop computers, HDTVs, and digital audio products, as well as hardware and software for video games.
Average ticket drove the January comparable sales figure. The traffic decline is slowing as compared to the last several months. The negative impact on comparable store sales for the five-week January period from hurricane-related sales last year continues.
Guidance
“Comparable store sales in the United States for the February four-week period are estimated to be between 1 and 2 percent,” said Tom Schoewe, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. executive vice president and chief financial officer.