Wal-Mart Comps Up 4% In October

Wal-Mart Stores net sales for the four-week period ending October 31, 2003, of $19.066 billion, an increase of 11.8 percent over the $17.051 billion in the similar period in the prior year. Sales for the thirty-nine week period were $182.312 billion, an increase of 11.3 percent over $163.806 billion in the similar period in the prior year.

On May 23, 2003, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. completed the sale of McLane Company, Inc. (“McLane”), then a wholly-owned subsidiary, to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The amounts disclosed above are from continuing operations and exclude McLane sales for all periods presented.

The Wal-Mart division's sales for the four-week period were $12.720 billion, up 10.7 percent over sales of $11.492 billion in the similar prior year period. The division's sales for thirty-nine weeks of $123.578 billion were up 10.6 percent over the $111.719 billion in the similar prior-year period.

SAM'S CLUB sales for the four-week period were $2.637 billion, up 9.7 percent over sales of $2.404 billion in the similar prior year period. Club sales for the thirty-nine weeks of $24.980 billion were up 8.7 percent over the $22.979 billion in the similar prior-year period.

The International division's sales for the four-week period were $3.709 billion, up 17.6 percent over sales of $3.155 billion in the similar prior year period. The division's sales for the thirty-nine weeks of $33.754 billion were up 16.0 percent over the $29.108 billion in the similar prior- year period.

For the November four-week period, we are forecasting comparative sales for the total Company to be in the 3 to 5 percent range. Our sales information will be updated weekly. The update is posted on Monday with the exception of the week of the official sales release date, when the posting occurs on Thursday.

As of October 31, 2003, the Company had 1,476 Wal-Mart stores, 1,430 Supercenters, 533 SAM'S CLUBS and 60 Neighborhood Markets in the United States. Internationally, the Company operated units in Argentina (11), Brazil (25), Canada (220), China (31), Germany (92), South Korea (15), Mexico (625), Puerto Rico (52) and United Kingdom (265).

After consideration of stock options and debt securities that are convertible to common stock, Wal-Mart owns a 36% interest in Seiyu, Ltd. with warrants to purchase up to 66.7% of that company by the end of December 2007. Seiyu operates over 400 stores located throughout Japan.

Comparable sales for the periods ending October 31, 2003, were as follows:

                             4 Weeks                39 Weeks
                       This Year  Last Year  This Year  Last Year
    Wal-Mart             4.0 %      4.8 %      3.7 %      6.6 %
    SAM'S CLUB           7.0 %     -1.6 %      4.6 %      3.3 %
    Total US Retail      4.5 %      3.7 %      3.8 %      6.0 %