Wal-Mart reported net sales for the five-week period ending January 2, 2004, of $33.657 billion, an increase of 11.3 % over the $30.251 billion in the similar period in the prior year. Sales for the forty-eight week
period were $237.626 billion, an increase of 11.3 % over $213.528 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 five-week period were $23.106
billion, up 10.2 percent over sales of $20.967 billion in the similar period
in the prior year. The division's sales for forty-eight weeks of $161.448
billion were up 10.6 percent over the $146.012 billion in the similar period
in the prior year.
SAM'S CLUB sales for the five-week period were $4.078 billion, up
8.8 percent over sales of $3.747 billion in the similar period in the prior
year. Club sales for the forty-eight weeks of $31.900 billion were up
8.6 percent over the $29.372 billion in the similar period in the prior year.
The International division's sales for the five-week period were $6.473
billion, up 16.9 percent over sales of $5.537 billion in the similar period in
the prior year. The division's sales for the forty-eight weeks of $44.278
billion were up 16.1 percent over the $38.144 billion in the similar period in
the prior year.
Comparable sales for the periods ending January 2, 2004, were as follows:
5 Weeks 48 Weeks
This Year Last Year This Year Last Year
Wal-Mart 3.9 % 3.3% 3.7 % 5.8%
SAM'S CLUB 6.1 % (2.8)% 4.9 % 2.3%
Total US 4.3 % 2.3% 3.9 % 5.2%
For the January four-week period, we are estimating comparative sales for
the U.S. to be up in the 3 to 5 percent range. With two months of the fiscal
quarter complete, we are currently tracking near the low end of our previously
released earnings guidance of $0.63 to $0.65 per share.
