CORRECT: 2nd UPDATE: Wal-Mart Net Up On Soft Sales;View Guarded
("Wal-Mart Profit Up 3.2% Despite Weak Sales; 4Q View Cautious," published at
7:33 a.m., EST and updates at 7:53 a.m. and 10:23 a.m. misstated the aggregate
earnings figure for the latest quarter in the 17th paragraph. A corrected
version follows.)
(Updates throughout with comments from executives during conference call,
analyst comments)
By Karen Talley
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s (WMT) more muted expectations
for the approaching holiday season are in keeping with other major retailers,
suggesting the sector is expecting consumer spending to be very tenuous over the
next couple of months.
The world's biggest retailer said it expects to post earnings from continuing
operations of $1.08 a share to $1.12 in the fourth quarter, while analysts on
average were expecting $1.12. Macy's Inc. (M) on Wednesday and Kohl's Corp. (
KSS) on Thursday offered tempered expctations, with their guidance below what
analysts were expecting. Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) will be heard from after the
closing bell on Thursday and J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) reports on Friday. Target
Corp. (TGT), Home Depot Inc. (HD), and Saks Inc. (SKS) are expected to issue
results on Monday.
Wal-Mart U.S. chief Eduardo Castro-Wright said during Thursday's conference
call: "We recognize that some customers may be more cautious in their holiday
spending."
The question investors may be asking is: "Can Wal-Mart meet or beat its
guidance given its aggressive pricing strategy for the holidays," said Brian
Sozzi, retail analyst at Wall Street Strategies.
The same may hold true for other retailers' given their tempered expectations.
Wal-Mart's same-store-sales are projected to be flat or off 1% for the fourth
quarter after rising 2.4% in last year's fourth quarter.
The company has been faring better than retailers that are not discount-
oriented because its low prices appeal to recession-weary consumers. And though
increasing signs of stabilization could boost buyers' spending and diminish the
company's pricing advantage, consumer sentiment won't rise freely until the
unemployment rate - up to 10.2% in October - abates.
Wal-Mart is trying to bring as many customers in as possible for the holidays,
with advertising costs growing faster than the rate of sales during the quarter
as Wal-Mart stepped up its communications across all media.
Wal-Mart's fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 3.2% as profit topped
expectations despite a 0.4% dip in U.S. same-store sales.
President and Chief Executive Mike Duke attributed the third-quarter profit
growth to improved productivity and inventory management.
Wal-Mart is gaining market share "all over the world," Duke said in a recorded
call. The retailer added 13 million square feet over the third quarter, more
than many retailers add in a year, with more than half its growth in the U.S.
Customer traffic rose 1.5% in the U.S. during the third quarter on a
comparable-store basis while the average purchase fell. Wal-Mart's Castro-Wright
said deflation was the sole contributor to the drop in average purchases, with
prices dropping "well beyond what we expected" across many food categories as
well as electronics.
The third quarter marked the first time that total grocery prices declined
when compared with a year ago, said Castro-Wright, who added that Wal-Mart
expects deflation to mitigate in the first quarter. Wal-Mart faces easier
comparisons next year.
Wal-Mart's overall gross margin beat analysts' expectations and its Sam's Club
showed progress in gross margin and expense reduction.
Wal-Mart again boosted its earnings target for the year, this time to $3.57 to
$3.61 a share from August's view of $3.50 to $3.60. The mean estimate of
analysts surveyed by FactSet Research was $3.58 for the year.
Wal-Mart shares, after trading down premarket after the results were issued,
are up 1% to $53.55.
For the quarter ended Oct. 31, Wal-Mart posted a profit of $3.24 billion, or
84 cents a share, up from $3.14 billion, or 80 cents a share, a year earlier.
There were 2.1% fewer shares outstanding and the prior year included 3 cents of
earnings from an asset sale. In August, the company projected earnings of 78
cents to 82 cents.
Net sales increased 1.1% to $98.67 billion and would have risen 3.8% excluding
currency changes. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters predicted $99.88 billion.
Excluding fuel sales, U.S. same-store sales fell 0.4%, down 0.5% at namesake
stores and rising 0.1% at the Sam's Club warehouse chain.
Gross margin rose to 25.2% from 24.6%.
International sales rose 1.6% and profit dropped 5.3%. Meanwhile, earnings at
Wal-Mart U.S. stores grew 6.9% and Sam's Club's reported 5.6% growth.
Wal-Mart stopped reporting monthly sales data in May, leaving analysts and
market-watchers with a less clear picture of how it's doing.
-Joan E. Solsman and Kevin Kingsbury contributed to this article
-Karen Talley, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2196; karen.talley@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
11-12-091142ET
Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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