BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 13, 2009 -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) today reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal year 2010 of $0.88, at the top of the company’s guidance of $0.83 to $0.88. The effect of currency exchange rates reduced earnings by approximately $0.04 per share. Walmart earned $0.86 per share from continuing operations in the second quarter last year.
Net sales for the second quarter were $100.082 billion, a decrease of 1.4 percent from $101.546 billion in the second quarter last year. Without the negative impact of currency exchange rates equal to $4.199 billion, net sales for the quarter increased 2.7 percent to approximately $104.281 billion on a constant currency basis (which assumes currency exchange rates remained the same as the prior year). Income from continuing operations increased to $3.449 billion from $3.401 billion in the same period last year.
“Our earnings exceeded consensus estimates and were at the top of our guidance,” said Mike Duke, Walmart president and chief executive officer. “We are pleased with the performance of our operations around the world. We believe that our comparable store sales continued to outperform the retail sector almost everywhere we do business.
“In a sales environment more difficult than we expected, we managed our operations in a disciplined manner. Our U.S. segments delivered strong inventory performance, which contributed to the company’s healthy increase in year-over-year earnings,” Duke said. “We are accelerating our focus on reducing our expenses.
“Customers around the world are forced to do more with less and they rely on Walmart to help them save money,” Duke added. “The improvements in our stores are attracting new customers and keeping the loyalty of the millions who shop with us. We are confident about Walmart’s long-term future and ability to build on its leadership position.”

Guidance
“Our performance this quarter has been good, despite headwinds from price deflation, the effects of the recession and currency exchange rates,” said Tom Schoewe, Walmart executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We’re proud that Walmart reported a year-over-year increase in earnings this quarter.
“In addition, we generated approximately $4.2 billion in free cash flow during the first half of the year,” Schoewe added. “Walmart remains strong financially, with a solid balance sheet, great access to capital markets and a double-A rating. Plus, we are one of the few Dow 30 companies so far to report a year-over-year earnings increase this quarter.”

A reconciliation of free cash flow (a non-GAAP measure) is attached at the end of this release.
“Based on our view of the economy and our continued focus on managing expenses and productivity, we are updating our guidance for earnings per share from continuing operations this year to a range of $3.50 to $3.60, from $3.45 to $3.60,” Schoewe added. “We expect earnings per share from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010 to be between $0.78 and $0.82, including a three-cent negative impact from currency exchange rates.”
Walmart U.S. expects comparable store sales during the 13-week period from Saturday, Aug. 1 through Friday, Oct. 30 to be between flat and two percent. Sam’s Club expects comparable club sales during the same period to be flat, plus or minus one percent. The company will report these operating segments’ comparable store sales result and the total U.S. aggregate comparable store sales result for that period when it reports third quarter earnings on Nov. 12.
Notes
Effective Feb. 1, 2009, the company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB 51.” This standard requires modifications to financial statement presentation for minority interests in subsidiaries, now referred to as noncontrolling interests. These changes are reflected in Walmart’s second quarter condensed consolidated financial statements included in this release. As a result, all references to income from continuing operations or earnings per share from continuing operations in this release refer to income from continuing operations attributable to Walmart, or diluted income per share from continuing operations attributable to Walmart, respectively.
In addition to these changes, beginning Feb. 1, 2009, the company changed the classification of certain revenue and expense items within the financial statements. These changes are reflected in the second quarter condensed consolidated statements of income for all periods presented and did not have an impact on the company’s consolidated operating or net income.
After this earnings release has been furnished to the SEC, a pre-recorded call offering additional comments on the quarter will be available to all investors. Callers may listen to this call by dialing 800-778-6902, or 585-219-6420 outside the U.S. and Canada. Information included in this release, including reconciliations, and the pre-recorded phone call is available in the investor information area on the company’s Web site at www.walmartstores.com/investors.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,000 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2009 sales of $401 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.1 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.
This release contains statements as to Walmart management’s forecasts of the company’s earnings per share for the fiscal year to end January 31, 2010 and the fiscal quarter to end October 31, 2009 and the comparable store sales of each of the Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club segments of the company for the 13-week period from August 1 through October 30, 2009, that the company believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by that act. These statements can be identified by the use of the word or phrase “guidance” or “expect,” in the statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, domestically and internationally, including general economic conditions, the cost of goods, competitive pressures, geopolitical events and conditions, levels of unemployment, levels of consumer disposable income, changes in laws and regulations, consumer credit availability, inflation, deflation, consumer spending patterns and debt levels, currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade restrictions, changes in tariff and freight rates, changes in the costs of gasoline, diesel fuel, other energy, transportation, utilities, labor and health care, accident costs, casualty and other insurance costs, interest rate
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fluctuations, financial and capital market conditions, developments in litigation to which the company is a party, weather conditions, damage to the company’s facilities from natural disasters, regulatory matters and other risks. The company discusses certain of these factors more fully in its additional filings with the SEC, including its last annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and this release should be read in conjunction with that annual report on Form 10-K, together with all of the company’s other filings, including current reports on Form 8-K, made with the SEC through the date of this release. The company urges you to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this release. As a result of these matters, changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other circumstances, the company’s actual results may differ materially from the expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release. The forward-looking statements made in this release are made only as of the date of this release, and the company undertakes no obligation to update them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
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Ed. Note: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the legal trade name of the corporation. The name "Walmart," expressed as one word and without punctuation, is a trademark of the company and is used analogously to describe the company and its stores. Use the trade name when it is necessary to identify the legal entity, such as when reporting financial results, litigation or corporate governance.

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