CHICAGO: Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Tuesday reported higher-than-expected US comparable sales, driven by higher customer traffic to stores and accelerating online activity, and the world's largest retailer's shares rose more than 2 percent.
Wal-Mart said sales at US stores open at least a year rose 1.8 percent, excluding fuel price fluctuations. Analysts on average were expecting an increase of 1.3 percent, according to research firm Consensus Metrix.
Net income attributable to Wal-Mart fell to $3.76 billion in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31 from $4.57 billion a year earlier, reflecting the impact from discontinued real estate projects and severance.
Excluding items, earnings per share stood at $1.30. Analysts on average expected $1.29, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
US store visits rose 1.4 percent, compared with a year-earlier increase of 0.7 percent.
Revenue rose 1 percent to $130.9 billion. Excluding currency fluctuations, it stood at $133.6 billion.
Online sales increased 29 percent, accelerating from the previous quarter. That business added 80 basis points to fourth-quarter comparable sales.
At Friday's close, Wal-Mart shares had risen 0.36 percent since the start of the year.
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