Form 10-Q

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2008.

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number 1-6991

 

 

LOGO

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   71-0415188

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

702 S.W. 8th Street

Bentonville, Arkansas

  72716
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(479) 273-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Check One:

Large Accelerated Filer  x    Accelerated Filer  ¨    Non-Accelerated Filer  ¨    Smaller Reporting Company  ¨

Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Applicable Only to Corporate Issuers

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practical date.

Common Stock, $.10 Par Value – 3,943,722,061 shares as of June 2, 2008.

 

 

 


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in millions except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
 
     2008     2007  

Revenues:

    

Net sales

   $ 94,122     $ 85,387  

Membership and other income

     1,181       1,023  
                
     95,303       86,410  

Costs and expenses:

    

Cost of sales

     71,886       65,311  

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses

     18,107       16,249  
                

Operating income

     5,310       4,850  

Interest:

    

Debt

     488       406  

Capital leases

     72       69  

Interest income

     (64 )     (83 )
                

Interest, net

     496       392  
                

Income before income taxes and minority interest

     4,814       4,458  

Provision for income taxes

     1,670       1,532  
                

Income before minority interest

     3,144       2,926  

Minority interest

     (122 )     (100 )
                

Net income

   $ 3,022     $ 2,826  
                

Net income per common share:

    

Basic net income per common share

   $ 0.76     $ 0.69  
                

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.76     $ 0.68  
                

Weighted-average number of common shares:

    

Basic

     3,957       4,122  

Diluted

     3,967       4,128  

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.95     $ 0.88  

 

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WAL-MART STORES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in millions)

 

     April 30,
2008
    April 30,
2007
    January 31,
2008
 
ASSETS       

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 8,072     $ 6,563     $ 5,569  

Receivables

     3,256       2,924       3,654  

Inventories

     35,541       35,200       35,180  

Prepaid expenses and other

     3,426       2,892       3,182  
                        

Total current assets

     50,295       47,579       47,585  

Property and equipment, at cost

     124,697       112,972       122,648  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (30,200 )     (25,713 )     (28,773 )
                        

Property and equipment, net

     94,497       87,259       93,875  

Property under capital leases

     5,808       5,445       5,736  

Less accumulated amortization

     (2,680 )     (2,420 )     (2,594 )
                        

Property under capital leases, net

     3,128       3,025       3,142  

Goodwill

     16,620       14,585       16,071  

Other assets and deferred charges

     2,943       2,974       2,841  
                        

Total assets

   $ 167,483     $ 155,422     $ 163,514  
                        
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY       

Current liabilities:

      

Commercial paper

   $ 5,924     $ 4,627     $ 5,040  

Accounts payable

     29,048       27,562       30,370  

Dividends payable

     3,322       3,088       —    

Accrued liabilities

     14,912       13,407       15,799  

Accrued income taxes

     1,711       1,558       1,016  

Long-term debt due within one year

     5,864       4,212       5,913  

Obligations under capital leases due within one year

     321       246       316  
                        

Total current liabilities

     61,102       54,700       58,454  

Long-term debt

     32,379       29,567       29,799  

Long-term obligations under capital leases

     3,584       3,548       3,603  

Deferred income taxes and other

     5,310       5,426       5,111  

Minority interest

     1,878       2,270       1,939  

Commitments and contingencies

      

Shareholders’ equity:

      

Common stock and capital in excess of par value

     3,628       3,284       3,425  

Retained earnings

     55,257       53,956       57,319  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     4,345       2,671       3,864  
                        

Total shareholders’ equity

     63,230       59,911       64,608  
                        

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 167,483     $ 155,422     $ 163,514  
                        

 

3


WAL-MART STORES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in millions)

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
 
     2008     2007  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 3,022     $ 2,826  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,628       1,488  

Other operating activities

     194       470  

Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

    

Decrease in accounts receivable

     450       62  

Increase in inventories

     (213 )     (1,280 )

Decrease in accounts payable

     (1,191 )     (1,115 )

Decrease in accrued liabilities

     (185 )     (604 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     3,705       1,847  

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Payments for property and equipment

     (2,447 )     (3,157 )

Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment

     126       170  

Investment in international operations, net of cash acquired

     —         (466 )

Other investing activities

     88       11  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,233 )     (3,442 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Increase in commercial paper, net

     892       1,988  

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     2,521       3,170  

Payment of long-term debt

     (361 )     (2,232 )

Dividends paid

     (940 )     (908 )

Purchase of Company stock

     (1,375 )     (943 )

Other financing activities

     128       (276 )
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     865       799  

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     166       (14 )
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     2,503       (810 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     5,569       7,373  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 8,072     $ 6,563  
                

 

4


WAL-MART STORES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of April 30, 2008 and 2007, and the related Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three-month periods ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, are unaudited. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 31, 2008, is derived from the audited financial statements at that date.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. Such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are presented in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008. Therefore, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with that Annual Report to Shareholders.

NOTE 2. Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted-average number of outstanding shares adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock options and other share-based awards. The dilutive effect of stock options and other share-based awards was 10 million and 6 million shares in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company had approximately 25 million and 54 million option shares outstanding at April 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, which were not included in the diluted net income per share calculation because their effect would be antidilutive.

NOTE 3. Inventories

The Company values inventories at the lower of cost or market as determined primarily by the retail method of accounting, using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for substantially all of the Wal-Mart Stores segment’s merchandise inventories. The Sam’s Club segment’s merchandise and merchandise in our distribution warehouses are valued based on the weighted-average cost using the LIFO method. Inventories of foreign operations are primarily valued by the retail method of accounting, using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. At April 30, 2008 and 2007, our inventories valued at LIFO approximate those inventories as if they were valued at FIFO.

NOTE 4. Significant Long-term Debt Transactions

During the first three months of fiscal 2009, the Company issued $1.0 billion of 4.250% Notes Due 2013 and $1.5 billion of 6.200% Notes Due 2038. Beginning on October 15, 2008, the Company will pay interest on the notes of each series on April 15 and October 15 of each year. Interest started accruing on such notes on April 15, 2008. The 2013 notes will mature on April 15, 2013 and the 2038 notes will mature on April 15, 2038.

NOTE 5. Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value within generally accepted accounting principles and expands required disclosures about fair value measurements. In November 2007, the FASB provided a one year deferral for the implementation of SFAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities. The Company adopted SFAS 157 on February 1, 2008, as required. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

SFAS 157 establishes a three–tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted

 

5


prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. As of April 30, 2008, the Company held certain derivative asset and liability positions that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The majority of the Company’s derivative instruments related to receive fixed-rate, pay floating rate interest rate swaps and receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swaps. The fair values of these interest rate swaps have been measured in accordance with Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy, and as of April 30, 2008, are as follows (asset/(liability)):

 

(Amounts in millions)

   Notional Amount
April 30, 2008
   Fair Value
April 30, 2008
 

Receive fixed-rate, pay floating rate interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges

   $ 5,195    $ 248  

Receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swaps designated as net investment hedges (Cross-currency notional amount: GBP 795 at 4/30/2008)

     1,250      (88 )
               

Total

   $ 6,445    $ 160  
               

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities–Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits companies to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value at specified election dates. The Company adopted SFAS 159 on February 1, 2008. Since the Company has not utilized the fair value option for any allowable items, the adoption of SFAS 159 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

NOTE 6. Segments

The Company is engaged in the operations of retail stores located in all 50 states of the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom and through majority-owned subsidiaries in Central America, Japan and Mexico. The Company operates in China and India through joint ventures. The Company identifies segments in accordance with the criteria set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” and is primarily based on the operations of the Company that our chief operating decision maker regularly reviews to analyze performance and allocate resources among business units of the Company.

The Wal-Mart Stores segment includes the Company’s mass merchant concept in the United States under the Wal-Mart brand, as well as walmart.com. The Sam’s Club segment includes the warehouse membership clubs in the United States, as well as samsclub.com. The International segment consists of the Company’s operations outside of the fifty United States. The amounts under the caption “Other” in the table below relating to operating income are unallocated corporate overhead items.

The Company measures the profit of its segments as “segment operating income,” which is defined as income before net interest expense, income taxes and minority interest and excludes unallocated corporate overhead. At February 1, 2008, the Company reclassified certain unallocated corporate expenses to be included within each segment’s measurement of operating income. As a result, all prior year measurements of segment operating income have been restated for comparative purposes.

Net sales by operating segment were as follows (amounts in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
     2008    2007

Net Sales:

     

Wal-Mart Stores

   $ 59,073    $ 55,437

International

     23,937      19,627

Sam’s Club

     11,112      10,323
             

Total Company

   $ 94,122    $ 85,387
             

 

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Segment operating income and the reconciliation to income before income taxes and minority interest are as follows (amounts in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
 
     2008     2007  

Operating Income:

    

Wal-Mart Stores

   $ 4,362     $ 3,979  

International

     1,044       903  

Sam’s Club

     386       370  

Other

     (482 )     (402 )
                

Operating income

   $ 5,310     $ 4,850  

Interest expense, net

     (496 )     (392 )
                

Income before income taxes and minority interest

   $ 4,814     $ 4,458  
                

Goodwill is recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets in the operating segments as follows (amounts in millions):

 

     April 30,
2008
   April 30,
2007
   January 31,
2008

International

   $ 16,315    $ 14,280    $ 15,766

Sam’s Club

     305      305      305
                    

Total goodwill

   $ 16,620    $ 14,585    $ 16,071
                    

The change in the International segment’s goodwill since April 30, 2007 primarily resulted from the acquisition of substantially all of the outstanding common and preferred shares of our Japanese subsidiary, The Seiyu Ltd., that the Company did not previously own, final purchase price allocation of its investment in Bounteous Company Ltd. (“BCL”) and foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

NOTE 7. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is net income plus certain other items that are recorded directly to shareholders’ equity. Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income for the Company’s derivative instruments and minimum pension liabilities are recorded net of the related income tax effects. Comprehensive income was $3.5 billion and $3.0 billion for the three months ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

NOTE 8. Common Stock Dividends

On March 6, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase in annual dividends to $0.95 per share. The annual dividend will be paid in four quarterly installments on April 7, 2008, June 2, 2008, September 2, 2008, and January 2, 2009, to holders of record on March 14, May 16, August 15 and December 15, 2008, respectively.

NOTE 9. Income and Other Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was 34.7% for the three months ended April 30, 2008. The Company expects the fiscal 2009 annual effective tax rate to be approximately 34-35%. Significant factors that could impact the annual effective tax rate include management’s assessment of certain tax matters and the composition of taxable income between domestic and international operations.

In determining the quarterly provision for income taxes, the Company uses an estimated annual effective tax rate based on forecasted annual income and permanent items, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The impact of significant discrete items is separately recognized in the quarter in which they occur.

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” (“FIN 48”) effective February 1, 2007. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes, by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

In the normal course of its business the Company provides for uncertain tax positions, and the related interest, and adjusts its unrecognized tax benefits and accrued interest accordingly. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, unrecognized tax benefits related to

 

7


continuing operations increased by $45 million and accrued interest increased by $18 million. As of April 30, 2008 the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits relating to continuing operations were $913 million, of which $628 million would, if recognized, affect the Company’s effective tax rate.

Additionally, the Company has unrecognized tax benefits of up to $1.8 billion which, if recognized, would be recorded as discontinued operations. Of this, $1.7 billion relates to a worthless stock deduction to be claimed for the Company’s disposition of its German operations in fiscal year 2007. The Company cannot reasonably predict if this matter will be resolved within the next twelve months.

During the next twelve months, it is reasonably possible that tax audit resolutions could reduce unrecognized tax benefits by $50 million to $200 million, either because our tax positions are sustained on audit or because the Company agrees to their disallowance. Such unrecognized tax benefits relate primarily to timing recognition issues and resolution of the gain determination on a discontinued operation in fiscal year 2004. The Company does not expect any such audit resolutions to cause a significant change in its effective tax rate. As of April 30, 2008, there were no material changes to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits or the related accrued interest and penalties.

The Company classifies interest on uncertain tax benefits as interest expense and income tax penalties as operating, selling, general and administrative costs. At April 30, 2008, before any tax benefits, the Company had $245 million of accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits.

The Company is subject to income tax examinations for its U.S. federal income taxes generally for the fiscal years 2007 and 2008, with fiscal years 2004 through 2006 remaining open for a limited number of issues, for non-U.S. income taxes for the tax years 2002 through 2008, and for state and local income taxes for the fiscal years 2004 through 2007 generally and from 1997 for a limited number of issues.

Additionally, the Company is subject to tax examinations for payroll, value added, sales-based and other taxes. A number of these examinations are ongoing and, in certain cases, have resulted in assessments from the taxing authorities. Where appropriate, the Company has made accruals for these matters which are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. While these matters are individually immaterial, a group of related matters, if decided adversely to the Company, may result in liability material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

NOTE 10. Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in a number of legal proceedings. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” the Company has made accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these matters, and may enter into settlement agreements, if it believes settlement is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders. The matters, or groups of related matters, discussed below, if decided adversely to or settled by the Company, individually or in the aggregate, may result in liability material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Wage and Hour “Off the Clock” Class Actions: The Company is a defendant in numerous cases containing class-action allegations in which the plaintiffs are current and former hourly associates who allege that the Company forced them to work “off the clock” or failed to provide work breaks, or otherwise that they were not paid correctly for work performed. The complaints generally seek unspecified monetary damages, injunctive relief, or both. Class or collective-action certification has yet to be addressed by the court in a majority of these cases. Where it has been addressed, certification has been denied in nine of these cases; has been granted in whole or in part in eleven of these cases; and has been conditionally granted for notice purposes only in three of these cases. In another nine such cases, certification was denied and the case was then dismissed, and in two additional such cases, certification was granted and the case was then dismissed. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits, except as noted below.

One of the class-action lawsuits described above is Savaglio v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a class-action lawsuit in which the plaintiffs allege that they were not provided meal and rest breaks in accordance with California law, and seek monetary damages and injunctive relief. A trial on the plaintiffs’ claims for monetary damages concluded on December 22, 2005. The jury returned a verdict of approximately $57 million in statutory penalties and $115 million in punitive damages. In June 2006, the judge entered an order allowing some, but not all, of the injunctive relief sought by the plaintiffs. On December 27, 2006, the judge entered an order awarding the plaintiffs an additional amount of approximately $26 million in costs and attorneys’ fees. The Company believes it has substantial factual and legal defenses to the claims at issue, and on January 31, 2007, the Company filed its Notice of Appeal.

In another of the class-action lawsuits described above, Braun/Hummel v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a trial was commenced in September 2006, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs allege that the Company failed to pay class members for all hours

 

8


worked and prevented class members from taking their full meal and rest breaks. On October 13, 2006, the jury awarded back-pay damages to the plaintiffs of approximately $78 million on their claims for off-the-clock work and missed rest breaks. The jury found in favor of the Company on the plaintiffs’ meal-period claims. On November 14, 2007, the trial judge entered a final judgment in the approximate amount of $188 million, which included the jury’s back-pay award plus statutory penalties, prejudgment interest and attorneys’ fees. The Company believes it has substantial factual and legal defenses to the claims at issue, and on December 7, 2007, the Company filed its Notice of Appeal.

In another of the class-action lawsuits described above, Braun v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a trial commenced on September 24, 2007, in the First Judicial District Court for Dakota County, Minnesota, on the plaintiffs’ claims for backpay damages. The plaintiffs allege that class members worked off the clock and were not provided meal and rest breaks in accordance with Minnesota law, and seek monetary damages in an unspecified amount, together with attorneys’ fees, interest, statutory penalties, and punitive damages, if any. Testimony concluded on December 11, 2007, on the plaintiffs’ backpay claims, and the judge took the matter under advisement. No ruling has been received. The judge has not determined whether the plaintiffs will be allowed to proceed to trial on their claims for punitive damages, but a separate trial has been scheduled for October 20, 2008, in the event those claims are allowed to proceed to trial. The Company believes that it has substantial factual and legal defenses to the claims at issue. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from this litigation.

Exempt Status Cases: The Company is currently a defendant in four putative class actions in which the plaintiffs seek class certification of various groups of salaried managers and challenge their exempt status under state and federal laws. In one of those cases (Sepulveda v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.), class certification was denied by the trial court on May 5, 2006. On April 25, 2008, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the trial court’s ruling in part and reversed it in part, and remanded the case for further proceedings. On May 16, 2008, the Company filed a petition seeking review of that ruling by a larger panel of the court. Class certification has not been addressed in the other cases. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

Gender Discrimination Cases: The Company is a defendant in Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a class-action lawsuit commenced in June 2001 and pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The case was brought on behalf of all past and present female employees in all of the Company’s retail stores and warehouse clubs in the United States. The complaint alleges that the Company has engaged in a pattern and practice of discriminating against women in promotions, pay, training and job assignments. The complaint seeks, among other things, injunctive relief, front pay, back pay, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. On June 21, 2004, the district court issued an order granting in part and denying in part the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. The class, which was certified by the district court for purposes of liability, injunctive and declaratory relief, punitive damages, and lost pay, subject to certain exceptions, includes all women employed at any Wal-Mart domestic retail store at any time since December 26, 1998, who have been or may be subjected to the pay and management track promotions policies and practices challenged by the plaintiffs. The class as certified currently includes approximately 1.6 million present and former female associates.

The Company believes that the district court’s ruling is incorrect. On August 31, 2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted the Company’s petition for discretionary review of the ruling. On February 6, 2007, a divided three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals issued a decision affirming the district court’s certification order. On February 20, 2007, the Company filed a petition asking that the decision be reconsidered by a larger panel of the court. On December 11, 2007, the three-judge panel withdrew its opinion of February 6, 2007, and issued a revised opinion. As a result, Wal-Mart’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc was denied as moot. Wal-Mart filed a new Petition for Rehearing En Banc on January 8, 2008. If the Company is not successful in its appeal of class certification, or an appellate court issues a ruling that allows for the certification of a class or classes with a different size or scope, and if there is a subsequent adverse verdict on the merits from which there is no successful appeal, or in the event of a negotiated settlement of the litigation, the resulting liability could be material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The plaintiffs also seek punitive damages which, if awarded, could result in the payment of additional amounts material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. However, because of the uncertainty of the outcome of the appeal from the district court’s certification decision, because of the uncertainty of the balance of the proceedings contemplated by the district court, and because the Company’s liability, if any, arising from the litigation, including the size of any damages award if plaintiffs are successful in the litigation or any negotiated settlement, could vary widely, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from the litigation.

The Company is a defendant in a lawsuit that was filed by the EEOC on August 24, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky on behalf of Janice Smith and all other females who made application or transfer requests at the London, Kentucky, distribution center from 1998 to the present, and who were not hired or transferred into the warehouse positions for which they applied. The complaint alleges that the Company based hiring decisions on gender in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as amended. The EEOC can maintain this action as a class without certification. The EEOC seeks back pay and front pay for those females not selected for hire or transfer during the relevant time period, plus compensatory and punitive damages and injunctive relief. The EEOC has asserted that the hiring practices in question resulted in a shortfall of 245 positions. The claims for compensatory and punitive damages are capped by statute at $300,000 per shortfall position. The amounts of back pay and front pay that are being sought have not been specified.

 

9


California Hazardous Materials Investigations: On November 8, 2005, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, seeking documents and information relating to the Company’s receipt, transportation, handling, identification, recycling, treatment, storage and disposal of certain merchandise that constitutes hazardous materials or hazardous waste. The Company has been informed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California that it is a target of a criminal investigation into potential violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), the Clean Water Act, and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Statute. This U.S. Attorney’s Office contends, among other things, that the use of Company trucks to transport certain returned merchandise from the Company’s stores to its return centers is prohibited by RCRA because those materials may be considered hazardous waste. The government alleges that, to comply with RCRA, the Company must ship from the store certain materials as “hazardous waste” directly to a certified disposal facility using a certified hazardous waste carrier. The Company contends that the practice of transporting returned merchandise to its return centers for subsequent disposition, including disposal by certified facilities, is compliant with applicable laws and regulations. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California has initiated its own investigation regarding the Company’s handling of hazardous materials and hazardous waste and the Company has received administrative document requests from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control requesting documents and information with respect to two of the Company’s distribution facilities. Further, the Company also received a subpoena from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for documents and administrative interrogatories requesting information, among other things, regarding the Company’s handling of materials and hazardous waste. California state and local government authorities and the State of Nevada have also initiated investigations into these matters. The Company is cooperating fully with the respective authorities. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

NOTE 11. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand the effects of the derivative instruments on an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The Company will adopt SFAS 161 on February 1, 2009. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of SFAS 161 on its financial statements.

NOTE 12. Subsequent Event

In June 2008, the Company reached an agreement to sell its property development subsidiary, Gazeley Limited (“Gazeley”). Gazeley develops industrial distribution warehouses in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and China and has extended its operations to India and Mexico. The sale, which is subject to European regulatory approval, is expected to close in the summer of 2008 and result in a pre-tax gain.

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This discussion relates to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”) and should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements as of April 30, 2008, and the period then ended and accompanying notes included under Part I, Item 1, of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our consolidated financial statements as of January 31, 2008, and for the year then ended, and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, both of which are contained in our Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended January 31, 2008, and included as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008.

We intend for this discussion to provide the reader with information that will assist in understanding our financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements from year to year, and the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as how certain accounting principles affect our financial statements. The discussion also provides information about the financial results of the various segments of our business to provide a better understanding of how those segments and their results affect the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as a whole.

Throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, we discuss segment operating income and comparable store sales. Segment operating income refers to income from operations before net interest expense, income taxes and minority interest and excludes unallocated corporate overhead. At February 1, 2008, the Company reclassified certain unallocated corporate expenses to be included within each segment’s measurement of operating income. As a result, all prior year measurements of segment operating income have been restated for comparative purposes.

Comparable store sales is a measure which indicates the performance of our existing stores by measuring the growth in sales for such stores for a particular period over the corresponding period in the prior year. Comparable store sales is also referred to as “same-store” sales by others within the retail industry. The method of calculating comparable store sales varies across the retail industry. As a result, our calculation of comparable store sales is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

 

10


During fiscal 2008, the Company reviewed its definition of comparable store sales for consistency with other retailers. For fiscal 2009, beginning February 1, 2008, the Company has revised its definition of comparable store sales to include sales from stores and clubs open for the previous 12 months, including remodels, relocations and expansions. Changes in format continue to be excluded from comparable store sales when the conversion is accompanied by a relocation or expansion that results in a change in square footage of more than five percent. Since the impact of this revision is inconsequential, the Company did not restate comparable store sales results for previously reported fiscal periods.

Company Performance Metrics

Management uses a number of metrics to assess the Company’s performance including:

 

   

Total sales and comparable store sales;

 

   

Operating income;

 

   

Diluted net income per common share;

 

   

Return on investment; and

 

   

Free cash flow.

Total Sales and Comparable Store Sales

(Dollar amounts in millions)

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
 
     2008     2007  
     Net sales    Percent
of total
    Percent
increase
    Net sales    Percent
of total
    Percent
increase
 

Wal-Mart Stores

   $ 59,073    62.8 %   6.6 %   $ 55,437    64.9 %   5.6 %

International

     23,937    25.4 %   22.0 %     19,627    23.0 %   18.5 %

Sam’s Club

     11,112    11.8 %   7.6 %     10,323    12.1 %   5.6 %
                              

Total net sales

   $ 94,122    100.0 %   10.2 %   $ 85,387    100.0 %   8.3 %
                              

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
 
     2008     2007  

U.S. comparable store sales

    

Wal-Mart Stores

   2.7 %   -0.1 %

Sam’s Club (1)

   6.5 %   4.1 %

Total U.S. (2)

   3.3 %   0.6 %

 

(1) Fuel sales had a positive impact of 2.9 percentage points and a negative 0.6 percentage points on comparable club sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

(2) Fuel sales had a positive impact of 0.4 percentage points and no impact on comparable store sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Our total net sales increased by 10.2% and 8.3% for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008, respectively, when compared to the previous year. Those increases resulted from our global store expansion programs and comparable store sales increases. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008, foreign currency exchange rates had a $1.3 billion and $622 million favorable impact, respectively, on the International segment’s net sales.

Comparable store sales in the United States increased 3.3% for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to 0.6% for the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Comparable store sales in fiscal 2009 were higher than fiscal 2008 due to strength in grocery and increases in customer traffic and average transaction size per customer. Also, the first quarter of fiscal 2009 includes the benefit of one additional day, February 29, 2008, due to Leap Year.

 

11


Operating Income

(Amounts in millions)

 

     Three Months Ended April 30,  
     2008     2007  
     Operating
income
    Percent
of total
    Percent
increase
    Operating
income
    Percent
of total
    Percent
increase
 

Wal-Mart Stores

   $ 4,362     82.1 %   9.6 %   $ 3,979     82.0 %   2.1 %

International

     1,044     19.7 %   15.6 %     903     18.6 %   19.3 %

Sam’s Club

     386     7.3 %   4.3 %     370     7.6 %   20.1 %

Other

     (482 )   -9.1 %   19.9 %     (402 )   -8.2 %   -13.9 %
                                

Total operating income

   $ 5,310     100.0 %   9.5 %   $ 4,850     100.0 %   7.9 %
                                

Operating income growth compared to net sales growth is a meaningful measure because it indicates how effectively we manage costs and leverage expenses. Our objective is to grow operating income faster than net sales. For the first quarter of fiscal 2009, our operating income increased by 9.5% when compared to the prior year, while net sales increased by 10.2% over the same period. For the individual segments, our Wal-Mart Stores segment met this target; however, our Sam’s Club and International segments did not. The International segment fell short of this objective due to the timing of property sales at Gazeley Limited, our property development business in the United Kingdom, and accruals for certain legal matters. The Sam’s Club segment fell short of this objective as gross profit as a percentage of segment net sales (our “gross margin”) was down compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2008 due to the excise tax refund of $39 million recorded in the prior year.

Diluted Net Income per Common Share

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
     2008    2007

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.76    $ 0.68

Diluted earnings per share increased 11.8% for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to the prior year as a result of a 6.9% increase in net income and the impact of share repurchases since first quarter of fiscal 2008 reducing the number of weighted average shares outstanding.

Return on Investment

Management believes return on investment (“ROI”) is a meaningful metric to share with investors because it helps investors assess how efficiently Wal-Mart is employing its assets. ROI was 19.0% and 19.5% for the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in ROI for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 resulted from our operating income growing at a slower rate than our invested capital. Our announcement last year to moderate capital expenditures under our revised capital efficiency model was a first step in our drive to grow operating income faster than the increase in expenditures for property and equipment. Additionally, higher cash balances at April 30, 2008, subsequently used to repay debt, also contributed to the decline in ROI from the prior year.

We define ROI as adjusted operating income (operating income plus interest income, depreciation and amortization and rent expense) for the fiscal year or trailing twelve months divided by average invested capital during that period. We consider average invested capital to be the average of our beginning and ending total assets of continuing operations plus accumulated depreciation and amortization less accounts payable and accrued liabilities for that period, plus a rent factor equal to the rent for the fiscal year or trailing twelve months multiplied by a factor of eight.

ROI is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the SEC’s rules. We consider return on assets (“ROA”) to be the financial measure computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that is the most directly comparable financial measure to ROI as we calculate that financial measure. ROI differs from ROA (which is income from continuing operations before minority interest for the fiscal year or the trailing twelve months divided by average of total assets of continuing operations for the period) because ROI: adjusts operating income to exclude certain expense items and add interest income; adjusts total assets from continuing operations for the impact of accumulated depreciation and amortization, accounts payable and accrued liabilities; and incorporates a factor of rent to arrive at total invested capital.

Although ROI is a standard financial metric, numerous methods exist for calculating a company’s ROI. As a result, the method used by management to calculate ROI may differ from the method other companies use to calculate their ROI. We urge you to understand the method used by another company to calculate its ROI before comparing our ROI to that of the other company.

 

12


The calculation of ROI along with a reconciliation to the calculation of ROA, the most comparable GAAP financial measurement, is as follows:

 

(Dollar amounts in millions)    Twelve Months Ended
April 30, 2008
    Twelve Months Ended
April 30, 2007
     

Calculation of Return on Investment

      

NUMERATOR

      

Operating Income (1)

   $ 22,456     $ 20,852    

+ Interest Income (1)

     286       295    

+ Depreciation and Amortization (1)

     6,457       5,653    

+ Rent (1)

     1,684       1,459    
                  

= Adjusted Operating Income

   $ 30,883     $ 28,259    
                  

DENOMINATOR

      

Average Total Assets of Continuing Operations (2)

     161,453       146,675    

+ Average Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization (2)

     30,507       26,159    

- Average Accounts Payable (2)

     28,305       26,339    

- Average Accrued Liabilities (2)

     14,160       13,005    

+ Rent * 8

     13,472       11,672    
                  

= Invested Capital

   $ 162,967     $ 145,162    
                  

ROI

     19.0 %     19.5 %  
                  

Calculation of Return on Assets

      

NUMERATOR

      

Income From Continuing Operations Before Minority Interest (1)

   $ 13,508     $ 12,790    
                  

DENOMINATOR

      

Average Total Assets of Continuing Operations (2)

   $ 161,453     $ 146,675    
                  

ROA

     8.4 %     8.7 %  
                  
CERTAIN BALANCE SHEET DATA    As of
April 30, 2008
    As of
April 30, 2007
    As of
April 30, 2006

Total Assets of Continuing Operations (1)

   $ 167,483     $ 155,422     $ 137,928

Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization (1)

     32,880       28,133       24,185

Accounts Payable (1)

     29,048       27,562       25,115

Accrued Liabilities (1)

     14,912       13,407       12,602

 

(1) Based on continuing operations only; and, therefore excludes the impact of our South Korean and German operations, which were sold in fiscal 2007 and classified as discontinued operations. Total assets as of April 30, 2006 in the table above exclude assets of discontinued operations that are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of $2,557.
(2) The average is calculated by adding the account balance at the end of the current period to the account balance at the end of the prior period and dividing by 2.

Free Cash Flow

We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities in the period minus payments for property and equipment made in the period. We generated positive free cash flow for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to a deficit in the prior year. The significant increase in our free cash flow is the result of our improved inventory management and reduced capital expenditures in connection with our planned slowing of store expansion in the United States.

Free cash flow is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the SEC’s rules. Management believes, however, that free cash flow is an important financial measure for use in evaluating the Company’s financial performance, which measures our ability to generate additional cash from our business operations. Free cash flow should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net income as a measure of our performance and net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. Additionally, our definition of free cash flow is limited, in that it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures due to the fact that the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other obligations or payments made for business acquisitions. Therefore, we believe it is important to view free cash flow as a measure that provides supplemental information to our entire statement of cash flows.

 

13


The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities, a GAAP measure, to free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure.

 

     Three Months Ended  
(Amounts in millions)    April 30, 2008     April 30, 2007  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 3,705     $ 1,847  

Payments for property and equipment

     (2,447 )     (3,157 )
                

Free cash flow

   $ 1,258     $ (1,310 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

   $ (2,233 )   $ (3,442 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

   $ 865     $ 799  

Results of Operations

Consolidated

Quarter ended April 30, 2008

Our total net sales increased by 10.2% and 8.3% for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008, respectively, when compared to the previous year. Those increases resulted from our global store expansion programs and comparable store sales increases. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008, foreign currency exchange rates had a $1.3 billion and $622 million favorable impact, respectively, on the International segment’s net sales, causing an increase in the International segment’s net sales as a percentage of total Company net sales.

Our gross margin increased from 23.5% for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 to 23.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. This increase is primarily due to lower inventory shrink and less markdown activity as a result of improved inventory management in our Wal-Mart Stores segment. The effect of these benefits was partially offset by the $97 million excise tax refund recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses (“operating expenses”) as a percentage of net sales increased 0.2 percentage points compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2008 due to higher utility, repairs and maintenance expenses as well as increased corporate expenses. Corporate expenses have increased primarily due to our long-term transformation projects to enhance our information systems for merchandising, finance and human resources. We expect these increases to continue for the foreseeable future. Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 included accruals for certain legal matters of $83 million.

Membership and other income, which includes a variety of income categories such as Sam’s Club membership fee revenues, tenant income and financial services income, increased 15.4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 from the prior year due to continued growth in our financial services area and increases in recycling income resulting from our sustainability efforts.

Interest, net, increased 26.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared with the same period last year largely due to higher borrowing levels in the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

Our effective income tax rate was 34.7% for the first quarter of fiscal 2009, which was relatively consistent with the first quarter of fiscal 2008 effective rate of 34.4%.

 

14


Wal-Mart Stores Segment

Quarter ended April 30, 2008

(Amounts in millions)

 

Quarter ended April 30,

   Segment
net sales
   Segment net
sales increase
from prior
fiscal year
first quarter
    Segment
operating
income
   Segment operating
income increase
from prior fiscal
year first

quarter
    Segment operating
income as a percentage
of segment

net sales
 

2008

   $ 59,073    6.6 %   $ 4,362    9.6 %   7.4 %

2007

     55,437    5.6 %     3,979    2.1 %   7.2 %

The net sales increase for the Wal-Mart Stores segment in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 resulted from our continued expansion activities, strength in the grocery, health and wellness, and entertainment categories and a comparable store sales increase of 2.7%. Comparable store sales increased for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 primarily due to an increase in average transaction size per customer.

Gross margin increased by 0.3 percentage points due to decreased markdowns and lower inventory shrinkage, partially offset by the $46 million excise tax refund recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

Operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales increased by 0.2 percentage points primarily due to higher bonus expenses for store associates and increased utilities expenses when compared to the corresponding quarter in fiscal 2008. Partially offsetting these increased expenses were lower wage-related expenses from improvements in labor productivity in the current year, in conjunction with the favorable comparison from accruals for certain legal matters of $73 million recorded in the prior year.

Other income increased in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 from the prior year due to continued growth in financial services and recycling income.

International Segment

Quarter ended April 30, 2008

(Amounts in millions)

 

Quarter ended April 30,

   Segment
net sales
   Segment net
sales increase
from prior
fiscal year
first quarter
    Segment
operating
income
   Segment operating
income increase
from prior fiscal
year first

quarter
    Segment operating
income as a percentage
of segment

net sales
 

2008

   $ 23,937    22.0 %   $ 1,044    15.6 %   4.4 %

2007

     19,627    18.5 %     903    19.3 %   4.6 %

At April 30, 2008, our International segment was comprised of wholly-owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom, the operation of joint ventures in China and India and the operations of majority-owned subsidiaries in Central America, Japan and Mexico.

The first quarter fiscal 2009 increase in the International segment’s net sales primarily resulted from net sales growth from existing units, our international expansion program, acquisitions and the favorable impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates of $1.3 billion during first quarter fiscal 2009.

In first quarter fiscal 2009, gross margin decreased 0.1 percentage point primarily due to actions taken to establish price leadership in Japan and a mix shift toward lower-margin fuel, partially offset by slight improvements across most other markets.

Operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales were flat compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2008 due to strong underlying improvements in the United Kingdom, Japan and Mexico, partially offset by accruals for certain legal matters.

Other income as a percentage of segment net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 declined 0.1 percentage point from the prior year as a result of the timing of property sales at Gazeley Limited.

Segment operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 was favorably impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates of $46 million.

 

15


Sam’s Club Segment

Quarter ended April 30, 2008

(Amounts in millions)

 

Quarter ended April 30,

   Segment
net sales
   Segment net
sales increase
from prior
fiscal year
first quarter
    Segment
operating
income
   Segment operating
income increase
from prior fiscal
year first

quarter
    Segment operating
income as a percentage
of segment

net sales
 

2008

   $ 11,112    7.6 %   $ 386    4.3 %   3.5 %

2007

     10,323    5.6 %     370    20.1 %   3.6 %

Growth in net sales for the Sam’s Club segment in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 resulted from comparable club sales increases of 6.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and continued expansion activities. Comparable club sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased primarily due to higher growth rates in dry grocery, consumables and certain general merchandise including video games, office supplies and residential furniture, as well as an increase in both member traffic and average transaction size. In addition, fuel sales had a positive impact of 2.9 percentage points on comparable club sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

Gross margin decreased 0.1 percentage point during the first quarter of fiscal 2009 primarily due to the $39 million excise tax refund recorded in the prior year quarter.

Operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales decreased slightly in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2008 primarily due to lower property tax expenses in the current year, in conjunction with the favorable comparison from accruals for certain legal matters of $10 million recorded in the prior year.

Membership and other income, which includes membership, recycling, tenant lease, financial services and a variety of other income categories, increased in the first quarter. Membership income, which is recognized over the term of the membership, increased slightly in the quarter.

Unit Data By Segment

Square Footage in Thousands

 

     April 30,
2008
   Square
Footage
   April 30,
2007
   Square
Footage
   January 31,
2008
   Square
Footage

Wal-Mart Stores Segment

                 

Discount Stores

   937    101,286    1,051    112,129    971    104,561

Supercenters

   2,527    470,831    2,307    430,807    2,447    456,516

Neighborhood Markets

   138    5,803    118    4,945    132    5,552
                             

Total Wal-Mart Stores Segment

   3,602    577,920    3,476    547,881    3,550    566,629

Sam’s Club Segment

   593    78,527    582    76,762    591    78,236
                             

United States Total

   4,195    656,447    4,058    624,643    4,141    644,865

International Segment

                 

Argentina

   23    3,979    14    2,494    21    3,789

Brazil

   315    25,093    300    23,892    313    24,958

Canada

   305    36,695    290    33,739    305    36,590

Central America

   463    7,868    422    7,210    457    7,822

Trust-Mart - China

   101    17,653    101    17,653    101    17,653

Wal-Mart - China

   105    19,433    83    15,493    101    18,738

Japan

   392    26,274    391    28,777    394    26,425

Mexico

   1,037    57,615    907    51,401    1,023    56,804

Puerto Rico

   54    3,829    54    3,829    54    3,829

United Kingdom

   353    28,095    336    26,858    352    27,868
                             

Total International Segment

   3,148    226,534    2,898    211,346    3,121    224,476
                             

Grand Totals

   7,343    882,981    6,956    835,989    7,262    869,341
                             

 

16


Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Cash flows provided by operating activities supply us with a significant source of liquidity. The increase in cash flows provided by operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 was primarily attributable to increased net income and improved inventory management.

 

(Amounts in millions)    Three Months Ended
April 30,
 
   2008     2007  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 3,705     $ 1,847  

Purchase of Company stock

     (1,375 )     (943 )

Dividends paid

     (940 )     (908 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     2,521       3,170  

Payment of long-term debt

     (361 )     (2,232 )

Increase in commercial paper, net

     892       1,988  

Current assets

   $ 50,295     $ 47,579  

Current liabilities

     61,102       54,700  

Working Capital

Current liabilities exceeded current assets at April 30, 2008, by $10.8 billion, a slight decrease from January 31, 2008. Our ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 0.8 at April 30, 2008 and January 31, 2008 and 0.9 at April 30, 2007. We generally have a working capital deficit due to our efficient use of cash in funding operations and in providing returns to shareholders in the form of stock repurchases and payment of dividends.

Company Share Repurchase Program

From time to time, we have repurchased shares of our common stock under a $15.0 billion share repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors on May 31, 2007. Under the share repurchase program, there is no expiration date or other restriction limiting the period over which we can make our share repurchases under the program, which will expire only when and if we have repurchased $15.0 billion of our shares under the program. Any repurchased shares are constructively retired and returned to unissued status. We consider several factors in determining when to execute the share repurchases, including among other things, our current cash needs, our capacity for leverage, our cost of borrowings and the market price of our common stock. At April 30, 2008, approximately $7.1 billion remained of the $15.0 billion authorization.

Capital Resources

Management believes that cash flows from operations and proceeds from the sale of commercial paper will be sufficient to finance seasonal buildups in merchandise inventories and meet other cash requirements. If our operating cash flows are not sufficient to pay dividends and to fund our capital expenditures, we anticipate compensating for any shortfall in funding these expenditures with a combination of commercial paper and long-term debt. We plan to refinance existing long-term debt as it matures and may desire to obtain additional long-term financing for other corporate purposes. We anticipate no difficulty in obtaining long-term financing in view of our credit rating and favorable experiences in the debt market in the recent past.

To monitor our credit rating and our capacity for long-term financing, we consider various qualitative and quantitative factors. We monitor the ratio of our debt to our total capitalization as support for our long-term financing decisions. At April 30, 2008, 2007 and January 31, 2008, the ratio of our debt to total capitalization was approximately 43.2%, 41.3% and 40.9%, respectively. For the purpose of this calculation, debt is defined as the sum of commercial paper, long-term debt due within one year, obligations under capital leases due within one year, long-term debt and long-term obligations under capital leases. Total capitalization is defined as debt plus shareholders' equity. Our ratio of debt to our total capitalization increased in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 due to increased borrowing to fund our share repurchases as well as other business needs.

We also use the ratio of adjusted cash flow from operations to adjusted average debt as a metric to review leverage. Adjusted cash flow from operations, the numerator in the calculation, is defined as cash flow from operations of continuing operations for the current year plus two–thirds of the current year operating rent expense less current year capitalized interest expense. Adjusted average debt, the denominator in the calculation, is defined as average debt plus eight times average operating rent expense. Average debt is the simple average of beginning and ending commercial paper, long–term debt due within one year, obligations under capital leases due within one year, long–term debt and long–term obligations under capital leases. Average operating rent expense is the simple

 

17


average of current year and prior year operating rent expense. We believe this metric is useful to investors as it provides them with a tool to measure our leverage. This metric was 40% and 38% for the twelve months ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in the metric is primarily due to the increase in net cash flow from continuing operations.

The ratio of adjusted cash flow to adjusted average debt is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the SEC’s rules. The most recognized directly comparable GAAP measure is the ratio of cash flow from operations of continuing operations for the current year to average total debt (which excludes any effect of operating leases or capitalized interest), which was 49% and 45% for the twelve months ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

A detailed calculation of the adjusted cash flow from operations to adjusted average debt is set forth below along with a reconciliation to the corresponding measurement calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

(Dollar amounts in millions)    Twelve Months Ended
April 30, 2008
    Twelve Months Ended
April 30, 2007
     

Calculation of adjusted cash flow from operations to average debt

      

 

Numerator

      

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations

   $ 22,212     $ 18,268    

+ Two-thirds current period operating rent expense (1)

     1,123       973    

– Current year capitalized interest expense

     143       173    
                  

Adjusted cash flow from operations

   $ 23,192     $ 19,068    

 

Denominator

      

Average debt (2)

   $ 45,136     $ 40,288    

Eight times average operating rent expense (3)

     12,572       10,060    
                  

Average debt

   $ 57,708     $ 50,348    

 

Adjusted cash flow from operations to average debt (4)

     40 %     38 %  

 

Calculation of cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations to average debt

      

 

Numerator

      

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations

   $ 22,212     $ 18,268    

 

Denominator

      

Average debt (2)

   $ 45,136     $ 40,288    

Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations to average debt

     49 %     45 %  

 

Selected Financial Information

      

Current period operating rent expense

   $ 1,684     $ 1,459    

Prior period operating rent expense

     1,459       1,056    

Current period capitalized interest

     143       173    

 

Certain Balance Sheet Information

      
     April 30, 2008     April 30, 2007     April 30, 2006

Commercial paper

   $ 5,924     $ 4,627     $ 3,653

Long-term debt due within one year

     5,864       4,212       5,528

Obligations under capital leases due within one year

     321       246       239

Long-term debt

     32,379       29,567       25,036

Long-term obligations under capital leases

     3,584       3,548       3,920
                      

Total debt

   $ 48,072     $ 42,200     $ 38,376
                      

 

(1) 2/3 X $1,684 for the twelve months ended April 30, 2008 and 2/3 X $1,459 for the twelve months ended April 30, 2007.
(2) ($48,072 + $42,200)/2 for the twelve months ended April 30, 2008 and ($42,200 + $38,376)/2 for the twelve months ended April 30, 2007.
(3) 8 X (($1,684 + $1,459)/2) for the twelve months ended April 30, 2008 and 8 X (($1,459 + $1,056)/2) for the twelve months ended April 30, 2007.
(4) The calculation of the ratio as defined.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risks relating to our operations result primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in currency exchange rates. Our market risks at April 30, 2008 are similar to those disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008.

The information concerning market risk under the sub-caption “Market Risk” of the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on page 36 of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended January 31, 2008 that is an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008, is hereby incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information, which is required to be timely disclosed, is accumulated and communicated to management in a timely fashion. In designing and evaluating such controls and procedures, we recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Our management is necessarily required to use judgment in evaluating controls and procedures. Also, we have had investments in certain unconsolidated entities. Because we did not control or manage those entities, our controls and procedures with respect to those entities were substantially more limited than those we maintain with respect to our consolidated subsidiaries.

In the ordinary course of business, we review our system of internal control over financial reporting and make changes to our systems and processes to improve controls and increase efficiency, while ensuring that we maintain an effective internal control environment. Changes may include such activities as implementing new, more efficient systems and automating manual processes.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures was performed as of the end of the period covered by this report. This evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

I. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: We discuss certain legal proceedings pending against us in Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the caption “Item 1. Financial Statements,” in Note 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements, which is captioned “Legal Proceedings,” and refer you to that discussion for important information concerning those legal proceedings, including the basis for such actions and, where known, the relief sought. We provide the following additional information concerning those legal proceedings which sets forth the name of the lawsuit, the court in which the lawsuit is pending and the date on which the petition commencing the lawsuit was filed. In each lawsuit's name, the letters “WM” refer to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wage and Hour “Off the Clock” Class Actions: Adcox v. WM, US Dist. Ct. (“USDC”), Southern Dist. of TX, 11/9/04; Alix (f/k/a Gamble) v. WM, Supreme Ct. of the State of NY, County of Albany, 12/7/01; Armijo v. WM, 1st Judicial Dist. Ct., Rio Arriba County, NM, 9/18/00; Bailey v. WM, Marion County Superior Ct. IN, 8/17/00; Barnett v. WM, Superior Ct. of WA, King County, 9/10/01; Basco v. WM, USDC, Eastern Dist. of LA, 9/5/00; Bayardo v. WM, USDC, Dist. of NV, 3/19/07; Blackstock v. WM, State Ct. of Chatham County, GA, 4/27/06; Braun v. WM, 1st Judicial Dist. Ct. Dakota County MN, 9/12/01; Braun/Hummel v. WM, Ct. of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, PA, 3/20/02 / 8/30/04; Brogan v. WM, Superior Ct. of NH, Strafford County, 2/17/05; Brogan v. WM, USDC, Southern Dist. of WV, 4/3/07; Brown v. WM, 14th Judicial Circuit Ct., Rock Island, IL, 6/20/01; Brown v. WM, USDC, Eastern Dist. of NY, 4/5/07; Campbell v. WM, USDC, Dist. of NV, 9/20/06; Carter v. WM, Ct. of Common Pleas, Colleton County, SC, 7/31/02; Cole v. WM, USDC, Dist. of MT, Central Div., 1/13/06; Connatser v. WM, USDC, Western Dist. of TN, 4/4/07; Curless v. WM, USDC, Dist. of WY, 10/26/05; Deas v. WM, USDC, Eastern Dist. of VA, 4/3/06; Evans v. WM, USDC, Dist. of SC, 01/9/07; Gilles v. WM, USDC, Southern Dist. of IN, 3/31/06; Green v. WM, USDC, S. Dist. of FL, 11/6/06; Grey v. WM, USDC, Dist. of KS, 7/14/06; Gross v. WM, Circuit Ct., Laurel County, KY, 9/29/04; Hale v. WM, Circuit Ct., Jackson County, MO, 8/15/01; Hall v. WM,

 

19


USDC, Dist. of NV, 8/12/05; Henderson v. WM, USDC, Dist. of NV, 12/6/06; Hicks v. WM, USDC, Eastern Dist. of TX, 4/3/07; Hinesman v. WM, USDC, N. Dist. Of GA, 3/5/08; Holcomb v. WM, State Ct. of Chatham County, GA, 3/28/00; Husidic v. WM,

USDC, Southern Dist. of IA, 9/14/06; Iliadis v. WM, Superior Ct. of NJ, Middlesex County, 5/30/02; Jackson v. WM, Superior Ct. of DE, New Castle County, 4/4/05; Jackson v. WM, USDC, Dist. of ID, 2/3/06; King v. WM, USDC, Eastern Dist. of PA, 4/13/07; Kraemer v. WM, USDC, Dist. of ND, 11/15/06; Kuhlmann v. WM, Circuit Ct., Milwaukee County, WI, 8/30/01; Lerma v. WM, Dist. Ct., Cleveland County, OK, 8/31/01; Lopez v. WM, 23rd Judicial Dist. Ct. of Brazoria County, TX, 6/23/00; Luce v. WM, Circuit Ct., Brown County, SD, 5/11/05; Mathies v. WM, USDC, Dist. of OR, 3/30/07; McFarlin v. WM, Superior Ct. of AK at Anchorage, 4/7/05; Montgomery v. WM, USDC, Southern Dist. of MS, 12/30/02; Moore v. WM, USDC, Dist. of OR, 12/7/05; Mussman v. WM, IA Dist. Ct., Clinton County, 6/5/01; Nagy v. WM, Circuit Ct. of Boyd County, KY, 8/29/01; Nolan v. WM, USDC, Northern Dist. of OH, Eastern Div., 4/4/06; Olinger v. WM, USDC, Eastern Dist. of MI, 9/14/06; Parrish v. WM, Superior Ct., Chatham County, GA, 2/17/05; Pedro v. WM, USDC, Dist. of MA, 4/4/07; Penn v. WM, USDC, Eastern Dist. of LA, 9/15/06; Phelps v. WM, USDC, Southern Dist. of IL, 4/4/07; Pickett v. WM, Circuit Court, Shelby County, TN, 10/22/03; Poha v. WM, USDC, Dist. of HI, 11/1/05; Pritchett v. WM, Circuit Ct. of Jefferson County, AL, 2/17/05; Richardson v. WM, USDC, Dist. of NV, 4/4/07; Robinson v. WM, USDC, Southern Dist. of MS, 3/5/07; Romero v. WM, Superior Ct. of CA, Monterey County, 03/25/04; Salvas v. WM, Superior Ct., Middlesex County, MA, 8/21/01; Sarda v. WM, Circuit Ct., Washington County, FL, 9/21/01; Savaglio v. WM, Superior Ct. of CA, Alameda County, 2/6/01; Scott v. WM, Circuit Ct. of Saginaw County, MI, 9/26/01; Smith/Ballard v. WM, USDC, Northern Dist. of CA, 3/16/06; Smith v. WM, USDC, Western Dist. of WI, 4/2/07; Stafford v. WM, USDC, Dist. of NE, 12/8/05; Whitacre v. WM, USDC, Dist. of NV, 6/15/07; Willey v. WM, Dist. Ct. of Wyandotte County, KS, 9/21/01; Williams v. WM, Superior Ct. of CA, Alameda County, 3/23/04; Williams v. WM, USDC, Dist of UT, Central Div., 1/20/06; Williams v. WM, USDC, Western Dist. of NC, 3/23/06; Winters v. WM, Circuit Ct., Holmes County, MS, 5/28/02; Woods v. WM, USDC, Dist. of ME, 1/12/06; Works v. WM, Circuit Ct., Miller County, AR, 5/18/05.

Exempt Status Cases: Salvador v. WM and Sam’s West, Inc., USDC, Central Dist. of CA, Western Div., 12/22/05; Sepulveda v. WM, USDC, Central Dist. of CA, Western Div., 1/14/04; Matlock v. WM and Claims Management, Inc., USDC, Northern Dist. of TX, 8/7/07; Patel v. WM., USDC, Middle Dist. of AL, 5/6/08.

Gender Discrimination Cases: Dukes v. WM, USDC, Northern Dist. of CA, San Francisco Div., 6/19/01; 9th Circuit Ct. of Appeals, San Francisco, CA, 8/26/04; EEOC (Smith) v. WM, USDC, Eastern Dist. of KY, London Div., 8/31/01.

II. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS: Item 103 of SEC Regulation S-K requires disclosure of certain environmental matters. The following matters are disclosed in accordance with that requirement:

The District Attorney for Solano County, California, has alleged that the Company's store in Vacaville, California, failed to comply with certain California statutes regulating hazardous waste and hazardous materials handling practices. Specifically, the County is alleging that the Company improperly disposed of a limited amount of damaged or returned product containing dry granular fertilizer and pesticides on or about April 3, 2002. The parties are currently negotiating toward a resolution of this matter. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The District Attorney for Orange County, California, has alleged that the Company's store in Foothill Ranch, California, failed to comply with certain California statutes regulating hazardous waste and hazardous materials handling practices. Specifically, the County is alleging that the Company improperly disposed of a limited amount of damaged product containing dry granular pesticide on or about January 24, 2005. The parties are currently negotiating toward a resolution of this matter. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) approached a grocery industry group to resolve issues relating to refrigerant-handling practices and to reduce the use of ozone-depleting refrigerants in refrigeration equipment. The Company then approached the EPA independently to address these issues, and proposed a plan for removing ozone-depleting refrigerants from certain types of refrigeration equipment. The parties are currently negotiating a resolution of this matter. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

On February 1, 2007, the Company received from the EPA a request pursuant to Section 114(a) of the Federal Clean Air Act seeking detailed information regarding all non-essential products containing ozone-depleting substances including products such as Loony String which the Company may have sold or distributed since January 1, 2002. On March 8, 2007, the EPA issued a revised request for information in which it limited its request to string products including Loony String, Silly String and Fiesta String, and covering the period from 2004 to the present. The Company submitted an initial response to the EPA on May 8, 2007, and is continuing to gather the requested information. The Company is cooperating fully with the EPA regarding this matter. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

20


In January 2007, Wal-Mart Puerto Rico, Inc. became aware that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) was concerned about alleged violations of a permit issued by that agency in 2003, for the fill of 0.23 acres of a creek and its contiguous wetlands during the construction of the Wal-Mart Store in Caguas, Puerto Rico. On January 19, 2007, Wal-Mart Puerto Rico responded to these issues in writing. On January 25, 2007, the USACE issued a formal Notice of Non-Compliance to Wal-Mart Puerto Rico regarding this matter. Wal-Mart Puerto Rico filed a formal response and is currently implementing mitigation measures and working with the USACE to resolve the matter. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

On November 8, 2005, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, seeking documents and information relating to the Company's receipt, transportation, handling, identification, recycling, treatment, storage and disposal of certain merchandise that constitutes hazardous materials or hazardous waste. The Company has been informed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California that it is a target of a criminal investigation into potential violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), the Clean Water Act, and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Statute. This U.S. Attorney's Office contends, among other things, that the use of Company trucks to transport certain returned merchandise from the Company's stores to its return centers is prohibited by RCRA because those materials may be considered hazardous waste. The government alleges that, to comply with RCRA, the Company must ship from the store certain materials as “hazardous waste” directly to a certified disposal facility using a certified hazardous waste carrier. The Company contends that the practice of transporting returned merchandise to its return centers for subsequent disposition, including disposal by certified facilities, is compliant with applicable laws and regulations. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of California has initiated its own investigation regarding the Company's handling of hazardous materials and hazardous waste and the Company has received administrative document requests from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control requesting documents and information with respect to two of the Company's distribution facilities. Further, the Company also received a subpoena from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for documents and administrative interrogatories requesting information, among other things, regarding the Company's handling of materials and hazardous waste. California state and local government authorities and the State of Nevada have also initiated investigations into these matters. The Company is cooperating fully with the respective authorities. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

On March 28, 2008, the Company received a Notice of Violation from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (“Department”) alleging various violations of Missouri hazardous waste laws and regulations in connection with the activities of a third-party contractor with whom the Company had contracted for recycling services. The Department alleges that the Company provided certain items to the contractor for recycling that should have been managed as hazardous waste. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") has inspected the contractor's facilities and is also conducting an investigation. The Company has submitted a response to the Notice of Violation and is cooperating with the Department and the EPA. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The Company has received a Notice of Probable Violation from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (the “Administration”) dated May 29, 2008, in connection with certain shipments of batteries that were made during October and November 2006. The Administration alleges failure to maintain appropriate records; failure to mark packages correctly; failure to package batteries with protection to prevent short circuits; and failure to provide proper training for employees. The Company is cooperating with the Administration in this matter. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The risks described in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The risk factors discussed in that Form 10-K do not identify all risks that we face because our business operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently known to us or that we currently consider to be immaterial to our operations.

 

21


Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

From time to time, we repurchase shares of our common stock under a $15.0 billion share repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors on May 31, 2007, and publicly announced on June 1, 2007. This program does not have any expiration date. Share repurchase activity for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 was as follows:

 

Fiscal Period

   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
   Average
Price Paid
per Share
   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
   Approximate
Dollar Value
of Shares
that May Yet
Be Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
(billions)

February 1-29, 2008

   10,026,000    $ 49.97    10,026,000    $ 8.0

March 1-31, 2008

   8,441,000    $ 51.01    8,441,000    $ 7.5

April 1-30, 2008

   6,913,200    $ 55.81    6,913,200    $ 7.1
               

Total

   25,380,200    $ 51.91    25,380,200    $ 7.1
               

 

Item 5. Other Information

This Quarterly Report contains statements that Wal-Mart believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by that Act. These forward-looking statements include a statement in Note 9 to our condensed consolidated financial statements regarding the forecasted full year tax rate for our fiscal 2009 and the factors affecting that rate, regarding the effect of the future recognition of certain tax benefits on the Company’s tax rate and regarding the possible effect of the resolution of certain tax audit issues in the future, including the effect on the Company’s tax rate, a statement under the caption “Results of Operations—Quarter ended April 30, 2008” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations regarding our expectations relating to continuing increases in certain operating expenses, and statements under the subcaption “Capital Resources” under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations regarding our intent and ability to fund certain cash flow shortfalls by the sale of commercial paper and long-term debt securities, our plans to refinance existing long-term debt as it matures and our ability to sell our long-term debt securities. These statements are identified by the use of the words “anticipate,” “could reduce,” “expect,” “plan,” “would, if recognized, affect” or a variation of one of those words in those statements or by the use of words or phrases of similar import. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, domestically and internationally, including general economic conditions, cost of goods, consumer credit availability, competitive pressures, inflation, consumer spending patterns and debt levels, currency exchange fluctuations, trade restrictions, changes in tariff and freight rates, fluctuations in the costs of gasoline, diesel fuel and other energy, transportation, utilities, labor and health care, accident costs, casualty and other insurance costs, interest rate fluctuations, capital market conditions, geopolitical conditions, weather conditions, storm-related damage to our facilities, regulatory matters and other risks. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain risk factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in Part II, Item 1A, of this Quarterly Report and in other of our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008. This Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with that Annual Report on Form 10-K, and all our other filings, including Current Reports on Form 8-K, made with the SEC through the date of this report. We urge you to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. As a result of these matters, including changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other factors, the actual results relating to the subject matter of any forward-looking statement in this Quarterly Report may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed or implied in that forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report are made only as of the date of this report and we undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 

22


Item 6. Exhibits

The following documents are filed as an exhibit to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibit 3(i)   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended January 31, 1989 (which document may be found and reviewed in the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, in the files therein relating to the Company, whose SEC file number is No. 1-6991), the Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File Number 33-43315) and the Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated hereby by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, dated August 11, 1999 (which document may be found and reviewed in the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, in the files therein relating to the Company, whose SEC file number is No. 1-6991).
Exhibit 3(ii)   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated March 8, 2005.
Exhibit 12.1*   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Exhibit 31.1*   Chief Executive Officer Section 302 Certification
Exhibit 31.2*   Chief Financial Officer Section 302 Certification
Exhibit 32.1**   Chief Executive Officer Section 906 Certification
Exhibit 32.2**   Chief Financial Officer Section 906 Certification
Exhibit 99   The information incorporated by reference in Part I, Item 3 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is incorporated by reference to the material set forth under the sub-caption “Market Risk” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which is contained in Exhibit 13 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

* Filed herewith as an Exhibit.
** Furnished herewith as an Exhibit.

 

23


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Date: June 9, 2008   By:  

/s/ H. Lee Scott, Jr.

   

H. Lee Scott, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: June 9, 2008   By:  

/s/ Thomas M. Schoewe

   

Thomas M. Schoewe

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: June 9, 2008   By:  

/s/ Steven P. Whaley

   

Steven P. Whaley

Senior Vice President and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

24


Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description of Document

3(i)   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended January 31, 1989 (which document may be found and reviewed in the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, in the files therein relating to the Company, whose SEC file number is No. 1-6991), the Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File Number 33-43315) and the Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated hereby by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, dated August 11, 1999 (which document may be found and reviewed in the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, in the files therein relating to the Company, whose SEC file number is No. 1-6991).
3(ii)   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated March 8, 2005.
12.1*   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
31.1*   Chief Executive Officer Section 302 Certification
31.2*   Chief Financial Officer Section 302 Certification
32.1**   Chief Executive Officer Section 906 Certification
32.2**   Chief Financial Officer Section 906 Certification
99   The information incorporated by reference in Part I, Item 3 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is incorporated by reference to the material set forth under the sub-caption “Market Risk” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which is contained in Exhibit 13 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

* Filed herewith as an Exhibit.
** Furnished herewith as an Exhibit.