Wal-Mart Earnings Higher For Last Quarter

Wal-Mart Stores, the world`s largest retailer, posted a thirteen percent increase in third-quarter earnings but narrowly missed Wall Street expectations. The retailer said today it earned 2.03 billion dollars, or 46 per share, compared with earnings of 1.8 billion, or 41 cents per share a year ago. Analysts had forecast earnings of 47 cents a share for the latest period. Sales at US stores open at least a year were up 6.1% for the quarter. President and CEO Lee Scott said the retailer`s rapidly expanding international stores and its Sam`s Club stores were notably strong. Profit at the international segment rose 28.5% to 564 million in the latest quarter versus a year ago. Profit from Sam`s Club warehouses was up twelve-point-five percent at 270 millon dollars. ------ Domestic Wal-Mart stores, including Supercenters, boosted operating profit to over 2.97 billion in the quarter, up 10.9% from the same period last year. For the first nine months of the year, Wal-Mart earned six-point 33 billion, or a 1.44 per share.