Wal-Mart 3Q profit up but shares slide on outlook

NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart reported a 9 percent increase in third-quarter net income as the world’s largest retailer continues to woo back shoppers by reemphasizing low prices. But momentum has slowed as it grapples with an uncertain global economy.

The Bentonville, Ark., discounter issued a fourth-quarter profit outlook that fell short of Wall Street expectations and shares slid nearly 5 percent in early trading. Revenue at stores open at least a year, a figure that measures growth in established stores, also disappointed.

And a bribery investigation that began in Mexico may be spreading.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Wal-Mart said Thursday that it was looking into potential violations related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Brazil, China and India as well.

Wal-Mart is considered an economic bellwether because the retailer accounts for nearly 10 percent of nonautomotive retail spending in the U.S. The company’s latest results underscore how low-income shoppers are struggling, stretching every dollar until the next payday.

“Macroeconomic conditions continue to pressure our customers,” said Charles Holley, Wal-Mart’s chief financial officer. “The holiday season is predicted to be very competitive but we are well prepared to deliver on the value and low prices our customers expect.”

Wal-Mart has been able to turn around its U.S. business by fixing the mistakes it made in merchandising and pricing. It’s hammering its low price message again. It’s also returned thousands of items to its shelves after a campaign to reduce clutter in its stores backfired.

The company earned $3.63 billion, or $1.08 per share, in the quarter ended Oct. 31. That compares with $3.33 billion, or 96 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Net sales, excluding Sam’s Club membership fees, rose 3.4 percent to $113.2 million.

Analysts were expecting $1.07 per share on revenue of $114 billion.

Wal-Mart says revenue at stores opened at least a year rose 1.5 percent for its namesake U.S. business, below Wall Street’s estimate of 1.8 percent. That’s the division’s fifth straight quarterly gain after posting nine straight quarters of declines. But the figure represents a slowdown from the 2.2 percent growth in the second quarter and a 2.6 percent increase in the first quarter.

For the entire U.S. business, the measure rose 1.7 percent, including a 2.7 percent rise at Sam’s Clubs.

Revenue for Wal-Mart’s U.S. business, which accounts for about 60 percent of the company’s total business, rose 3.6 percent to $66.1 billion, while revenue at Sam’s Club rose 4.7 percent to $13.9 billion. Revenue at its international division, which accounts for about a quarter of Wal-Mart’s total revenue, rose 4.7 percent. That marked a slowdown from the previous quarter.

The company has been slowing its expansion in China and Brazil to focus on getting the best store sites and fine tuning its price strategy. In Mexico, Wal-Mart delayed the expansion of some stores as the company takes additional steps there to reinforce documentation backing its real estate projects.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is still grappling with the fallout from alleged incidents of bribery that first surfaced in April. That involved allegations that the company failed to notify law enforcement after discovering that company officials authorized millions of dollars in bribes in Mexico to speed building permits and gain other favors. The company launched its own internal investigation and is working with government officials in the U.S. and Mexico.

Wal-Mart has also been overhauling its compliance program.

The company has incurred expenses of $48 million for the third quarter and a total of $99 million for the first nine months of its fiscal year related to these matters. During a conference call with reporters, Holley declined to offer any more details beyond what was in the filing with the Securities andch Exchange Commission on Thursday.

Wal-Mart narrowed its full-year earnings guidance and issued a fourth-quarter profit outlook that below most analyst forecasts.

It now expects earnings per share for the full year to be between $4.88 per share and $4.93 per share. It originally expected earnings per share of $4.83 to $4.93. For the fourth quarter, it expects earnings per share to be $1.53 per share and $1.58 per share. Analysts had expected $1.59 per share.

Wal-Mart’s stock fell $3.31 to $68 in early trading. Over the past 52 weeks, share have been trading anywhere from $56.26 to $77.60.