Wal-Mart Increases Annual Dividend 15 Percent

PR Newswire

Posted: 2009-03-05 09:23:00

BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has approved an increase in the annual dividend to $1.09 per share, a 15-percent increase from the $0.95 per share paid during fiscal year 2009. For this current fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2010, the annual dividend of $1.09 per share will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.2725 per share, according to the following record and payable dates:

                          Record Date              Payable Date
                          -----------              ------------

March 13, 2009           April 6, 2009
                         May 15, 2009             June 1, 2009
                         August 14, 2009          September 8, 2009
                         December 11, 2009        January 4, 2010

"The strength of our operations and the resulting strong financial position allow us to increase our dividend payout to shareholders again this year," said Mike Duke, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. president and chief executive officer. "Our free cash flow remains strong enough to fund Wal-Mart's growth around the world, make strategic acquisitions and fund returns to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases."

Based upon this announced increase, the company plans to return more than $4.2 billion to its shareholders in the form of dividends in fiscal year 2010. Wal-Mart has increased its dividend every year since its first declared dividend of $0.05 per share in March 1974.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Walmart discount stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club locations in the United States. The company also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.