WMT Walmart Inc

By Sarah Nassauer 

Walmart Inc. reported sluggish holidays sales despite continued online gains, adding to a string of disappointments from traditional retailers as they adjust to changing shopping habits.

Walmart said U.S. comparable sales, those from stores and digital channels operating for at least 12 months, increased 1.9% in the fourth quarter, less than the nearly 3% growth the company predicted.

The results showed the world's biggest retailer struggled to get shoppers to spend in its stores during a shorter holiday selling season as it ramped up efforts to compete with Amazon.com Inc. Walmart's U.S. e-commerce sales rose 35% in the fourth quarter, boosted by online grocery orders.

Executives said the holiday season started strong around Thanksgiving but blamed soft sales of general merchandise in the weeks before Christmas. They will host an investor day later Tuesday where analysts expect to hear more about the company's strategy.

Write to Sarah Nassauer at sarah.nassauer@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 18, 2020 06:49 ET (11:49 GMT)

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