WMT Walmart Inc

By Micah Maidenberg

Walmart Inc. (WMT) reported sales from its domestic stores rose more than expected at the end of the year, but warned that growth would slow.

The retailer said same-store sales in the U.S. rose 4.2% in the quarter that ended in January, beating expectations from analysts who track the company, according to FactSet.

Shares of Walmart rose 4.6% in premarket trading Tuesday.

The sales gains at the end of the year helped the company to record comparable-store growth of 3.6% for its full fiscal year. However, Walmart said growth will ease, with U.S. stores sales slowing to no more than 3% during its new fiscal year.

Overall, Walmart reported fiscal fourth quarter revenue of $138.8 billion, up 1.9% versus the comparable quarter a year earlier. That was in line with expectations from analysts, according to FactSet.

Sales were up in the domestic market, but fell in Walmart's overseas segment. The company's Sam's Club business recorded $14.9 billion in revenue, down 3.7% from the year earlier.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based company reported a profit of $3.69 billion, or $1.27 a share, in the latest quarter, compared with $2.18 billion, or 73 cents a share a year earlier.

Excluding certain costs, Walmart's adjusted profit of $1.41 a share surpassed the $1.33 a share that analysts predicted, according to FactSet.

Write to Micah Maidenberg at micah.maidenberg@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 19, 2019 07:48 ET (12:48 GMT)

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