EX-13 3 dex13.htm THE ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS The Annual Report to Shareholders

Exhibit 13

Eleven-Year Financial Summary

WAL-MART

(Dollar amounts in millions except per share data)

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2006     2005     2004  

Operating Results

      

Net sales

   $ 312,427     $ 285,222     $ 256,329  

Net sales increase

     9.5 %     11.3 %     11.6 %

Comparative store sales increase in the United States (1)

     3 %     3 %     4 %

Cost of sales

   $ 240,391     $ 219,793     $ 198,747  

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses

     56,733       51,248       44,909  

Interest expense, net

     1,172       986       832  

Effective tax rate

     33.4 %     34.7 %     36.1 %

Income from continuing operations

   $ 11,231     $ 10,267     $ 8,861  

Net income

     11,231       10,267       9,054  

Per share of common stock:

      

Income from continuing operations, diluted

   $ 2.68     $ 2.41     $ 2.03  

Net income, diluted

     2.68       2.41       2.07  

Dividends

     0.60       0.52       0.36  

Financial Position

      

Current assets of continuing operations

   $ 43,824     $ 38,854     $ 34,421  

Inventories

     32,191       29,762       26,612  

Property, equipment and capital lease assets, net

     79,290       68,118       59,023  

Total assets of continuing operations

     138,187       120,154       105,405  

Current liabilities of continuing operations

     48,826       43,182       37,840  

Long-term debt

     26,429       20,087       17,102  

Long-term obligations under capital leases

     3,742       3,171       2,997  

Shareholders’ equity

     53,171       49,396       43,623  

Financial Ratios

      

Current ratio

     0.9       0.9       0.9  

Return on assets (2)

     8.9 %     9.3 %     9.2 %

Return on shareholders’ equity (3)

     22.5 %     22.6 %     21.3 %

Other Year-End Data

      

Discount stores in the United States

     1,209       1,353       1,478  

Supercenters in the United States

     1,980       1,713       1,471  

SAM’S CLUBs in the United States

     567       551       538  

Neighborhood Markets in the United States

     100       85       64  

Units outside the United States

     2,285       1,587       1,355  

 

(1) Comparative store sales are considered to be sales at stores that were open as of February 1 of the prior fiscal year and have not been expanded or relocated since that date.

 

(2) Income from continuing operations before minority interest divided by average total assets.

 

(3) Income from continuing operations before minority interest divided by average shareholders’ equity.

Financial information for all years has been restated to reflect the sale of McLane Company, Inc. (“McLane”) that occurred in fiscal 2004. McLane is presented as a discontinued operation. All years have been restated for the fiscal 2004 adoption of the expense recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting and Disclosure of Stock-Based Compensation.” In fiscal 2005, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” which did not result in a material impact to our financial statements.

In fiscal 2003, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” In years prior to adoption, the Company recorded amortization expense related to goodwill.

 

18


2003     2002     2001     2000     1999     1998     1997     1996  
             
$ 229,616     $ 204,011     $ 180,787     $ 156,249     $ 130,522     $ 112,005     $ 99,627     $ 89,051  
  12.6 %     12.8 %     15.7 %     19.7 %     16.5 %     12.4 %     11.9 %     13.7 %
  5 %     6 %     5 %     8 %     9 %     6 %     5 %     4 %
$ 178,299     $ 159,097     $ 140,720     $ 121,825     $ 102,490     $ 88,163     $ 78,897     $ 70,485  
  39,983       35,147       30,822       26,025       21,778       18,831       16,437       14,547  
  927       1,183       1,196       840       598       716       807       863  
  35.2 %     36.2 %     36.5 %     36.8 %     37.4 %     37.0 %     36.8 %     36.8 %
$ 7,818     $ 6,448     $ 6,087     $ 5,394     $ 4,240     $ 3,424     $ 2,978     $ 2,689  
  7,955       6,592       6,235       5,324       4,397       3,504       3,042       2,737  
             
$ 1.76     $ 1.44     $ 1.36     $ 1.21     $ 0.95     $ 0.76     $ 0.65     $ 0.58  
  1.79       1.47       1.39       1.19       0.98       0.77       0.66       0.59  
  0.30       0.28       0.24       0.20       0.16       0.14       0.11       0.10  
             
$ 29,543     $ 26,615     $ 25,344     $ 23,478     $ 20,064     $ 18,589     $ 17,385     $ 16,779  
  24,401       22,053       20,987       19,296       16,361       16,005       15,556       15,667  
  51,374       45,248       40,461       35,533       25,600       23,237       19,935       18,554  
  92,900       81,549       76,231       68,983       48,513       44,221       38,571       36,621  
  32,225       26,795       28,366       25,525       16,155       13,930       10,432       10,944  
  16,597       15,676       12,489       13,653       6,887       7,169       7,685       8,483  
  3,000       3,044       3,152       3,000       2,697       2,480       2,304       2,089  
  39,461       35,192       31,407       25,878       21,141       18,519       17,151       14,757  
             
  0.9       1.0       0.9       0.9       1.2       1.3       1.7       1.5  
  9.2 %     8.4 %     8.6 %     9.8 %     9.5 %     8.5 %     8.0 %     7.9 %
  20.9 %     19.4 %     21.3 %     22.9 %     21.4 %     19.2 %     18.7 %     19.6 %
             
  1,568       1,647       1,736       1,801       1,869       1,921       1,960       1,995  
  1,258       1,066       888       721       564       441       344       239  
  525       500       475       463       451       443       436       433  
  49       31       19       7       4       —         —         —    
  1,272       1,154       1,054       991       703       589       314       276  

The consolidation of The Seiyu, Ltd., had a significant impact on the fiscal 2006 financial position amounts in this summary. The acquisition of the ASDA Group PLC and the Company’s related debt issuance had a significant impact on the fiscal 2000 amounts in this summary.

Years prior to 1998 have not been restated for the effects of the change in accounting method for SAM’S CLUB membership revenue recognition as the effects of this change would not have a material impact on this summary. The cumulative effect for this accounting change recorded in fiscal 2000 amounted to $198 million net of tax.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to current presentations.

 

19


Table of contents

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition    21
Consolidated statements of income    30
Consolidated balance sheets    31
Consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity    32
Consolidated statements of cash flows    33
Notes to consolidated financial statements    34
Report of independent registered public accounting firm    48
Report of independent registered public accounting firm on internal control over financial reporting    49
Management’s report to our shareholders    50
Fiscal 2006 end-of-year store count    51
Senior officers and board of directors    52
Corporate and stock information    53


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

WAL-MART

Overview

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (“Wal-Mart” or the “Company”) is a global retailer committed to improving the standard of living for our customers throughout the world. We earn the trust of our customers every day by providing a broad assortment of quality merchandise and services at every day low prices (“EDLP”) while fostering a culture that rewards and embraces mutual respect, integrity and diversity. EDLP is our pricing philosophy under which we price items at a low price every day so that our customers trust that our prices will not change erratically under frequent promotional activity. Our focus for SAM’S CLUB is to provide exceptional value on brand-name merchandise at “members only” prices for both business and personal use. Internationally, we operate with similar philosophies. Our fiscal year ends on January 31.

We intend for this discussion to provide the reader with information that will assist in understanding our financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements from year to year, and the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as how certain accounting principles affect our financial statements. The discussion also provides information about the financial results of the various segments of our business to provide a better understanding of how those segments and their results affect the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as a whole. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and accompanying notes as of January 31, 2006, and the year then ended.

Throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition, we discuss segment operating income and comparative store sales. Segment operating income refers to income from continuing operations before net interest expense, income taxes and minority interest. Segment operating income does not include unallocated corporate overhead. Comparative store sales is a measure which indicates the performance of our existing stores by measuring the growth in sales for such stores for a particular period over the corresponding period in the prior year. For fiscal 2006 and prior years, we considered comparative store sales to be sales at stores that were open as of February 1st of the prior fiscal year and had not been expanded or relocated since that date. Stores that were expanded or relocated during that period are not included in the calculation. Comparative store sales is also referred to as “same-store” sales by others within the retail industry. The method of calculating comparative store sales varies across the retail industry. As a result, our calculation of comparative store sales is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Beginning in fiscal 2007, we changed our method of calculating comparative store sales. These changes are described in our Current Report on Form 8-K that we furnished to the SEC on February 2, 2006.

On May 23, 2003, we consummated the sale of McLane Company, Inc. (“McLane”), one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, for $1.5 billion. As a result of this sale, we classified McLane as a discontinued operation in the financial statements for fiscal 2004. McLane’s external sales prior to the divestiture were $4.3 billion in fiscal 2004. McLane continues to be a supplier to the Company.

Operations

Our operations are comprised of three business segments: Wal-Mart Stores, SAM’S CLUB and International.

Our Wal-Mart Stores segment is the largest segment of our business, accounting for approximately 67.2% of our fiscal 2006 net sales. This segment consists of three traditional retail formats, all of which are located in the United States, and Wal-Mart’s online retail format, Walmart.com. Our traditional Wal-Mart Stores retail formats include:

 

    Supercenters, which average approximately 187,000 square feet in size and offer a wide assortment of general merchandise and a full-line supermarket;

 

    Discount stores, which average approximately 102,000 square feet in size and offer a wide assortment of general merchandise and a limited assortment of food products; and

 

    Neighborhood Markets, which average approximately 42,000 square feet in size and offer a full-line supermarket and a limited assortment of general merchandise.

Our SAM’S CLUB segment consists of membership warehouse clubs in the United States and the segment’s online retail format, samsclub.com. SAM’S CLUB accounted for approximately 12.7% of our fiscal 2006 sales. Our SAM’S CLUBs in the United States average approximately 129,000 square feet in size.

As of January 31, 2006, our International operations were located in nine countries and Puerto Rico. Internationally, we generated approximately 20.1% of our fiscal 2006 sales. Outside the United States, we operate several different formats of retail stores and restaurants, including supercenters, discount stores and SAM’S CLUBs. Additionally, at January 31, 2006, we owned an unconsolidated 33.3% minority interest in Central American Retail Holding Company (“CARHCO”), a retailer operating in five Central American countries. In February 2006, we acquired a controlling interest in CARHCO.

The Retail Industry

We operate in the highly competitive retail industry in both the United States and abroad. We face strong sales competition from other discount, department, drug, variety and specialty stores and supermarkets, many of which are national chains. Additionally, we compete with a number of companies for prime retail site locations, as well as in attracting and retaining quality employees (“associates”). We, along with other retail companies, are influenced by a number of factors including, but not limited to: cost of goods, consumer debt levels, economic conditions, interest rates, customer preferences, employment, labor costs, inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, fuel prices, weather patterns and insurance costs. Our SAM’S CLUB segment faces strong sales competition from other wholesale club operators, as well as other retailers. Further information on risks to our Company can be located in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2006.

 

21


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

WAL-MART

Key Items in Fiscal 2006

Significant financial items during fiscal 2006 include:

 

    Net sales increased 9.5% from fiscal 2005 to $312.4 billion in fiscal 2006, and net income increased 9.4% to $11.2 billion. Foreign currency exchange rates favorably impacted sales and operating income by $1.5 billion and $64 million, respectively, in fiscal 2006.

 

    Net cash provided by operating activities was $17.6 billion for fiscal 2006. During fiscal 2006, we repurchased $3.6 billion of our common stock under our share repurchase program and paid dividends of $2.5 billion. Additionally during fiscal 2006, we issued $7.7 billion in long-term debt, repaid $2.7 billion of long-term debt and funded a net decrease in commercial paper of $704 million.

 

    Total assets increased 15.0%, to $138.2 billion at January 31, 2006, when compared to January 31, 2005. During fiscal 2006, we made $14.6 billion of capital expenditures which was an increase of 13.0% over capital expenditures of $12.9 billion in fiscal 2005.

 

    When compared to fiscal 2005, our Wal-Mart Stores segment experienced an 8.2% increase in operating income and a 9.4% increase in net sales in fiscal 2006.

 

    SAM’S CLUB’s continued focus on our business members helped drive an 8.2% increase in operating income on a 7.2% increase in net sales when comparing fiscal 2006 with fiscal 2005.

 

    Our International segment generated a net sales and operating income increase of 11.4% compared to fiscal 2005.

Company Performance Measures

Management uses a number of metrics to assess the Company’s performance. The following are the more frequently used metrics:

 

    Comparative store sales is a measure which indicates the performance of our existing stores by measuring the growth in sales for such stores for a particular period over the corresponding period in the prior year. Our Wal-Mart Stores segment’s comparative store sales were 3.0% for fiscal 2006 versus 2.9% for fiscal 2005. Our SAM’S CLUB segment’s comparative club sales were 5.0% in fiscal 2006 versus 5.8% in fiscal 2005.

 

    Operating income growth greater than net sales growth has long been a measure of success for us. For fiscal 2006, our operating income increased by 8.4% when compared to fiscal 2005, while net sales increased by 9.5% over the same period. Our SAM’S CLUB segment met this target; however, the Wal-Mart Stores segment fell short of the target, while the International segment grew operating income at the same rate as net sales.

 

    Inventory growth at a rate less than that of net sales is a key measure of our efficiency. However, our increased purchases of imported merchandise and recent acquisition activity impact this measure. Total inventories at January 31, 2006, were up 8.2% over levels at January 31, 2005, and net sales were up 9.5% when comparing fiscal 2006 with fiscal 2005. Approximately 150 basis points of the fiscal 2006 increase in inventory was from increased levels of imported merchandise, which carries a longer lead time, and an additional 170 basis points was from the consolidation of The Seiyu, Ltd. and the purchase of Sonae Distribução Brasil S.A.

 

    With an asset base as large as ours, we are focused on continuing to make certain our assets are productive. It is important for us to sustain our return on assets. Return on assets is defined as income from continuing operations before minority interest divided by average total assets. Return on assets for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004 was 8.9%, 9.3% and 9.2%, respectively. Return on assets in fiscal 2006 was impacted by acquisition activity in the fourth quarter.

Results of Operations

The Company and each of its operating segments had net sales (in millions), as follows:

 

      2006     2005     2004  

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   Net sales    Percent
of total
    Percent
increase
    Net sales    percent
of total
   

Percent

increase

    Net sales    Percent
of total
 

Wal-Mart Stores

   $ 209,910    67.2 %   9.4 %   $ 191,826    67.3 %   10.1 %   $ 174,220    68.0 %

SAM’S CLUB

     39,798    12.7 %   7.2 %     37,119    13.0 %   7.5 %     34,537    13.5 %

International

     62,719    20.1 %   11.4 %     56,277    19.7 %   18.3 %     47,572    18.5 %
                                       

Total net sales

   $ 312,427    100.0 %   9.5 %   $ 285,222    100.0 %   11.3 %   $ 256,329    100.0 %
                                       

Our total net sales increased by 9.5% and 11.3% in fiscal 2006 and 2005 when compared to the previous fiscal year. Those increases resulted from our expansion programs and comparative store sales increases in the United States. Comparative store sales increased 3.4% in fiscal 2006 and 3.3% in fiscal 2005. As we continue to add new stores in the United States, we do so with an understanding that additional stores may take sales away from existing units. We estimate that comparative store sales in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004 were negatively impacted by the opening of new stores by approximately 1% per year. We expect that this effect of opening new stores on comparable store sales will continue during fiscal 2007 at a similar rate.

 

22


During fiscal 2006 and 2005, foreign currency exchange rates had a $1.5 billion and $3.2 billion favorable impact, respectively, on the International segment’s net sales, causing an increase in the International segment’s net sales as a percentage of total net sales relative to the Wal-Mart Stores and SAM’S CLUB segments. Additionally, the decrease in the SAM’S CLUB segment’s net sales as a percent of total Company sales in fiscal 2006 and 2005 when compared to the previous fiscal years resulted from the more rapid development of new stores in the International and Wal-Mart Stores segments than the SAM’S CLUB segment. We expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future.

Our total gross profit as a percentage of net sales (our “gross margin”) was 23.1%, 22.9% and 22.5% in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Our Wal-Mart Stores and International segment sales yield higher gross margins than our SAM’S CLUB segment. Accordingly, the greater increases in net sales for the Wal-Mart Stores and International segments in fiscal 2006 and 2005 had a favorable impact on the Company’s total gross margin.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses (“operating expenses”) as a percentage of net sales were 18.2%, 17.9% and 17.5% for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of total net sales was primarily due to a faster rate of growth in operating expenses in our Wal-Mart Stores and International segments, which have higher operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales than our SAM’S CLUB segment. Operating expenses in fiscal 2006 were higher as a percentage of net sales because of increases in utilities, maintenance and repairs and advertising. Increases in these expenses in fiscal 2006 were partially offset by reduced payroll costs as a percentage of net sales. Operating expenses in fiscal 2005 were impacted by the Wal-Mart Stores and SAM’S CLUB segments’ implementation of a new job classification and pay structure for hourly field associates in the United States. The job classification and pay structure, which was implemented in the second quarter of fiscal 2005, was designed to help maintain internal equity and external competitiveness.

Operating expenses in fiscal 2004 were impacted by the adoption of Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Reseller for Cash Consideration Received from a Vendor” (“EITF 02-16”). The adoption of EITF 02-16 resulted in an after-tax reduction in fiscal 2004 net income of approximately $140 million.

Interest, net, as a percentage of net sales increased from fiscal 2004 through fiscal 2006. The increase was due to higher borrowing levels and higher interest rates during the period from fiscal 2004 through fiscal 2006. The $186-million increase in interest, net, in fiscal 2006 consisted of a $221-million increase due to higher borrowing levels and $99 million due to higher interest rates, partially offset by a benefit from refund of IRS interest paid, reversal of interest on income tax accruals for prior years, and reduced levels

of interest on fiscal 2006 income tax accruals. The $154-million increase in interest, net, in fiscal 2005 consisted of a $139-million increase due to higher borrowing levels, a $26-million decrease due to changing interest rates and a $41-million increase in interest on income tax accruals.

Our effective income tax rates for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004 were 33.4%, 34.7% and 36.1%, respectively. The fiscal 2006 rate was less than the fiscal 2005 rate due primarily to adjustments in deferred income taxes and resolutions of certain federal and state tax contingencies. The fiscal 2005 rate was less than the fiscal 2004 rate due to the October 2004 passage of the Working Families Tax-Relief Act of 2004, which retroactively extended the work opportunity tax credit for fiscal 2005. In addition, the fiscal 2004 effective tax rate was impacted by an increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance as a result of tax legislation in Germany. This legislation required us to reevaluate the recoverability of deferred tax assets in Germany, resulting in a $150 million

increase in the fiscal 2004 provision for income taxes.

In fiscal 2006, we earned net income of $11.2 billion, a 9.4% increase over fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2005, we earned income from continuing operations of $10.3 billion, a 15.9% increase over fiscal 2004. Net income in fiscal 2005 increased 13.4% from fiscal 2004 largely as a result of the increase in income from continuing operations described above, net of the $193 million provided from the discontinued operations and sale of McLane in fiscal 2004.

Wal-Mart Stores Segment

 

Fiscal Year

   Segment Net Sales Increase
from Prior Fiscal Year
  Segment Operating
Income (in millions)
   Segment Operating Income
Increase from Prior Fiscal Year
  Operating Income as a
Percentage of Segment Sales
2006    9.4%   $15,324    8.2%   7.3%
2005    10.1%   14,163    9.7%   7.4%
2004    10.9%   12,916    9.1%   7.4%

The segment net sales increases in fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 from the prior fiscal years resulted from comparative store sales increases of 3.0% in fiscal 2006 and 2.9% in fiscal 2005, in addition to our expansion program. Market development strategies in fiscal 2006 continued to put pressures on comparative stores sales increases as new stores were opened within the trade area of established stores. We have developed several initiatives to help mitigate this pressure and to grow comparable store sales through; becoming more relevant to the customer by creating a better store shopping experience, continual improvement in product assortment and an aggressive store upgrade program to be instituted over the next 18 months. ;

 

23


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

WAL-MART

Our expansion programs consist of opening new units, converting discount stores to supercenters, relocations that result in more square footage, as well as expansions of existing stores. Segment expansion during fiscal 2006 included the opening of 24 discount stores, 15 Neighborhood Markets and 267 supercenters (including the conversion and/or relocation of 166 existing discount stores into supercenters). Two discount stores closed in fiscal 2006. During fiscal 2006, our total expansion program added approximately 39 million of store square footage, an 8.6% increase. Segment expansion during fiscal 2005 included the opening of 36 discount stores, 21 Neighborhood Markets and 242 supercenters (including the conversion and/or relocation of 159 existing discount stores into supercenters). Two discount stores closed in fiscal 2005. During fiscal 2005, our total expansion program added approximately 36 million of store square footage, an 8.6% increase.

Fiscal 2006 segment operating income was down 0.1% as a percentage of segment net sales. This decrease was driven by a 4 basis point decline in gross margin and an 8 basis point increase in operating expenses, partially offset by a slight increase in other income as a percentage of segment net sales. This gross margin decrease from fiscal 2005 can be attributed to the continued increase in sales of our lower-margin food items as a percentage of total segment net sales, rising transportation costs, and the unfavorable impact of an adjustment to our product warranty liabilities in fiscal 2006. The segment’s operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales in fiscal 2006 were higher than fiscal 2005 primarily due to expense pressures from utilities and advertising costs.

While our fiscal 2005 segment operating income as a percentage of segment net sales was unchanged from fiscal 2004, segment gross margin and operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales were each up 0.4% for the year. Our gross margin improvement in fiscal 2005 can be primarily attributed to our global sourcing effort and reductions in markdowns and shrinkage as a percentage of segment net sales for fiscal 2005 when compared to fiscal 2004. The segment’s operating expenses in fiscal 2005 as a percentage of segment net sales were higher than fiscal 2004 primarily due to expense pressures from associate wages and accident costs. Wages primarily increased due to our new job classification and pay structure, which was implemented in the second quarter of fiscal 2005.

SAM’S CLUB Segment

 

Fiscal Year

   Segment Net Sales Increase
from Prior Fiscal Year
  Segment Operating
Income (in millions)
   Segment Operating Income
Increase from Prior Fiscal Year
  Operating Income as a
Percentage of Segment Sales
2006    7.2%   $1,385    8.2%   3,5%
2005    7.5%   1,280    13.7%   3.4%
2004    8.9%   1,126    10.1%   3.3%

Growth in net sales for the SAM’S CLUB segment in fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 resulted from comparative club sales increases of 5.0% in fiscal 2006 and 5.8% in fiscal 2005, along with our expansion program. Comparative club sales in fiscal 2006 increased at a slower rate than in fiscal 2005 primarily due to lower growth rates in certain fresh and hardline categories. The impact of fuel sales contributed 130 basis points and 121 basis points to fiscal 2006 and 2005 comparative club sales, respectively. We believe that a greater focus on providing a quality in-club experience for our members will improve overall sales, including sales in these categories. Segment expansion consisted of the opening of 17 new clubs in fiscal 2006 and 13 clubs in fiscal 2005. One club closed in fiscal 2006. Our total expansion program added approximately 3 million of additional club square footage, or 3.8%, in fiscal 2006 and approximately 3 million, or 3.7%, of additional club square footage in fiscal 2005.

Segment operating income as a percentage of segment net sales increased slightly in fiscal 2006 when compared to fiscal 2005. The increase was due to an improvement in operating expenses and other income as a percentage of segment net sales, partially offset by a slight decrease in gross margin as a percentage of segment net sales. Operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales improved primarily due to lower wage and accident costs in fiscal 2006 when compared to fiscal 2005, partially offset by the impact of increased utility costs. The increase in other income as a percentage of segment net sales was primarily the result of income recognized from higher membership sales in fiscal 2006. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased due to strong sales in certain lower margin categories, including fuel and tobacco, during fiscal 2006.

Segment operating income as a percentage of segment net sales increased slightly in fiscal 2005 when compared to fiscal 2004 due to an improvement in gross margin, partially offset by an increase in operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales and the impact of the adoption of EITF 02-16 in fiscal 2004. The improvement in gross margin was primarily a result of strong sales in higher margin categories. Operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales increased due to higher wage costs resulting from our new job classification and pay structure, which was implemented in the second quarter of fiscal 2005. The adoption of EITF 02-16 resulted in a decrease to the segment’s operating income in fiscal 2004 of $44 million.

 

24


International Segment

 

Fiscal Year

   Segment Net Sales Increase
from Prior Fiscal Year
 

Segment Operating

Income (in millions)

   Segment Operating Income
Increase from Prior Fiscal Year
  Operating income as a
Percentage of Segment Sales

2006

   11.4%   $3,330    11.4%   5.3%

2005

   18.3%   2,988    26.1%   5.3%

2004

   16.6%   2,370    18.6%   5.0%

At January 31, 2006, our International segment was comprised of wholly-owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom, the operation of joint ventures in China and the operations of majority-owned subsidiaries in Japan and Mexico.

The fiscal 2006 increase in the International segment’s net sales primarily resulted from improved operating execution, our international expansion program and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In fiscal 2006, the International segment opened 698 units, net of relocations and closings, which added 52 million, or 39.2%, of additional unit square footage. This includes the acquisition of Sonae Distribuição Brasil S.A., (“Sonae”) in Southern Brazil, which added 139 stores and 11 million square feet in December 2005, and the consolidation of The Seiyu, Ltd. in Japan, which added 398 stores and 29 million square feet in December 2005. Additionally, the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates favorably affected the translation of International segment sales into U.S. dollars by an aggregate of $1.5 billion in fiscal 2006.

The fiscal 2005 increase in the International segment’s net sales primarily resulted from improved operating execution, our international expansion program and the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes. In fiscal 2005, the International segment opened 232 units, net of relocations and closings, which added 18 million, or 15.6%, of additional unit square footage. This includes the acquisition of Bompreço S.A. Supermercados do Nordeste in Brazil, which added 118 stores and approximately 8 million square feet in February 2004. Additionally, the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates favorably affected the translation of International segment sales into U.S. dollars by an aggregate of $3.2 billion in fiscal 2005.

Fiscal 2006 sales at our United Kingdom subsidiary, ASDA, were 42.7% of the International segment net sales. Sales for ASDA included in our consolidated income statement during fiscal 2006, 2005, and 2004 were $26.8 billion, $26.0 billion, and $21.7 billion, respectively.

While fiscal 2006 International segment operating income as a percentage of segment net sales was unchanged from fiscal 2005, segment gross margin was up 0.5%. This improvement in segment gross margin was offset by an increase in operating expenses and a decrease in other income, both as a percentage of segment net sales. The International segment’s improvement in gross margin is primarily due to a favorable shift in the mix of products sold toward general merchandise categories which carry a higher margin. The 0.3% increase in operating expenses was driven primarily by increased advertising, utility and insurance expenditures. Other income declined 0.2% in fiscal 2006 primarily due to a reduction in current year rental income in Canada and a payroll tax recovery in Mexico in fiscal 2005. Fiscal 2006 operating income includes a favorable impact of $64 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

The fiscal 2005 increase in segment operating income as a percentage of segment net sales compared with fiscal 2004 resulted primarily from a 0.3% improvement in gross margin. The improvement in gross margin was due to a favorable shift in the mix of products sold toward general merchandise categories. Fiscal 2005 operating income includes a favorable impact of $150 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Future financial results for our foreign operations could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates, weak economic conditions, changes in tax law and government regulations in the foreign markets in which we operate.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Cash flows provided by operating activities supply us with a significant source of liquidity. Our cash flows from operating activities were $17.6 billion in fiscal 2006 compared with $15.0 billion in fiscal 2005. The increase in cash flows provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to improved income from operations and improved inventory management resulting in accounts payable growing at a faster rate than inventory.

Our cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations were $15.0 billion in fiscal 2005, compared with $15.9 billion in fiscal 2004. This decrease was primarily attributable to differences in the timing of payroll, income and other taxes, supplier payments and the timing of the collection of receivables in fiscal 2005 compared with fiscal 2004.

In fiscal 2006, we paid dividends of $2.5 billion, made $14.6 billion in capital expenditures, paid $3.6 billion to repurchase shares of our common stock, received $7.7 billion from the issuance of long-term debt, repaid $2.7 billion of long-term debt and repaid $704 million of commercial paper (net of issuances).

Working Capital

Current liabilities exceeded current assets at January 31, 2006, by $5.0 billion, an increase of $622 million from January 31, 2005. Our ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 0.9 to 1 at January 31, 2006 and 2005. At January 31, 2006, we had total assets of $138.2 billion compared with total assets of $120.2 billion at January 31, 2005.

 

25


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

WAL-MART

Company Share Repurchase Program

From time to time, we repurchase shares of our common stock under a $10.0 billion share repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors in September 2004. During the first half of fiscal 2006, we repurchased $3.6 billion of shares under this repurchase program. No shares of our common stock were repurchased under this program in the third or fourth quarters of fiscal 2006. During fiscal 2005, we repurchased $4.5 billion of shares under the current and past authorizations. At January 31, 2006, approximately $6.1 billion of additional shares may be repurchased under the current authorization.

There is no expiration date for or other restriction limiting the period over which we can make our share repurchases under the program, which will expire only when and if we have repurchased $10.0 billion of our shares under the program. Under the program, repurchased shares are constructively retired and returned to unissued status. We consider several factors in determining when to make share repurchases, including among other things, our current cash needs, the ratio of our debt to our total capitalization, our cost of borrowings, and the market price of the stock.

Common Stock Dividends

We paid dividends totaling approximately $2.5 billion or $0.60 per share in fiscal 2006. The dividends paid in fiscal 2006 represent a 15.4% increase over fiscal 2005. The fiscal 2005 dividend of $0.52 per share represented a 44.4% increase over fiscal 2004. We have increased our dividend every year since the first dividend was declared in March 1974.

On March 2, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase in annual dividends to $0.67 per share. The annual dividend will be paid in four quarterly installments on April 3, 2006, June 5, 2006, September 5, 2006, and January 2, 2007 to holders of record on March 17, May 19, August 18 and December 15, 2006, respectively.

Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our obligations and commitments to make contractual future payments, such as debt and lease agreements, and contingent commitments:

 

     Payments due during fiscal years ending January 31,

(In millions)

   Total    2007    2008-2009    2010-2011    Thereafter

Recorded Contractual Obligations

              

Long-term debt

   $ 31,024    $ 4,595    $ 6,178    $ 7,516    $ 12,735

Commercial paper

     3,754      3,754      —        —        —  

Capital lease obligations

     6,380      592      1,138      1,040      3,610
                                  

Unrecorded Contractual Obligations:

              

Non-cancelable operating leases

     9,683      797      1,461      1,220      6,205

Interest on long-term debt

     14,823      1,419      2,374      1,848      9,182

Undrawn lines of credit

     5,296      5,296      —        —        —  

Trade letters of credit

     2,593      2,593      —        —        —  

Standby letters of credit

     2,800      2,800      —        —        —  

Purchase obligations

     19,872      10,519      9,023      218      112
                                  

Total commercial commitments

   $ 96,225    $ 32,365    $ 20,174    $ 11,842    $ 31,844
                                  

Purchase obligations include all legally binding contracts such as firm commitments for inventory purchases, utility purchases, as well as commitments to make capital expenditures, software acquisition/license commitments and legally binding service contracts. Purchase orders for the purchase of inventory and other services are not included in the table above. Purchase orders represent authorizations to purchase rather than binding agreements. For the purposes of this table, contractual obligations for purchase of goods or services are defined as agreements that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Our purchase orders are based on our current inventory needs and are fulfilled by our suppliers within short time periods. We also enter into contracts for outsourced services; however, the obligations under these contracts are not significant and the contracts generally contain clauses allowing for cancellation without significant penalty.

The expected timing for payment of the obligation discussed above is estimated based on current information. Timing of payments and actual amounts paid may be different depending on the timing of receipt of goods or services or changes to agreed-upon amounts for some obligations.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

In addition to the unrecorded contractual obligations discussed and presented above, the Company has made certain guarantees as discussed below for which the timing of payment, if any, is unknown.

In connection with certain debt financing, we could be liable for early termination payments if certain unlikely events were to occur. At January 31, 2006, the aggregate termination payment was $89 million. These two arrangements expire in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2019.

 

26


In connection with the development of our grocery distribution network in the United States, we have agreements with third parties which would require us to purchase or assume the leases on certain unique equipment in the event the agreements are terminated. These agreements, which can be terminated by either party at will, cover up to a five-year period and obligate the Company to pay up to approximately $233 million upon termination of some or all of these agreements.

There are no recourse provisions which would enable us to recover from third parties any amounts paid under the above guarantees. No liability for these guarantees has been recorded in our financial statements.

The Company has entered into lease commitments for land and buildings for 60 future locations. These lease commitments with real estate developers provide for minimum rentals ranging from five to 35 years, which, if consummated based on current cost estimates, will approximate $95 million annually over the lease terms.

Capital Resources

During fiscal 2006, we issued $7.7 billion of long-term debt. The net proceeds from the issuance of such long-term debt were used to repay outstanding commercial paper indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes.

At January 31, 2006 and 2005, the ratio of our debt to our total capitalization was 42% and 39%, respectively. The fiscal 2006 consolidation of Seiyu and purchase of Sonae increased our debt to total capitalization at January 31, 2006, by 2.5 percentage points. Our objective is to maintain a debt to total capitalization ratio averaging approximately 40%.

Management believes that cash flows from operations and proceeds from the sale of commercial paper will be sufficient to finance any seasonal buildups in merchandise inventories and meet other cash requirements. If our operating cash flows are not sufficient to pay dividends and to fund our capital expenditures, we anticipate funding any shortfall in these expenditures with a combination of commercial paper and long-term debt. We plan to refinance existing long-term debt as it matures and may desire to obtain additional long-term financing for other corporate purposes. We anticipate no difficulty in obtaining long-term financing in view of our credit rating and favorable experiences in the debt market in the recent past. The following table details the ratings of the credit rating agencies that rated our outstanding indebtedness at January 31, 2006.

 

Rating agency

   Commercial paper    Long-term debt

Standard and Poor’s

   A-1 +    AA

Moody’s Investors Service

   P-1    Aa2

Fitch Ratings

   F1 +    AA

Dominion Bond Rating Service

   R-1(middle)    AA

In February 2006, we entered into a £150 million revolving credit facility in the United Kingdom. Interest on borrowings under the credit facility accrues at LIBOR plus 25 basis points.

Future Expansion

Capital expenditures for fiscal 2007 are expected to be approximately $17.5 billion, including additions of capital leases. These fiscal 2007 expenditures will include the construction of 20 to 30 new discount stores, 270 to 280 new supercenters (with relocations or expansions accounting for approximately 160 of those supercenters), 15 to 20 new Neighborhood Markets, 30 to 40 new SAM’S CLUBs (with relocations or expansions accounting for 20 of those SAM’S CLUBs) and 220 to 230 new units in our International segment (with relocations or expansions accounting for approximately 35 of those units). We plan to finance this expansion, and any acquisitions of other operations that we may make during fiscal 2007, primarily out of cash flows from operations.

Market Risk

In addition to the risks inherent in our operations, we are exposed to certain market risks, including changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

The analysis presented for each of our market risk sensitive instruments is based on a 10% change in interest or foreign currency exchange rates. These changes are hypothetical scenarios used to calibrate potential risk and do not represent our view of future market changes. As the hypothetical figures indicate, changes in fair value based on the assumed change in rates generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumption to the change in fair value may not be linear. The effect of a variation in a particular assumption is calculated without changing any other assumption. In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another, which may magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

At January 31, 2006 and 2005, we had $31.0 billion and $23.8 billion, respectively, of long-term debt outstanding. Our weighted average effective interest rate on long-term debt, after considering the effect of interest rate swaps, was 4.79% and 4.08% at January 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. A hypothetical 10% increase in interest rates in effect at January 31, 2006 and 2005, would have increased annual interest expense on borrowings outstanding at those dates by $48 million and $25 million, respectively.

At January 31, 2006 and 2005, we had $3.8 billion of outstanding commercial paper obligations. The rate, including fees, on these obligations at January 31, 2006 and 2005, was 3.9% and 2.9%, respectively. A hypothetical 10% increase in commercial paper rates in effect at January 31, 2006 and 2005, would have increased annual interest expense on the outstanding balances on those dates by $14 million and $11 million, respectively.

 

27


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

WAL-MART

We enter into interest rate swaps to minimize the risks and costs associated with financing activities, as well as to maintain an appropriate mix of fixed- and floating-rate debt. Our preference is to maintain approximately 50% of our debt portfolio, including interest rate swaps, in floating-rate debt. The swap agreements are contracts to exchange fixed- or variable-rates for variable- or fixed-interest rate payments periodically over the life of the instruments. The aggregate fair value of these swaps was a gain of approximately $133 million and $472 million at January 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. A hypothetical increase (or decrease) of 10% in interest rates from the level in effect at January 31, 2006, would result in a (loss) or gain in value of the swaps of ($103 million) or $104 million, respectively. A hypothetical increase (or decrease) of 10% in interest rates from the level in effect at January 31, 2005, would result in a (loss) or gain in value of the swaps of ($123 million) or $126 million, respectively.

We hold currency swaps to hedge the foreign currency exchange component of our net investments in the United Kingdom and Japan. In addition, we hold a cross-currency swap which hedges the foreign currency risk of debt denominated in currencies other than the local currency. The aggregate fair value of these swaps at January 31, 2006 and 2005, was a loss of $244 million and $169 million, respectively. A hypothetical 10% increase (or decrease) in the foreign currency exchange rates underlying these swaps from the market rate would result in a (loss) or gain in the value of the swaps of ($96 million) and $78 million at January 31, 2006, and ($90 million) and $71 million at January 31, 2005. A hypothetical 10% change in interest rates underlying these swaps from the market rates in effect at January 31, 2006 and 2005, would have an insignificant impact on the value of the swaps.

In addition to currency swaps, we have designated debt of approximately £2.0 billion as of January 31, 2006 and 2005, as a hedge of our net investment in the United Kingdom. At January 31, 2006, a hypothetical 10% increase (or decrease) in value of the U.S. dollar relative to the British pound would result in a gain (or loss) in the value of the debt of $359 million. At January 31, 2005, a hypothetical 10% increase (or decrease) in value of the U.S. dollar relative to the British pound would result in a gain (or loss) in the value of the debt of $380 million. In addition, we have designated debt of approximately ¥87.1 billion as of January 31, 2006 as a hedge of our net investment in Japan. At January 31, 2006, a hypothetical 10% increase (or decrease) in value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Japanese yen would result in a gain (or loss) in the value of the debt of $75 million.

Summary of Critical Accounting Policies

Management strives to report the financial results of the Company in a clear and understandable manner, although in some cases accounting and disclosure rules are complex and require us to use technical terminology. In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we follow accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These principles require us to make certain estimates and apply judgments that affect our financial position and results of operations as reflected in our financial statements. These judgments and estimates are based on past events and expectations of future outcomes. Actual results may differ from our estimates.

Management continually reviews its accounting policies, how they are applied and how they are reported and disclosed in our financial statements. Following is a summary of our more significant accounting policies and how they are applied in preparation of the financial statements.

Inventories

We value our inventories at the lower of cost or market as determined primarily by the retail method of accounting, using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for substantially all merchandise inventories in the United States, except SAM’S CLUB merchandise and merchandise in our distribution warehouses, which is based on the cost LIFO method. Inventories for international operations are primarily valued by the retail method of accounting and are stated using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method.

Under the retail method, inventory is stated at cost, which is determined by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to each merchandise grouping’s retail value. The cost-to-retail ratio is based on the fiscal year purchase activity. The retail method requires management to make certain judgments and estimates that may significantly impact the ending inventory valuation at cost as well as the amount of gross margin recognized. Judgments made include the recording of markdowns used to sell through inventory and shrinkage. Markdowns designated for clearance activity are recorded at the time of the decision rather than at the point of sale, when management determines the salability of inventory has diminished. Factors considered in the determination of markdowns include current and anticipated demand, customer preferences and age of merchandise, as well as seasonal and fashion trends. Changes in weather patterns and customer preferences related to fashion trends could cause material changes in the amount and timing of markdowns from year to year.

When necessary, the Company records a LIFO provision each quarter for the estimated annual effect of inflation, and these estimates are adjusted to actual results determined at year-end. Our LIFO provision is calculated based on inventory levels, markup rates and internally generated retail price indices except for grocery items, for which we use a consumer price index. At January 31, 2006 and 2005, our inventories valued at LIFO approximated those inventories as if they were valued at FIFO.

The Company provides for estimated inventory losses (“shrinkage”) between physical inventory counts on the basis of a percentage of sales. The provision is adjusted annually to reflect the historical trend of the actual physical inventory count results. Historically, shrinkage has not been volatile.

Impairment of Assets

We evaluate long-lived assets other than goodwill for indicators of impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying values may not be recoverable. Management’s judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on market conditions and our operational performance, such as operating income and cash flows. The variability of these factors depends on a number of conditions, including uncertainty about future events, and thus our accounting estimates may change from period

 

28


to period. These factors could cause management to conclude that impairment indicators exist and require that impairment tests be performed, which could result in management determining that the value of long-lived assets is impaired, resulting in a writedown of the long-lived assets.

Goodwill is not amortized, but is evaluated for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the value of certain goodwill may be impaired. This evaluation requires management to make judgments relating to future cash flows, growth rates, and economic and market conditions. These evaluations are based on discounted cash flows that incorporate the impact of existing Company businesses. Historically, the Company has generated sufficient returns to recover the cost of goodwill and other intangible assets. Because of the nature of the factors used in these tests, if different conditions occur in future periods, future operating results could be materially impacted.

Income Taxes

The determination of our provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items. We establish reserves when, despite our belief that our tax return positions are fully supportable, we believe that certain positions may be successfully challenged. When facts and circumstances change, we adjust these reserves through our provision for income taxes.

Self-Insurance

We use a combination of insurance, self-insured retention and self-insurance for a number of risks, including, without limitation, workers’ compensation, general liability, vehicle liability and the Company’s portion of employee-related health care benefits. Liabilities associated with the risks that we retain are estimated in part by considering historical claims experience, including frequency, severity, demographic factors, and other actuarial assumptions. In calculating our liability, we analyze our historical trends, including loss development, and apply appropriate loss development factors to the incurred costs associated with the claims made against our self-insured program. The estimated accruals for these liabilities could be significantly affected if future occurrences or loss development differ from these assumptions. For example, for workers’ compensation and liability, a 1% increase or decrease to the assumptions for claims costs and loss development factors would increase or decrease our self-insurance accrual by $23 million and $62 million, respectively.

For a summary of our significant accounting policies, please see Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements that appear after this discussion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report contains statements that Wal-Mart believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by that Act. These forward-looking statements include statements under the caption “Results of Operations” regarding the effect of the opening of new stores on existing stores sales and the trend in the percentages that the net sales of certain of our business segments represent of our total net sales, under the caption “SAM’S CLUB Segment” regarding the improvement in net sales in the SAM’S CLUB Segment and under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition with respect to our capital expenditures, our ability to fund certain cash flow shortfalls by the sale of commercial paper and long-term debt securities, our ability to sell our long-term securities and our anticipated reasons for repurchasing shares of our common stock. These statements are identified by the use of the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “plan,” and other, similar words or phrases. Similarly, descriptions of our objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. These statements discuss, among other things, expected growth, future revenues, future cash flows, future capital expenditures, future performance and the anticipation and expectations of Wal-Mart and its management as to future occurrences and trends. These forward-looking statement are subject to certain factors, in the United States and internationally, that could affect our financial performance, business strategy, plans, goals and objectives. Those factors include the cost of goods, labor costs, the cost of fuel and electricity, the cost of healthcare benefits, insurance costs, catastrophic events, competitive pressures, inflation, accident-related costs, consumer buying patterns and debt levels, weather patterns, transport of goods from foreign suppliers, currency exchange fluctuations, trade restrictions, changes in tariff and freight rates, changes in tax and other laws and regulations that affect our business, the outcome of legal proceedings to which we are a party, unemployment levels, interest rate fluctuations, changes in employment legislation and other capital market, economic and geo-political conditions. Moreover, we typically earn a disproportionate part of our annual operating income in the fourth quarter as a result of the seasonal buying patterns. Those buying patterns are difficult to forecast with certainty. The foregoing list of factors that may affect our performance is not exclusive. Other factors and unanticipated events could adversely affect our business operations and financial performance. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain risk factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results if operations, in other of our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K. We filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2006, with the SEC on or about March 29, 2006. Actual results may materially differ from anticipated results described or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other circumstances. You are urged to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report are made only as of the date of this report, and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.

 

29


Consolidated Statements of Income

WAL-MART

 

(Amounts in millions except per share data)

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2006     2005     2004  

Revenues:

      

Net sales

   $ 312,427     $ 285,222     $ 256,329  

Other income, net

     3,227       2,910       2,352  
                        
     315,654       288,132       258,681  

Costs and expenses:

      

Cost of sales

     240,391       219,793       198,747  

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses

     56,733       51,248       44,909  
                        

Operating income

     18,530       17,091       15,025  

Interest:

      

Debt

     1,171       934       729  

Capital leases

     249       253       267  

Interest income

     (248 )     (201 )     (164 )
                        

Interest, net

     1,172       986       832  
                        

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

     17,358       16,105       14,193  

Provision for income taxes:

      

Current

     5,932       5,326       4,941  

Deferred

     (129 )     263       177  
                        
     5,803       5,589       5,118  
                        

Income from continuing operations before minority interest

     11,555       10,516       9,075  

Minority interest

     (324 )     (249 )     (214 )
                        

Income from continuing operations

     11,231       10,267       8,861  

Income from discontinued operation, net of tax

     —         —         193  
                        

Net income

   $ 11,231     $ 10,267     $ 9,054  
                        

Basic net income per common share:

      

Income from continuing operations

   $ 2.68     $ 2.41     $ 2.03  

Income from discontinued operation

     —         —         0.05  
                        

Basic net income per common share

   $ 2.68     $ 2.41     $ 2.08  
                        

Diluted net income per common share:

      

Income from continuing operations

   $ 2.68     $ 2.41     $ 2.03  

Income from discontinued operation

     —         —         0.04  
                        

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 2.68     $ 2.41     $ 2.07  
                        

Weighted-average number of common shares:

      

Basic

     4,183       4,259       4,363  

Diluted

     4,188       4,266       4,373  

Dividends per common share

   $ 0.60     $ 0.52     $ 0.36  

See accompanying notes.

 

30


Consolidated Balance Sheets

WAL-MART

 

(Amounts in millions except per share data)

January 31,

   2006    2005

Assets

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 6,414    $ 5,488

Receivables

     2,662      1,715

Inventories

     32,191      29,762

Prepaid expenses and other

     2,557      1,889
             

Total current assets

     43,824      38,854

Property and equipment, at cost:

     

Land

     16,643      14,472

Buildings and improvements

     56,163      46,574

Fixtures and equipment

     22,750      21,461

Transportation equipment

     1,746      1,530
             

Property and equipment, at cost

     97,302      84,037

Less accumulated depreciation

     21,427      18,637
             

Property and equipment, net

     75,875      65,400

Property under capital lease:

     

Property under capital lease

     5,578      4,556

Less accumulated amortization

     2,163      1,838
             

Property under capital lease, net

     3,415      2,718

Goodwill

     12,188      10,803

Other assets and deferred charges

     2,885      2,379
             

Total assets

   $ 138,187    $ 120,154
             

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

     

Current liabilities:

     

Commercial paper

   $ 3,754    $ 3,812

Accounts payable

     25,373      21,987

Accrued liabilities

     13,465      12,120

Accrued income taxes

     1,340      1,281

Long-term debt due within one year

     4,595      3,759

Obligations under capital leases due within one year

     299      223
             

Total current liabilities

     48,826      43,182

Long-term debt

     26,429      20,087

Long-term obligations under capital leases

     3,742      3,171

Deferred income taxes and other

     4,552      2,978

Minority interest

     1,467      1,340

Commitments and contingencies

     

Shareholders’ equity:

     

Preferred stock ($0.10 par value; 100 shares authorized, none issued)

     —        —  

Common stock ($0.10 par value; 11,000 shares authorized, 4,165 and 4,234 issued and outstanding at January 31, 2006 and January 31, 2005, respectively)

     417      423

Capital in excess of par value

     2,596      2,425

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,053      2,694

Retained earnings

     49,105      43,854
             

Total shareholders’ equity

     53,171      49,396
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 138,187    $ 120,154
             

See accompanying notes.

 

31


Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

WAL-MART

 

(Amounts in millions except per share data)

   Number
of
Shares
    Common
Stock
    Capital in
Excess of
Par Value
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Retained
Earnings
    Total  

Balance – January 31, 2003

   4,395     $ 440     $ 1,954     $ (509 )   $ 37,576     $ 39,461  

Comprehensive income

            

Net income from continuing operations

             8,861       8,861  

Net income from discontinued operation

             193       193  

Other comprehensive income:

            

Foreign currency translation

           1,685         1,685  

Net unrealized depreciation of derivatives

           (341 )       (341 )

Minimum pension liability

           16         16  
                  

Total comprehensive income

               10,414  

Cash dividends ($0.36 per share)

             (1,569 )     (1,569 )

Purchase of Company stock

   (92 )     (9 )     (182 )       (4,855 )     (5,046 )

Stock options exercised and other

   8         363           363  
                                              

Balance – January 31, 2004

   4,311       431       2,135       851       40,206       43,623  

Comprehensive income

            

Net income from continuing operations

             10,267       10,267  

Other comprehensive income:

            

Foreign currency translation

           2,130         2,130  

Net unrealized depreciation of derivatives

           (194 )       (194 )

Minimum pension liability

           (93 )       (93 )
                  

Total comprehensive income

               12,110  

Cash dividends ($0.52 per share)

             (2,214 )     (2,214 )

Purchase of Company stock

   (81 )     (8 )     (136 )       (4,405 )     (4,549 )

Stock options exercised and other

   4         426           426  
                                              

Balance – January 31, 2005

   4,234       423       2,425       2,694       43,854       49,396  

Comprehensive income:

            

Net income from continuing operations

             11,231       11,231  

Other comprehensive income:

            

Foreign currency translation

           (1,920 )       (1,920 )

Net unrealized depreciation of derivatives

           228         228  

Minimum pension liability

           51         51  
                  

Total comprehensive income

               9,590  

Cash dividends ($0.60 per share)

             (2,511 )     (2,511 )

Purchase of Company stock

   (74 )     (7 )     (104 )       (3,469 )     (3,580 )

Stock options exercised and other

   5       1       275           276  
                                              

Balance – January 31, 2006

   4,165     $ 417     $ 2,596     $ 1,053     $ 49,105     $ 53,171  
                                              

See accompanying notes.

 

32


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

WAL-MART

 

(Amounts in millions)

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2006     2005     2004  

Cash flows from operating activities

      

Income from continuing operations

   $ 11,231     $ 10,267     $ 8,861  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     4,717       4,264       3,852  

Deferred income taxes

     (129 )     263       177  

Other operating activities

     620       378       173  

Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

      

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

     (456 )     (304 )     373  

Increase in inventories

     (1,733 )     (2,494 )     (1,973 )

Increase in accounts payable

     2,390       1,694       2,587  

Increase in accrued liabilities

     993       976       1,896  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations

     17,633       15,044       15,946  

Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operation

     —         —         50  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     17,633       15,044       15,996  
                        

Cash flows from investing activities

      

Payments for property and equipment

     (14,563 )     (12,893 )     (10,308 )

Investment in international operations, net of cash acquired

     (601 )     (315 )     (38 )

Proceeds from the disposal of fixed assets

     1,049       953       481  

Proceeds from the sale of McLane

     —         —         1,500  

Other investing activities

     (68 )     (96 )     78  
                        

Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations

     (14,183 )     (12,351 )     (8,287 )

Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operation

     —         —         (25 )
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (14,183 )     (12,351 )     (8,312 )
                        

Cash flows from financing activities

      

Increase (decrease) in commercial paper

     (704 )     544       688  

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     7,691       5,832       4,099  

Purchase of Company stock

     (3,580 )     (4,549 )     (5,046 )

Dividends paid

     (2,511 )     (2,214 )     (1,569 )

Payment of long-term debt

     (2,724 )     (2,131 )     (3,541 )

Payment of capital lease obligations

     (245 )     (204 )     (305 )

Other financing activities

     (349 )     113       111  
                        

Net cash used in financing activities

     (2,422 )     (2,609 )     (5,563 )
                        

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (102 )     205       320  
                        

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     926       289       2,441  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     5,488       5,199       2,758  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 6,414     $ 5,488     $ 5,199  
                        

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

      

Income tax paid

   $ 5,962     $ 5,593     $ 4,538  

Interest paid

     1,390       1,163       1,024  

Capital lease obligations incurred

     286       377       252  

See accompanying notes.

 

33


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Wal-Mart” or the “Company”). Significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in which the Company has a 20 percent to 50 percent voting interest and where the Company exercises significant influence over the investee are accounted for using the equity method.

The Company’s operations in Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the United Kingdom are consolidated using a December 31 fiscal year-end, generally due to statutory reporting requirements. There were no significant intervening events which materially affected the financial statements. The Company’s operations in Canada and Puerto Rico are consolidated using a January 31 fiscal year-end.

The Company consolidates the accounts of certain variable interest entities where it has been determined that Wal-Mart is the primary beneficiary of those entities’ operations. The assets, liabilities and results of operations of these entities are not material to the Company.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The majority

of payments due from banks for third-party credit card, debit card and electronic benefit transactions (“EBT”) process within 24-48 hours, except for transactions occurring on a Friday, which are generally processed the following Monday. All credit card, debit card and EBT transactions that process in less than seven days are classified as cash and cash equivalents. Amounts due from banks for these transactions classified as cash totaled $575 million and $549 million at January 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Receivables

Accounts receivable consist primarily of receivables from insurance companies resulting from our pharmacy sales, receivables from suppliers for marketing or incentive programs, receivables from real estate transactions and receivables from property insurance claims. Additionally, amounts due from banks for customer credit card, debit card and EBT transactions that take in excess of seven days to process are classified as accounts receivable.

Inventories

The Company values inventories at the lower of cost or market as determined primarily by the retail method of accounting, using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for substantially all merchandise inventories in the United States, except SAM’S CLUB merchandise and merchandise in our distribution warehouses, which is based on the cost LIFO method. Inventories of foreign operations are primarily valued by the retail method of accounting, using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. At January 31, 2006 and 2005, our inventories valued at LIFO approximate those inventories as if they were valued at FIFO.

Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments for purposes other than trading to manage its exposure to interest and foreign

exchange rates, as well as to maintain an appropriate mix of fixed and floating-rate debt. Contract terms of a hedge instrument closely mirror those of the hedged item, providing a high degree of risk reduction and correlation. Contracts that are effective at meeting the risk reduction and correlation criteria are recorded using hedge accounting. If a derivative instrument is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the instrument will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of an instrument’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized

in earnings. Instruments that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, or contracts for which the Company has not elected hedge accounting, are marked to fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in earnings during the period of change.

Capitalized Interest

Interest costs capitalized on construction projects were $157 million, $120 million, and $144 million in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are stated at cost. Management reviews long-lived assets for indicators of impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The evaluation is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows, which is typically at the individual store level. Cash flows expected to be generated by the related assets are estimated over the asset’s useful life based on updated projections. If the evaluation indicates that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, any potential impairment is measured based on a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate that is considered to be commensurate with the risk inherent in the Company’s current business model.

Goodwill and Other Acquired Intangible Assets

Goodwill is not amortized; rather it is evaluated for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate

that the value of certain goodwill may be impaired. Other acquired intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the periods that expected economic benefits will be provided. These evaluations are based on discounted cash flows and incorporate

the impact of existing Company businesses. The analyses require significant management judgment to evaluate the capacity of an acquired business to perform within projections. Historically, the Company has generated sufficient returns to recover the cost of the goodwill and other intangible assets.

 

34


Goodwill is recorded on the balance sheet in the operating segments as follows (in millions):

 

January 31,

   2006    2005

International

   $ 11,883    $ 10,498

SAM’S CLUB

     305      305
             

Total goodwill

   $ 12,188    $ 10,803
             

The fiscal 2006 consolidation of The Seiyu, Ltd. and acquisition of Sonae Distribuição Brasil S.A. and the fiscal 2005 acquisition of Bompreço S.A. Supermercados do Nordeste resulted in increases to goodwill. In addition, changes in the International segment’s goodwill result from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Leases

The Company estimates the expected term of a lease by assuming the exercise of renewal options where an economic penalty exists that would preclude the abandonment of the lease at the end of the initial non-cancelable term and the exercise of such renewal is at the sole discretion of the Company. This expected term is used in the determination of whether a store lease is a capital or operating

lease and in the calculation of straight-line rent expense. Additionally, the useful life of leasehold improvements is limited by the expected lease term. If significant expenditures are made for leasehold improvements late in the expected term of a lease, judgment

is applied to determine if the leasehold improvements have a useful life that extends beyond the original expected lease term or if the leasehold improvements have a useful life that is bound by the end of the original expected lease term.

Rent abatements and escalations are considered in the calculation of minimum lease payments in the Company’s capital lease tests and in determining straight-line rent expense for operating leases.

Foreign Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of all foreign subsidiaries are translated using exchange rates at the balance sheet date. The income statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated using average exchange rates. Related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes sales revenue net of estimated sales returns at the time it sells merchandise to the customer, except for layaway transactions. The Company recognizes revenue from layaway transactions when the customer satisfies all payment obligations and takes possession of the merchandise. Customer purchases of Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB shopping cards are not recognized as revenue until the card is redeemed and the customer purchases merchandise by using the shopping card.

SAM’S CLUB Membership Fee Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes SAM’S CLUB membership fee revenues both in the United States and internationally over the term of the membership, which is 12 months. The following table details unearned revenues, membership fees received from members and the amount of revenues recognized in earnings for each of the fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004 (in millions):

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2006     2005     2004  

Deferred membership fee revenue, beginning of year

   $ 458     $ 449     $ 437  

Membership fees received

     940       890       840  

Membership fee revenue recognized

     (908 )     (881 )     (828 )
                        

Deferred membership fee revenue, end of year

   $ 490     $ 458     $ 449  
                        

SAM’S CLUB membership revenue is included in other income, net in the revenues section of the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company’s deferred membership fee revenue is included in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s analysis of historical membership fee refunds indicates that such refunds have been nominal. Accordingly, no reserve existed for membership fee refunds at January 31, 2006 and 2005.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales includes actual product cost, change in inventory, the cost of transportation to the Company’s warehouses from suppliers, the cost of transportation from the Company’s warehouses to the stores and clubs and the cost of warehousing for our SAM’S CLUB segment.

Payments from Suppliers

Wal-Mart receives money from suppliers for various programs, primarily volume incentives, warehouse allowances and reimbursements for specific programs such as markdowns, margin protection and advertising. Substantially all allowances are accounted for as a reduction of purchases and recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income when the related inventory is sold.

Operating, Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses include all operating costs of the Company that are not related to the transportation of products from the supplier to the warehouse or from the warehouse to the store. Additionally, the cost of warehousing and occupancy for our Wal-Mart Stores segment distribution facilities are included in operating, selling, general and administrative expenses. Because we do not include the cost of our Wal-Mart Stores segment distribution facilities in cost of sales, our gross profit and gross margin may not be comparable to those of other retailers that may include all costs related to their distribution facilities in costs of sales and in the calculation of gross profit and gross margin.

 

35


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were $1.6 billion, $1.4 billion and $966 million in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Advertising costs consist primarily of print and television advertisements.

Pre-Opening Costs

The costs of start-up activities, including organization costs and new store openings, are expensed as incurred.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes expense for its share-based compensation based on the fair value of the awards that are granted. The fair value of stock options is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model which was developed for use in estimating the fair value of exchange traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Option valuation methods require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility. Measured compensation cost is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the related share-based compensation award.

Share-based compensation awards that may be settled in cash are accounted for as liabilities and marked to market each period.

Insurance/Self-lnsurance

The Company uses a combination of insurance, self-insured retention and self-insurance for a number of risks, including, without limitation, workers’ compensation, general liability, vehicle liability and the Company-funded portion of employee-related health care benefits. Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated in part by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, frequency and severity factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization for financial statement purposes are provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various assets. Depreciation expense, including amortization of property under capital leases for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $4.7 billion, $4.3 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively. For income tax purposes, accelerated methods of depreciation are used with recognition of deferred income taxes for the resulting temporary differences. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the remaining lease term. Estimated useful lives for financial statement purposes are as follows:

 

Buildings and improvements

   5–50 years

Fixtures and equipment

   3–12 years

Transportation equipment

   3–15 years

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.

In determining the quarterly provision for income taxes, the Company uses an annual effective tax rate based on expected annual income and statutory tax rates. The effective tax rate also reflects the Company’s assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits. Significant discrete items are separately recognized in the income tax provision in the quarter in which they occur.

The determination of the Company’s provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items. Reserves are established when, despite management’s belief that the Company’s tax return positions are fully supportable, management believes that certain positions may be successfully challenged. When facts and circumstances change, these reserves are adjusted through the provision for income taxes.

Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is based on the weighted-average outstanding common shares. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted-average outstanding shares adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock grants. The dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock was 5 million, 7 million and 10 million shares in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company had approximately 57 million, 59 million and 50 million option shares outstanding at January 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, which were not included in the diluted net income per share calculation because their effect would be antidilutive as the underlying option price exceeded the average market price of the stock for the period.

Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires Management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. They also affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to current presentations.

 

36


2 Commercial Paper and Long-term Debt

Information on short-term borrowings and interest rates is as follows (dollars in millions):

 

Fiscal Year

   2006     2005     2004  

Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end

   $ 9,054     $ 7,782     $ 4,957  

Average daily short-term borrowings

     5,719       4,823       1,498  

Weighted-average interest rate

     3.4 %     1.6 %     1.1 %

At January 31, 2006 and 2005, short-term borrowings consisted of $3.8 billion of commercial paper. At January 31, 2006, the Company had committed lines of credit of $5.0 billion with 57 firms and banks, which were used to support commercial paper, and committed and informal lines of credit with various banks totaling an additional $693 million.

Long-term debt at January 31, consists of (in millions)

 

Interest Rate

  

Due by Fiscal Year

   2006    2005

2.130 – 6.875%

   Notes due 2010    $ 4,527    $ 4,500

5.250%

   Notes due 2036      4,279      1,883

1.100 – 13.250%, LIBOR less 0.140%

   Notes due 2007      3,415      3,164

2.875 – 8.380%, LIBOR less 0.1025%

   Notes due 2008      3,311      1,500

0.1838 – 0.880%

   Notes due 2011(1)      3,308      500

0.750 – 7.250%

   Notes due 2014      2,885      2,883

3.000 – 3.375%

   Notes due 2009      2,800      1,000

1.200 – 4.125%

   Notes due 2012      2,015      2,000

5.750 – 7.550%

   Notes due 2031      1,890      1,941

3.150 – 6.630%

   Notes due 2016      767      —  

2.950 – 5.006%

   Notes due 2019(1)      516      500

5.300 – 6.750%

   Notes due 2024      266      250

2.100 – 2.875%

   Notes due 2015      53      —  

2.000 – 2.500%

   Notes due 2017      41      —  

3.750 – 5.000%

   Notes due 2018      31      —  

5.170%

   Notes due 2021      25      —  

1.000 – 2.300%

   Notes due 2013      23      —  

4.150 – 5.875%, LIBOR less 0.0425%

   Notes due 2006      —        2,597
   Other(2)      872      1,128
                

Total

      $ 31,024    $ 23,846
                

 

(1) Includes put option on $500 million.

 

(2) Includes adjustments to debt hedged by derivatives.

The Company has two separate issuances of $500 million debt with embedded put options. For the first issuance, beginning June 2001, and each year thereafter, the holders of $500 million of the debt may require the Company to repurchase the debt at face value, in addition to accrued and unpaid interest. The holders of the other $500 million issuance may require the Company to repurchase the debt at par plus accrued interest at any time. Both of these issuances have been classified as a current liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Under the Company’s most significant borrowing arrangements, the Company is not required to observe financial covenants. However, under certain lines of credit totaling $5.0 billion, which were undrawn as of January 31, 2006, the Company has agreed to observe certain covenants, the most restrictive of which relates to minimum net worth levels and amounts of additional secured debt and long-term leases. In addition, one of our subsidiaries has restrictive financial covenants on $2.0 billion of long-term debt that requires it to maintain certain equity, sales, and profit levels. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at January 31, 2006.

Long-term debt is unsecured except for $1.1 billion, which is collateralized by property with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $1.4 billion. Annual maturities of long-term debt during the next five years and thereafter are (in millions):

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   Annual Maturity

2007

   $ 4,595

2008

     3,320

2009

     2,858

2010

     4,639

2011

     2,877

Thereafter

     12,735
      

Total

   $ 31,024
      

The Company has entered into sale/leaseback transactions involving buildings while retaining title to the underlying land. These transactions were accounted for as financings and are included in long-term debt and the annual maturities schedule above. The resulting obligations are amortized over the lease terms. Future minimum lease payments during the next five years and thereafter are (in millions):

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   Minimum Payments

2007

   $ 9

2008

     10

2009

     10

2010

     10

2011

     10

Thereafter

     211
      

Total

   $ 260
      

 

37


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

The Company had trade letters of credit outstanding totaling $2.6 billion at January 31, 2006 and 2005. At January 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company had standby letters of credit outstanding totaling $2.3 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively. These letters of credit were issued primarily for the purchase of inventory and insurance.

3 Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments for hedging and non-trading purposes to manage its exposure to interest and foreign exchange rates. Use of derivative financial instruments in hedging programs subjects the Company to certain risks, such as market and credit risks. Market risk represents the possibility that the value of the derivative instrument will change. In a hedging relationship, the change in the value of the derivative is offset to a great extent by the change in the value of the underlying hedged item. Credit risk related to derivatives represents the possibility that the counterparty will not fulfill the terms of the contract. The notional, or contractual, amount of the Company’s derivative financial instruments is used to measure interest to be paid or received and does not represent the Company’s exposure due to credit risk. Credit risk is monitored through established approval procedures, including setting concentration limits by counterparty, reviewing credit ratings and requiring collateral (generally cash) when appropriate. The majority of the Company’s transactions are with counterparties rated “AA-” or better by nationally recognized credit rating agencies.

Fair Value Instruments

The Company enters into interest rate swaps to minimize the risks and costs associated with its financing activities. Under the swap agreements, the Company pays variable-rate interest and receives fixed-rate interest payments periodically over the life of the instruments. The notional amounts are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not represent the exposure due to credit loss. All of the Company’s interest rate swaps that receive fixed interest rate payments and pay variable interest rate payments are designated as fair value hedges. As the specific terms and notional amounts of the derivative instruments exactly match those of the instruments being hedged, the derivative instruments were assumed to be perfect hedges and all changes in fair value of the hedges were recorded on the balance sheet with no net impact on the income statement.

Net investment Instruments

At January 31, 2006, the Company is party to cross-currency interest rate swaps that hedge its net investments in the United Kingdom and Japan. The agreements are contracts to exchange fixed-rate payments in one currency for fixed-rate payments in another currency. The Company also has outstanding approximately £2.0 billion of debt that is designated as a hedge of the Company’s net investment in the United Kingdom and ¥87.1 billion of debt that is designated as a hedge of the Company’s net investment in Japan. All changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in other comprehensive income, offsetting the foreign currency translation adjustment that is also recorded in other comprehensive income.

Cash Flow Instruments

The Company is party to a cross-currency interest rate swap to hedge the foreign currency risk of certain foreign-denominated debt. The swap is designated as a cash flow hedge of foreign currency exchange risk. The agreement is a contract to exchange fixed-rate payments in one currency for fixed-rate payments in another currency. Changes in the foreign currency spot exchange rate result in reclassification of amounts from other accumulated comprehensive income to earnings to offset transaction gains or losses on foreign-denominated debt. The instrument matures in fiscal 2007.

The Company expects that the amount of gain or loss existing in other accumulated comprehensive income to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months will not be significant.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Instrument    Notional Amount    Fair Value  

Fiscal Year Ended January 31, (in millions)

   2006    2005    2006     2005  

Derivative financial instruments designated for hedging:

          

Receive fixed-rate, pay floating rate interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges

   $ 6,945    $ 8,042    $ 133     $ 477  

Receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swaps designated as net investment hedges (Cross-currency notional amount: GBP 795 at 1/31/2006 and 1/31/2005)

     1,250      1,250      (107 )     (14 )

Receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swap designated as a cash flow hedge (Cross-currency notional amount: CAD 503 at 1/31/2006 and 1/31/2005)

     325      325      (120 )     (87 )

Receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swap designated as a net investment hedge (Cross-currency notional amount: ¥52,056 at 1/31/2006 and 1/31/2005)

     432      432      (17 )     (68 )

Receive floating rate, pay fixed-rate interest rate swap designated as a cash flow hedge

     —        1,500      —         (5 )
                              

Total

   $ 8,952    $ 11,549    $ (111 )   $ 303  
                              

Non-derivative financial instruments:

          

Long-term debt

   $ 31,024    $ 23,846    $ 31,580     $ 25,016  
                              

 

38


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

Hedging instruments with an unrealized gain are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other current assets or other assets and deferred charges, based on maturity date. Those instruments with an unrealized loss are recorded in accrued liabilities or deferred income taxes and other, based on maturity date.

Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

Long-term debt: Fair value is based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rate for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

Fair value instruments and net investment instruments: The fair values are estimated amounts the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements as of the reporting dates.

4 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is net income plus certain other items that are recorded directly to shareholders’ equity. Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income for the Company’s derivative instruments and minimum pension liability are recorded net of the related income tax effects. The following table gives further detail regarding changes in the composition of accumulated other comprehensive income during fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004 (in millions):

 

     Foreign Currency
Translation
    Derivative
Instruments
    Minimum
Pension liability
    Total  

Balance at January 31, 2003

   $ (1,125 )   $ 822     $ (206 )   $ (509 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1,685           1,685  

Change in fair value of hedge instruments

       (444 )       (444 )

Reclassification to earnings

       103         103  

Subsidiary minimum pension liability

         16       16  
                                

Balance at January 31, 2004

     560       481       (190 )     851  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     2,130           2,130  

Change in fair value of hedge instruments

       (235 )       (235 )

Reclassification to earnings

       41         41  

Subsidiary minimum pension liability

         (93 )     (93 )
                                

Balance at January 31, 2005

   $ 2,690     $ 287     $ (283 )   $ 2,694  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (1,920 )         (1,920 )

Change in fair value of hedge instruments

       157         157  

Reclassification to earnings

       71         71  

Subsidiary minimum pension liability

         51       51  
                                

Balance at January 31, 2006

   $ 770     $ 515     $ (232 )   $ 1,053  
                                

5 Income Taxes

The income tax provision consists of the following (in millions):

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2006     2005     2004

Current:

      

Federal

   $ 4,646     $ 4,116     $ 4,039

State and local

     449       640       333

International

     837       570       569
                      

Total current tax provision

     5,932       5,326       4,941
                      

Deferred:

      

Federal

     (62 )     311       31

State and local

     56       (71 )     2

International

     (123 )     23       144
                      

Total deferred tax provision

     (129 )     263       177
                      

Total provision for income taxes

   $ 5,803     $ 5,589     $ 5,118
                      

Income from continuing operations before income takes and minority interest by jurisdiction is as follows (in millions):

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2006    2005    2004

United States

   $ 14,447    $ 13,599    $ 12,075

Outside the United States

   $ 2,911      2,506      2,118
                    

Total income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

   $ 17,358    $ 16,105    $ 14,193
                    

 

39


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

Items that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax accounts are as follows (in millions):

 

January 31,

   2006     2005  

Deferred tax liabilities

    

Property and equipment

   $ 2,355     $ 2,210  

International, principally asset basis differences

     1,141       1,054  

Inventory

     336       187  

Other

     265       230  
                

Total deferred tax liabilities

   $ 4,097     $ 3,681  
                

Deferred tax assets

    

International loss carryforwards and asset basis differences

   $ 2,082     $ 1,460  

Amounts accrued for financial reporting purposes not yet deductible for tax purposes

     1,668       1,361  

Stock-based compensation expense

     248       258  

Other

     353       263  
                

Total deferred tax assets

     4,351       3,342  

Valuation allowance

     (1,054 )     (526 )
                

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

   $ 3,297     $ 2,816  
                

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ 800     $ 865  
                

The change in the Company’s net deferred tax liability is impacted by foreign currency translation.

A reconciliation of the significant differences between the effective income tax rate and the federal statutory rate on pretax income is as follows:

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2006     2005     2004  

Statutory tax rate

   35.00 %   35.00 %   35.00 %

State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit

   1.86 %   2.30 %   1.53 %

Income taxes outside the United States

   (1.75 %)   (1.81 %)   (0.20 %)

Other

   (1.68 %)   (0.79 %)   (0.27 %)
                  

Effective income tax rate

   33.43 %   34.70 %   36.06 %
                  

Federal and state income taxes have not been provided on accumulated but undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries aggregating approximately $6.8 billion at January 31, 2006 and $5.3 billion at January 31, 2005, as such earnings have been permanently reinvested in the business. The determination of the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability related to the undistributed earnings is not practicable.

The Company had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $4.7 billion at January 31, 2006. Of this amount, $1.3 billion related to the December 2005 consolidation of The Seiyu, Ltd. The recording of the related deferred tax asset of $525 million resulted in a corresponding increase in the valuation allowance. Any tax benefit ultimately realized from the Japan net operating loss carryforward will adjust goodwill. Net operating loss carryforwards of $1.4 billion expire in various years through 2011.

6 Acquisitions And Disposal

Acquisitions

During December 2005, the Company purchased an additional interest in The Seiyu, Ltd. (“Seiyu”), for approximately $570 million, bringing the Company’s total investment in Seiyu, including adjustments arising from the equity method of accounting, to $1.2 billion. Seiyu is a retailer in Japan, which operates 398 stores selling apparel, general merchandise, food and certain services. Following this additional purchase, the Company owns approximately 53.3% of Seiyu. Beginning on the date of the controlling interest purchase, the Company began consolidating Seiyu as a majority-owned subsidiary using a December 31 fiscal year-end. Seiyu’s results of operations were not material to the Company. As a result of the consolidation of Seiyu, total assets and liabilities of $6.8 billion and $5.6 billion, respectively, were recorded in our financial statements. Goodwill recorded in the consolidation amounted to approximately $1.6 billion. The amount of assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidation of Seiyu are preliminary estimates made by management and will be finalized upon completion of the valuation of tangible and intangible assets and liabilities.

The minority interest in Seiyu is represented, in part, by shares of Seiyu’s preferred stock which are convertible into shares of Seiyu common stock. If the minority holder of Seiyu’s preferred stock proposes to sell or convert its shares of preferred stock, the Company has the right to purchase those shares at a predetermined price.

Through a warrant exercisable through December 2007, the Company can contribute approximately ¥154.6 billion, or $1.3 billion at a January 31, 2006, exchange rate of 117.75 yen per dollar, for approximately 538 million additional common shares of Seiyu stock. If the warrant is exercised, we would own approximately 71% of the stock of Seiyu by the end of December 2007. These calculations assume no conversion of Seiyu’s preferred stock into common shares and no other issuances of Seiyu common shares.

In December 2005, the Company completed the purchase of Sonae Distribuição Brasil S.A. (“Sonae”), a retail operation in Southern Brazil consisting of 139 hypermarkets, supermarkets and warehouse units. The purchase price was approximately $720 million. Assets recorded in the acquisition of Sonae were $1.3 billion and liabilities assumed were $566 million. As a result of the Sonae acquisition, we recorded goodwill of $305 million and other identifiable intangible assets of $89 million. Sonae’s results of operations, which were not material to the Company, are included in our consolidated financial statements following the date of acquisition using a December 31 fiscal year-end. The amount of assets and liabilities recorded in the purchase of Sonae are preliminary estimates made by management and will be finalized upon completion of the valuation of tangible and intangible assets and liabilities.

 

40


In September 2005, the Company acquired a 33.3% interest in Central American Retail Holding Company (“CARHCO”), a retailer with more than 360 supermarkets and other stores in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The purchase price was approximately $318 million, including transaction costs. In fiscal 2006, the Company accounted for its investment in CARHCO under the equity method. Concurrent with the purchase of the investment in CARHCO, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase an additional 17.7% of CARHCO in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 and an option agreement that will allow the Company to purchase up to an additional 24% beginning in September 2010. To the extent that the Company does not exercise its option to purchase the additional 24% of CARHCO, the minority shareholders will have certain put rights that could require the Company to purchase the additional 24% after September 2012. In February 2006, the Company purchased the additional 17.7% of CARHCO for a purchase price of approximately $212 million.

In February 2004, the Company completed its purchase of Bompreço S. A. Supermercados do Nordeste (“Bompreço”), a supermarket chain in northern Brazil with 118 hypermarkets, supermarkets and mini-markets. The purchase price was approximately $315 million, net of cash acquired. The results of operations for Bompreço, which were not material to the Company, have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition.

Disposal

On May 23, 2003, the Company completed the sale of McLane Company, Inc. (“McLane”). The Company received $1.5 billion in cash for the sale. The accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes reflect the gain on the sale and the operations of McLane as a discontinued operation.

Following is summarized financial information for McLane (in millions):

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2004

Net sales

   $ 4,328
      

Income from discontinued operation

   $ 67

Income tax expense

     25
      

Net operating income from discontinued operation

     42

Gain on sale of McLane, net of $147 income tax expense

     151
      

Income from discontinued operation, net of tax

   $ 193
      

The effective tax rate on the gain from the sale of McLane was 49% as a result of the non-deductibility of $99 million of goodwill recorded in the original McLane acquisition.

7 Share-Based Compensation Plans

As of January 31, 2006, the Company has awarded share-based compensation to executives and other associates of the Company through various share-based compensation plans. The compensation cost recognized for all plans was $244 million, $204 million, and $183 million for fiscal 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized for all share-based compensation plans was $82 million, $71 million, and $66 million for fiscal 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

On February 1, 2003, the Company adopted the expense recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (“SFAS 123”), restating results for prior periods. In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a revision of SFAS 123 (“SFAS 123(R)”). The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123(R) upon its release. The adoption of SFAS 123(R) did not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. All share-based compensation is accounted for in accordance with the fair-value based method of SFAS 123(R).

The Company’s Stock Incentive Plan of 2005 (the “Plan”), which is shareholder-approved, permits the grant of stock options, restricted (non-vested) stock and performance share compensation awards to its associates for up to 210 million shares of common stock. The Company believes that such awards better align the interests of its associates with those of its shareholders.

Under the Plan and prior plans, stock option awards have been granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant. Generally, outstanding options granted before fiscal 2001 vest over seven years. Options granted after fiscal 2001 generally vest over five years. Shares issued upon the exercise of options are newly issued. Options granted generally have a contractual term of 10 years. The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model that uses various assumptions for inputs, which are noted in the following table. Generally, the Company uses historical volatilities and risk free interest rates that correlate with the expected term of the option. To determine the expected life of the option, the Company bases its estimates on historical grants with similar vesting periods. The following tables represents a weighted-average of the assumptions used by the company to estimate the fair values of the Company’s stock options at the grant dates:

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

   2006     2005     2004  

Dividend yield

   1.9 %   1.1 %   0.9 %

Volatility

   24.9 %   26.2 %   32.3 %

Risk-free interest rate

   4.2 %   3.5 %   2.8 %

Expected life in years

   6.1     5.3     4.5  

 

41


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

A summary of the stock option award activity for fiscal 2006 is presented below:

 

Options

   Shares     Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted-Average
Remaining Life in Years
  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

Outstanding at January 31, 2005

   68,115,000     $ 46.79      

Granted

   4,281,000       50.74      

Exercised

   (4,208,000 )     23.26      

Forfeited or expired

   (8,645,000 )     51.92      
                  

Outstanding at January 31, 2006

   59,543,000     $ 48.02    6.5    $ 163,326,000
                        

Exercisable at January 31, 2006

   32,904,000     $ 45.20    5.3    $ 162,240,000
                        

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, was $12.29, $11.92 and $14.89, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended January 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, was $108.3 million, $221.6 million and $231.0 million, respectively.

Under the Plan, the Company grants various types of awards of restricted (non-vested) stock to certain associates. These grants include awards for shares that vest based on the passage of time, performance criteria, or both. Vesting periods vary. The restricted stock awards may be settled in stock, or deferred as stock or cash, based upon the associate’s election. Consequently, these awards are classified as liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets unless the associate has elected for the award to be settled or deferred in stock. The fair value of the restricted stock liabilities is remeasured each reporting period. The total liability for restricted stock awards at January 31, 2006, was $61.1 million.

A summary of the Company’s restricted (non-vested) stock award activity for fiscal 2006 is presented below:

 

Non-Vested Stock Awards

   Shares     Weighted-Average
Grant-Date Fair Value

Restricted Stock Awards at January 31, 2005

   3,423,000     $ 46.63

Granted

   2,955,000     $ 44.81

Vested

   (383,000 )   $ 44.78

Forfeited

   (551,000 )   $ 45.02
            

Restricted Stock Awards at January 31, 2006

   5,444,000     $ 46.08
            

As of January 31, 2006, there was $157.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock granted under the Plan, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 5.9 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, was $19.9 million, $33.9 million and $8.0 million, respectively.

During fiscal 2005, the Company began issuing performance share awards under the Plan, the vesting of which is tied to the achievement of performance criteria. These awards accrue to the associate based on the extent to which revenue growth and return on investment goals are attained or exceeded over a one- to three-year period. Based on the extent to which the targets are achieved, vested shares may range from 0% to 150% of the original award amount. Because the performance shares may be settled in stock or cash, the performance shares are accounted for as liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets. Outstanding performance shares, the related liability and unrecognized compensation cost as of January 31, 2006 and 2005, were not significant.

The Company’s United Kingdom subsidiary, ASDA, also offers two other stock option plans to its associates. The first plan, The ASDA Colleague Share Ownership Plan 1999 (“CSOP”), grants options to certain associates. Options granted under the CSOP Plan generally expire six years from the date of grant, with half vesting on the third anniversary of the grant and the other half on the sixth anniversary of the date of grant. Shares in the money at the vesting date are exercised while shares out of the money at the vesting date expire. The second plan, The ASDA Sharesave Plan 2000 (“Sharesave”), grants options to certain associates at 80% of market value on the date of grant. Sharesave options become exercisable after either a three-year or five-year period and generally lapse six months after becoming exercisable. Outstanding options under these plans as well as the related aggregate intrinsic value as of January 31, 2006, were not significant.

8 Litigation

The Company is involved in a number of legal proceedings. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” the Company has made accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these matters, and may enter into settlement agreements, if it believes settlement is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders. The matters, or groups of related matters, discussed below, if decided adversely to or settled by the Company, individually or in the aggregate, may result in liability material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

42


The Company is a defendant in numerous cases containing class-action allegations in which the plaintiffs have brought claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), corresponding state statutes, or other laws. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits are current and former hourly associates who allege, among other things, that the Company forced them to work “off the clock,” or failed to provide work breaks, or otherwise claim they were not paid for work performed. The complaints generally seek unspecified monetary damages, injunctive relief, or both. Class certification has yet to be addressed in a majority of the cases. Class certification has been denied or overturned in cases pending in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Some or all of the requested classes have been certified in cases pending in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. Conditional certifications for notice purposes under the FLSA have been allowed in cases in Georgia, Michigan and Texas. The Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss which may arise from these lawsuits.

The Company is a defendant in Savaglio v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a class-action lawsuit in which the plaintiffs allege that they were not provided meal and rest breaks in accordance with California law, and seek monetary damages and injunctive relief. A jury trial on the plaintiffs’ claims for monetary damages concluded on December 22, 2005. The jury returned a verdict of $57,216,673 in statutory penalties and $115 million in punitive damages. The Company believes that it has substantial defenses to the claims at issue, and intends to challenge the verdict in post-trial motions and, if necessary, on appeal. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs’ claims for injunctive relief have been tentatively set for trial in June 2006.

A putative class action is pending in California challenging the methodology of payments made under various Associate incentive bonus plans, and a second putative class action in California asserts that the Company has omitted to include bonus payments in calculating associates’ regular rate of pay for purposes of determining overtime. As to the first case (Cruz v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.), the Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss which may arise. The parties have entered into an agreement to settle the second case (Fries v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.), which must be approved by the court in order to become effective. If approved by the court, the settlement will include all class members who do not opt out of the settlement class. The amount to be paid by Wal-Mart under the settlement will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The Company is currently a defendant in five putative class actions brought on behalf of assistant store managers who challenge their exempt status under state and federal laws, which are pending in California, Michigan, New Mexico and Tennessee. Conditional certification for notice purposes under the FLSA has been granted in one of these cases (Comer v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.). Otherwise, no determination has been made as to class certification in any of these cases. The Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss which may arise from these lawsuits.

The Company is a defendant in Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a class-action lawsuit commenced in June 2001 and pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The case was brought on behalf of all past and present female employees in all of the Company’s retail stores and warehouse clubs in the United States. The complaint alleges that the Company has engaged in a pattern and practice of discriminating against women in promotions, pay, training and job assignments. The complaint seeks, among other things, injunctive relief, front pay, back pay, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. Following a hearing on class certification on September 24, 2003, on June 21, 2004, the District Court issued an order granting in part and denying in part the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. The class, which was certified by the District Court for purposes of liability, injunctive and declaratory relief, punitive damages, and lost pay, subject to certain exceptions, includes all women employed at any Wal-Mart domestic retail store at any time since December 26, 1998, who have been or may be subjected to the pay and management track promotions policies and practices challenged by the plaintiffs. The class as certified currently includes approximately 1.6 million present and former female associates.

The Company believes that the District Court’s ruling is incorrect. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has granted the Company’s petition for discretionary review of the ruling. The Court of Appeals heard oral argument from counsel in the case on August 8, 2005. There is no indication at this time as to when a decision will be rendered. If the Company is not successful in its appeal of class certification, or an appellate court issues a ruling that allows for the certification of a class or classes with a different size or scope, and if there is a subsequent adverse verdict on the merits from which there is no successful appeal, or in the event of a negotiated settlement of the litigation, the resulting liability could be material to the Company. The plaintiffs also seek punitive damages which, if awarded, could result in the payment of additional amounts material to the Company. However, because of the uncertainty of the outcome of the appeal from the District Court’s certification decision, because of the uncertainty of the balance of the proceedings contemplated by the District Court, and because the Company’s liability, if any, arising from the litigation, including the size of any damages award if plaintiffs are successful in the litigation or any negotiated settlement, could vary widely, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss which may arise from the litigation.

The Company is a defendant in Mauldin v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a class-action lawsuit that was filed on October 16, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. The class was certified on August 23, 2002. On September 30, 2003, the court denied the Company’s motion to reconsider that ruling. The class is composed of female Wal-Mart associates who were participants in the Associates Health and Welfare Plan at any time from March 8, 2001, to the present and who were using prescription contraceptives. The class seeks amendment of the Plan to include coverage for prescription contraceptives, back pay for all members in the form of reimbursement of the cost of prescription contraceptives, pre-judgment interest, and attorneys’

 

43


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

 

fees. The complaint alleges that the Company’s Health Plan violates Title VII’s prohibition against gender discrimination in that the Health Plan’s Reproductive Systems provision does not provide coverage for prescription contraceptives. The Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss which may arise from this litigation.

The Company is a defendant in a lawsuit that was filed on August 24, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. EEOC (Janice Smith) v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an action brought by the EEOC on behalf of Janice Smith and all other females who made application or transfer requests at the London, Kentucky, distribution center from 1995 to the present, and who were not hired or transferred into the warehouse positions for which they applied. The class seeks back pay for those females not selected for hire or transfer during the relevant time period. The class also seeks injunctive and prospective affirmative

relief. The complaint alleges that the Company based hiring decisions on gender in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as amended. The EEOC can maintain this action as a class without certification. The Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss which may arise from this litigation.

On November 8, 2005, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, seeking documents and information relating to the Company’s receipt, transportation, handling, identification, recycling, treatment, storage and disposal of certain merchandise that constitutes hazardous materials or hazardous waste. The Company has been informed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California that it is a target of a criminal investigation into potential violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), the Clean Water Act, and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Statute. This U.S. Attorney’s Office contends, among other things, that the use of Company trucks to transport certain returned merchandise from the Company’s stores to its return centers is prohibited by RCRA because those materials may be considered hazardous waste. The government alleges that, to comply with RCRA, the Company must ship from the store certain materials as “hazardous waste” directly to a certified disposal facility using a certified hazardous waste carrier. The Company contends that the practice of transporting returned merchandise to its return centers for subsequent disposition, including disposal by certified facilities, is compliant with applicable laws and regulations.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California has initiated its own investigation regarding the Company’s handling of hazardous materials and hazardous waste and the Company has received administrative document requests from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control requesting documents and information with respect to two of the Company’s distribution facilities. Further, the Company also received a subpoena from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for documents and administrative interrogatories requesting information, among other things, regarding the Company’s handling of materials and hazardous waste. California state and local government authorities and the State of Nevada have also initiated investigations into these matters. The Company is cooperating fully with the respective authorities.

The Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss which may arise from this matter.

9 Commitments

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have long-term leases for stores and equipment. Rentals (including, for certain leases, amounts applicable to taxes, insurance, maintenance, other operating expenses and contingent rentals) under operating leases and other short-term rental arrangements were $1.3 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Aggregate minimum annual rentals at January 31, 2006, under non-cancelable leases are as follows (in millions):

 

Fiscal Year

   Operating
Leases
   Capital
Leases

2007

   $ 797    $ 592

2008

     751      588

2009

     710      550

2010

     634      526

2011

     586      514

Thereafter

     6,205      3,610
             

Total minimum rentals

   $ 9,683      6,380
         

Less estimated executory costs

        39
         

Net minimum lease payments

        6,341

Less imputed interest at rates ranging from 3.0% to 29.0%

        2,300
         

Present value of minimum lease payments

      $ 4,041
         

The Company has entered into sale/leaseback transactions involving buildings and the underlying land that were accounted for as capital and operating leases. Included in the annual maturities schedule above are $429 million of capital leases and $140 million of operating leases.

Certain of the Company’s leases provide for the payment of contingent rentals based on a percentage of sales. Such contingent rentals amounted to $27 million, $32 million and $38 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Substantially all of the Company’s store leases have renewal options, some of which may trigger an escalation in rentals.

In connection with certain debt financing, we could be liable for early termination payments if certain unlikely events were to occur. At January 31, 2006, the aggregate termination payment was $89 million. These two arrangements expire in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2019.

In connection with the development of our grocery distribution network in the United States, we have agreements with third parties which would require us to purchase or assume the leases on certain unique equipment in the event the agreements are terminated.

These agreements, which can be terminated by either party at will, cover up to a five-year period and obligate the Company to pay up to approximately $233 million upon termination of some or all of these agreements.

 

44


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

There are no recourse provisions which would enable us to recover from third parties any amounts paid under the above guarantees. No liability for these guarantees has been recorded in our financial statements.

The Company has entered into lease commitments for land and buildings for 60 future locations. These lease commitments with real estate developers provide for minimum rentals ranging from 5 to 35 years, which if consummated based on current cost estimates, will approximate $95 million annually over the lease terms.

10 Retirement-related Benefits

In the United States, the Company maintains a Profit Sharing and 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan under which most full-time and many part-time associates become participants following one year of employment. The Profit Sharing component of the plan is entirely funded by the Company, with an additional contribution made by the Company to the associates’ 401(k) component of the plan. In addition to the Company contributions to the 401(k) Retirement Savings component of the plan, associates may elect to contribute a percentage of their earnings. During fiscal 2006, participants could contribute up to 25% of their pretax earnings, but not more than statutory limits.

Associates may choose from among 13 different investment options for the 401(k) Retirement Savings component of the plan. For associates who did not make an election, their 401(k) balance in the plan is placed in a balanced fund. Associates are immediately vested in their 401(k) funds and may change their investment options at any time. Additionally, fully vested associates have the same 13 investment options for the Profit Sharing component of the plan. Associates are fully vested in the Profit Sharing component of the plan after seven years of service.

Annual contributions made by the Company to the United States and Puerto Rico Profit Sharing and 401(k) Retirement Savings Plans are made at the sole discretion of the Company, and were $827 million, $756 million and $662 million for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Employees in foreign countries who are not U.S. citizens are covered by various post-employment benefit arrangements. These plans are administered based upon the legislative and tax requirements in the country in which they are established. Annual contributions to foreign retirement savings and profit sharing plans are made at the discretion of the Company, and were $244 million, $199 million and $123 million in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

The Company’s subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Japan have defined benefit pension plans. The plan in the United Kingdom was underfunded by $332 million and $419 million at January 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The plan in Japan was underfunded by $228 million at January 31, 2006.

11 Segments

At January 31, 2006, the Company and its subsidiaries were principally engaged in the operation of retail stores located in all 50 states, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom, through joint ventures in China, and through majority-owned subsidiaries in Japan and Mexico. The Company identifies segments based on management responsibility within the United States and in total for international units.

The Wal-Mart Stores segment includes the Company’s supercenters, discount stores and Neighborhood Markets in the United States, as well as Walmart.com. The SAM’S CLUB segment includes the warehouse membership clubs in the United States as well as samsclub.com. At January 31, 2006, the International segment consisted of the Company’s operations in Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Mexico, South Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom, which are consolidated using a December 31 fiscal year-end, generally due to statutory reporting requirements. There were no significant intervening events which materially affected the financial statements. The Company’s operations in Canada and Puerto Rico are consolidated using a January 31 fiscal year-end. The amounts under the caption “Other” in the following table include unallocated corporate overhead. The Company’s portion of the results of our unconsolidated minority interest in Seiyu prior to December 20, 2005, and our unconsolidated minority interest in CARHCO are also included under the caption “Other.”

 

45


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

WAL-MART

The Company measures the profit of its segments as “segment operating income,” which is defined as income from continuing operations before net interest expense, income taxes and minority interest. Information on segments and the reconciliation to income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest are as follows (in millions):

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2006

   Wal-Mart Stores    SAM’S CLUB    International    Other     Consolidated  

Revenues from external customers

   $ 209,910    $ 39,798    $ 62,719    $ —       $ 312,427  

Intercompany real estate charge (income)

     3,454      547      —        (4,001 )     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,922      296      1,043      1,456       4,717  

Operating income (loss)

     15,324      1,385      3,330      (1,509 )     18,530  

Interest expense, net

                (1,172 )
                   

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

              $ 17,358  

Total assets of continuing operations

   $ 32,809    $ 5,686    $ 51,581    $ 48,111     $ 138,187  

Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2005

   Wal-Mart Stores    SAM’S CLUB    International    Other     Consolidated  

Revenues from external customers

   $ 191,826    $ 37,119    $ 56,277    $ —       $ 285,222  

Intercompany real estate charge (income)

     2,754      513      —        (3,267 )     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,561      274      919      1,510       4,264  

Operating income (loss)

     14,163      1,280      2,988      (1,340 )     17,091  

Interest expense, net

                (986 )
                   

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

              $ 16,105  

Total assets of continuing operations

   $ 29,489    $ 5,685    $ 40,981    $ 43,999     $ 120,154  

Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2004

   Wal-Mart Stores    SAM’S CLUB    International    Other     Consolidated  

Revenues from external customers

   $ 174,220    $ 34,537    $ 47,572    $ —       $ 256,329  

Intercompany real estate charge (income)

     2,468      484      —        (2,952 )     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,482      249      810      1,311       3,852  

Operating income (loss)

     12,916      1,126      2,370      (1,387 )     15,025  

Interest expense, net

                (832 )
                   

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

              $ 14,193  

Total assets of continuing operations

   $ 27,028    $ 4,751    $ 35,230    $ 38,396     $ 105,405  

Certain information for fiscal years 2005 and 2004 has been reclassified to conform to current-year presentation.

In the United States, long-lived assets, net, excluding goodwill and other assets and deferred charges were $55.5 billion and $48.4 billion as of January 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In the United States, additions to long-lived assets were $11.8 billion, $9.8 billion and $8.1 billion in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Outside of the United States, long-lived assets, net, excluding goodwill and other assets and deferred charges were $23.8 billion and $19.7 billion in fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. Outside of the United States, additions to long-lived assets were $2.8 billion, $3.1 billion and $2.2 billion in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The International segment includes all real estate outside the United States. The operations of the Company’s ASDA subsidiary are significant in comparison to the total operations of the International segment. ASDA sales during fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004 were $26.8 billion, $26.0 billion and $21.7 billion, respectively. At January 31, 2006 and 2005, ASDA long-lived assets, consisting primarily of property and equipment, net, and goodwill, net, totaled $17.7 billion and $18.9 billion, respectively. The decline in ASDA’s long-lived assets from January 31, 2005 to January 31, 2006 was largely due to foreign currency translation.

 

46


12 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

     Quarters ended

(Amounts in millions except per share information)

   April 30,    July 31,    October 31,    January 31,

Fiscal 2006

           

Net sales

   $ 70,908    $ 76,811    $ 75,436    $ 89,273

Cost of sales

     54,571      58,787      57,988      69,045
                           

Gross profit

   $ 16,337    $ 18,024    $ 17,448    $ 20,228

Net income

   $ 2,461    $ 2,805    $ 2,374    $ 3,589

Basic and diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.58    $ 0.67    $ 0.57    $ 0.86

Fiscal 2005

           

Net sales

   $ 64,763    $ 69,722    $ 68,520    $ 82,216

Cost of sales

     49,969      53,533      52,567      63,723
                           

Gross profit

   $ 14,794    $ 16,189    $ 15,953    $ 18,493

Net income

   $ 2,166    $ 2,651    $ 2,286    $ 3,164

Basic and diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.50    $ 0.62    $ 0.54    $ 0.75

The sum of quarterly financial data will not agree to annual amounts due to rounding.

13 Subsequent Events

On March 2, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company’s annual dividend to $0.67 per share. The annual dividend will be paid in four quarterly installments on April 3, 2006, June 5, 2006, September 5, 2006, and January 2, 2007 to holders of record on March 17, May 19, August 18 and December 15, 2006, respectively.

In February 2006, we entered into a £150 million revolving credit facility in the United Kingdom. Interest on borrowings under the credit facility accrues at LIBOR plus 25 basis points.

 

47


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders,

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. as of January 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. at January 31, 2006 and 2005, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2006, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 27, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/    Ernst & Young LLP

Rogers, Arkansas

March 27, 2006

 

48


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Board of Directors and Shareholders,

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report to Our Shareholders under the caption “Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting,” that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. maintained effective internal

control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control

over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability

of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections

of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Report to Our Shareholders, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of The Seiyu, Ltd., and Sonae Distribuição Brasil S.A., both of which were acquired in fiscal 2006 and are included in the fiscal 2006 consolidated financial statements of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. These entities represented, in the aggregate, 5.8% and 0.1% of total assets and total net sales, respectively, of the Company as of, and for the year ended, January 31, 2006. These acquisitions are more fully discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2006. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting for these fiscal 2006 acquisitions.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2006, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. as of January 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2006 and our report dated March 27, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/    Ernst & Young LLP

Rogers, Arkansas

March 27, 2006

 

49


Management’s Report to Our Shareholders

WAL-MART

Management of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (“Wal-Mart” or the “Company”) is responsible for the preparation, integrity and objectivity of Wal-Mart’s consolidated financial statements and other financial information contained in this Annual Report to Shareholders. Those consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In preparing those consolidated financial statements, management was required to make certain estimates and judgments, which are based upon currently available information and management’s view of current conditions and circumstances.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists solely of independent directors, oversees our process of reporting financial information and the audit of our consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee stays informed of the financial condition of Wal-Mart and regularly reviews management’s financial policies and procedures, the independence of our independent auditors, our internal control and the objectivity of our financial reporting. Both the independent auditors and the internal auditors have free access to the Audit Committee and meet with the Audit Committee periodically, both with and without management present.

We have retained Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit our consolidated financial statements found in this annual report. We have made available to Ernst & Young LLP all of our financial records and related data in connection with their audit of our consolidated financial statements.

We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) the required certifications related to our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended January 31, 2006. These certifications are attached as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2006. Additionally, we have also provided to the New York Stock Exchange the required annual certification of our Chief Executive Officer regarding our compliance with the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance listing standards.

Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management has responsibility for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2006. In making its assessment, management has utilized the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated Framework. Management concluded that based on its assessment, Wal-Mart’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 31, 2006. Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2006, has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears in this Annual Report to Shareholders.

Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting excluded The Seiyu, Ltd. and Sonae Distribuição Brasil S.A., both of which were acquired in fiscal 2006. These entities represented, in the aggregate, 5.8% and 0.1% of consolidated total assets and consolidated net sales, respectively, of the Company as of and for the year ended January 31, 2006. These acquisitions are more fully discussed in Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2006. Under guidelines established by the SEC, companies are allowed to exclude acquisitions from their first assessment of internal control over financial reporting following the date of the acquisition.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be timely disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management in a timely fashion. Management has assessed the effectiveness of these disclosure controls and procedures as of January 31, 2006, and determined they were effective as of that date to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, was accumulated and communicated to management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and were effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.

Report on Ethical Standards

Our Company was founded on the belief that open communications and the highest standards of ethics are necessary to be successful. Our long-standing “Open Door” communication policy helps management be aware of and address issues in a timely and effective manner. Through the open door policy all associates are encouraged to inform management at the appropriate level when they are concerned about any matter pertaining to Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart has adopted a Statement of Ethics to guide our associates in the continued observance of high ethical standards such as honesty, integrity and compliance with the law in the conduct of Wal-Mart’s business. Familiarity and compliance with the Statement of Ethics is required of all associates who are part of management. The Company also maintains a separate Code of Ethics for our senior financial officers. Wal-Mart also has in place a Related-Party Transaction Policy. This policy applies to Wal-Mart’s senior officers and directors and requires material related-party transactions to be reviewed by the Audit Committee. The senior officers and directors are required to report material related-party transactions to Wal-Mart. We maintain an ethics office which oversees and administers an ethics hotline. The ethics hotline provides a channel for associates to make confidential and anonymous complaints regarding potential violations of our statements of ethics, including violations related to financial or accounting matters.

 

/s/    H. Lee Scott, Jr.

H. Lee Scott, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

/s/    Thomas M. Schoewe

Thomas M. Schoewe

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

50


Fiscal 2006 End-of-Year Store Count

WAL-MART

 

State

   Discount
Stores
   Supercenters    SAM’S
CLUBs
   Neighborhood
Markets

Alabama

   13    76    11    2

Alaska

   7    0    3    0

Arizona

   15    42    13    9

Arkansas

   20    60    5    6

California

   146    13    35    0

Colorado

   13    44    15    0

Connecticut

   28    4    3    0

Delaware

   4    4    1    0

Florida

   48    128    39    9

Georgia

   15    101    21    0

Hawaii

   8    0    2    0

Idaho

   3    14    1    0

Illinois

   79    51    28    0

Indiana

   27    61    16    4

Iowa

   18    37    7    0

Kansas

   18    35    6    3

Kentucky

   22    59    7    2

Louisiana

   23    60    13    1

Maine

   10    12    3    0

Maryland

   33    8    12    0

Massachusetts

   41    3    4    0

Michigan

   37    40    25    0

Minnesota

   31    21    13    0

Mississippi

   12    53    6    1

Missouri

   40    77    15    0

Montana

   4    7    1    0

Nebraska

   3    23    3    0

Nevada

   8    15    5    6

New Hampshire

   19    7    4    0

New Jersey

   40    1    9    0

New Mexico

   3    26    6    1

New York

   48    35    18    0

North Carolina

   34    78    19    0

North Dakota

   7    1    2    0

Ohio

   52    72    27    0

Oklahoma

   29    53    8    15

Oregon

   17    12    0    0

Pennsylvania

   46    70    23    0

Rhode Island

   7    1    1    0

South Carolina

   14    49    9    0

South Dakota

   1    10    2    0

Tennessee

   16    81    16    6

Texas

   62    253    70    30

Utah

   2    26    7    5

Vermont

   4    0    0    0

Virginia

   20    61    13    0

Washington

   21    19    3    0

W Virginia

   6    26    4    0

Wisconsin

   34    43    11    0

Wyoming

   1    8    2    0
                   

U.S. Totals

   1,209    1,980    567    100
                   

International/Worldwide

 

Country

   Discount
Stores
    Supercenters     SAM’S
CLUBs
   Neighborhood
Markets
 

Argentina

   0     11     0    0  

Brazil

   255 *   23     15    2 *

Canada

   272     0     6    0  

China

   0     51     3    2  

Germany

   0     88     0    0  

Japan

   2   96   0    300

South Korea

   0     16     0    0  

Mexico

   599   105     70    0  

Puerto Rico

   9     5     9    31 **

United Kingdom

   294 §   21     0    0  
                       

International Totals

   1,431     416     103    335  
                       

Grand Totals

   2,640     2,396     670    435  
                       

 

* Brazil includes 2 Todo Dias, 116 Bompreço and 139 Sonae.

 

Japan includes 2 GM only, 96 general merchandise, apparel and food stores and 300 Supermarkets. Japan excludes 45 Wakana units, which are take-out restaurants generally less than 1,000 square feet in size.

 

Mexico includes 187 Bodegas, 16 Mi Bodegas, 1 Mi Bodega Express, 1 Mercamas, 53 Suburbias, 55 Superamas, 286 Vips and does not include Vips franchises.

 

** Puerto Rico includes 31 Amigos.

 

§ United Kingdom includes 236 ASDA Stores, 10 George Stores, 5 ASDA Living and 43 ASDA Small Town.

 

51


Senior Officers and Board of Directors

WAL-MART

Senior officers

Eduardo Castro-Wright

Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wal-Mart Stores Division U.S.

M. Susan Chambers

Executive Vice President, Risk Management, Insurance and Benefits Administration

Patricia A. Curran

Executive Vice President, Store Operations, Wal-Mart Stores Division U.S.

Douglas J. Degn

Executive Vice President, Food, Consumables, and Hardlines, Wal-Mart Stores Division U.S.

Linda M. Dillman

Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer

Michael T. Duke

Vice Chairman, Responsible for Wal-Mart International

Joseph J. Fitzsimmons

Senior Vice President, Treasurer

John E. Fleming

Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Wal-Mart Stores Division U.S.

Rollin L. Ford

Executive Vice President, Logistics and Supply Chain

David D. Glass

Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors

Mark D. Goodman

Executive Vice President, Marketing and Membership, SAM’S CLUB

Craig R. Herkert

Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Americas, Wal-Mart International

Charles M. Holley, Jr.

Senior Vice President, Finance

Thomas D. Hyde

Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary

Lawrence V. Jackson

Executive Vice President, People Division

Gregory L. Johnston

Executive Vice President, Club Operations, SAM’S CLUB

C. Douglas McMillon

 

Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, SAM’S CLUB

John B. Menzer

Vice Chairman, Responsible for U.S.

Thomas M. Schoewe

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

H. Lee Scott, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Gregory E. Spragg

Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Replenishment, SAM’S CLUB

S. Robson Walton

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Claire A. Watts

Executive Vice President, Product Development, Apparel and Home Merchandising, Wal-Mart Stores Division U.S.

Eric S. Zorn

Executive Vice President, Wal-Mart Realty

Board of directors

James W. Breyer

Mr. Breyer is the Managing Partner of Accel Partners, a venture capital firm.

M. Michele Burns

Ms. Burns is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Marsh McLennan Companies, a risk management company.

Douglas N. Daft

Mr. Daft is the retired Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company.

David D. Glass

Mr. Glass is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Roland A. Hernandez

Mr. Hernandez is the retired Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Telemundo Group, Inc., a Spanish- language television station company.

John D. Opie

Mr. Opie is the retired Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Officer of the General Electric Co., a diversified technology, services, and products company.

J. Paul Reason

Mr. Reason is the Vice Chairman of Metro Machine Corporation, an employee-owned ship repair company.

H. Lee Scott, Jr.

Mr. Scott is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Jack C. Shewmaker

Mr. Shewmaker is the President of J-COM, Inc., a consulting company, a retired Wal-Mart executive and a rancher.

José H. Villarreal

Mr. Villarreal is a partner in the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P

Jim C. Walton

Mr. Walton is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Arvest Bank Group, Inc., a group of banks operating in 91 communities in the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

S. Robson Walton

Mr. Walton is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Christopher J. Williams

Mr. Williams is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of The Williams Capital Group, L.P., an investment bank.

Linda S. Wolf

Ms. Wolf is the retired Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide, Inc., advertising agency and division of Publicis Groupe S.A.

 

52


Corporate and Stock Information

WAL-MART

Corporate information

Registrar and Transfer Agent:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43069

Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3069

1-800-438-6278

TDD for hearing-impaired inside the U.S. 1-800-952-9245

Internet: http//www.computershare.com/equiserve

Dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase available

Listings – Stock Symbol: WMT

New York Stock Exchange

Pacific Stock Exchange

Annual meeting:

Our Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Friday, June 2, 2006, in Bud Walton Arena on the University of Arkansas campus, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Communication with shareholders:

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. periodically communicates with its shareholders and other members of the investment community about our operations. For further information regarding our policy on shareholder and investor communications refer to our website www.walmartstores.com/investors.

Independent registered public accounting firm:

Ernst & Young LLP

5414 Pinnacle Point Dr., Suite 102

Rogers, AR 72758

Corporate address:

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

702 S.W. 8th Street

Bentonville, Arkansas 72716

Telephone: 479-273-4000

Retail Internet Sites:

http://www.walmart.com

http://www.samsclub.com

Corporate Internet Sites:

http://www.walmartstores.com

http://www.walmartfacts.com

The following reports are available without charge upon request by writing the Company c/o Investor Relations or by calling 479-273-8446. These reports are also available via the corporate website.

Annual Report on Form 10-K

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q

Current Sales and Earnings Releases

Current Reports on Form 8-K

Copy of Proxy Statement

Supplier Standards Report

Sustainability in action

 

LOGO    LOGO

Market price of common stock

Fiscal year ended January 31,

 

     2005    2006
     High    Low    High    Low

1st Quarter

   $ 61.05    $ 54.69    $ 53.51    $ 46.81

2nd Quarter

   $ 57.68    $ 51.76    $ 50.51    $ 47.00

3rd Quarter

   $ 54.97    $ 51.33    $ 49.80    $ 42.49

4th Quarter

   $ 57.70    $ 52.02    $ 50.57    $ 44.95

Fiscal year ended January 31,

 

     2007
      High    Low

1st Quarter*

   $ 47.76    $ 44.74

 

* Through March 20, 2006.

Certifications

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have filed their certifications as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding the quality of the Company’s public disclosure for each of the periods ended during the Company’s fiscal year ended January 31, 2006 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2006 and 2005. Further the Company’s Chief Executive Officer has certified to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that he is not aware of any violation by the Company of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards, as required by Section 303A.12(a) of the NYSE listing standards, and he has certified to the Pacific Stock Exchange that he is not aware of any violation by the Company of the Pacific Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Rules, as required by Rule 5.3(m) of the Corporate Governance Rules.

Shareholders

As of March 20, 2006, there were 312,663 holders of record of Wal-Mart’s Common Stock.

Dividends paid per share

Fiscal year ended January 31, 2005

 

April 5, 2004

   $ 0.130

June 7, 2004

   $ 0.130

September 7, 2004

   $ 0.130

January 3, 2005

   $ 0.130

Dividends paid per share

Fiscal year ended January 31, 2006

 

April 4, 2005

   $ 0.150

June 6, 2005

   $ 0.150

September 6, 2005

   $ 0.150

January 3, 2006

   $ 0.150

Dividends payable per share

Fiscal year ended January 31, 2007

 

April 3, 2006

   $ 0.1675

June 5, 2006

   $ 0.1675

September 5, 2006

   $ 0.1675

January 2, 2007

   $ 0.1675

All of the paper used for Wal-Mart’s Annual Report came from well-managed forests certified to the international standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The financial section paper also contains 10% post-consumer recycled fiber.