The Martiest of them All: Wal-Mart Beats the Street

Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT) has done it again, the largest retailer in the world beat the street and shares are trading flat in the $53 range.  WMT came in 3 cents above the consensus estimate and they issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is in line with current analyst expectations.  Beat Street Breakdown baby.

Wal-Mart Profit Up 3.2% Despite Weak Sales; 4Q View Cautious
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s (WMT) more muted expectations for the approaching holiday season are in keeping with other major retailers, suggesting the sector is expecting consumer spending to be very tenuous over the next couple of months.

The world's biggest retailer said it expects to post earnings from continuing operations of $1.08 a share to $1.12 in the fourth quarter, while analysts on average were expecting $1.12. Macy's Inc. (M) on Wednesday and Kohl's Corp. (KSS) on Thursday offered tempered expctations, with their guidance below what analysts were expecting. Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) will be heard from after the closing bell on Thursday and J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) reports on Friday. Target Corp. (TGT), Home Depot Inc. (HD), and Saks Inc. (SKS) are expected to issue results on Monday.

Wal-Mart U.S. chief Eduardo Castro-Wright said during Thursday's conference call: "We recognize that some customers may be more cautious in their holiday spending."

The question investors may be asking is: "Can Wal-Mart meet or beat its guidance given its aggressive pricing strategy for the holidays," said Brian Sozzi, retail analyst at Wall Street Strategies.

The same may hold true for other retailers' given their tempered expectations.

Wal-Mart's same-store-sales are projected to be flat or off 1% for the fourth quarter after rising 2.4% in last year's fourth quarter.

The company has been faring better than retailers that are not discount-oriented because its low prices appeal to recession-weary consumers. And though increasing signs of stabilization could boost buyers' spending and diminish the company's pricing advantage, consumer sentiment won't rise freely until the unemployment rate - up to 10.2% in October - abates.

Wal-Mart is trying to bring as many customers in as possible for the holidays, with advertising costs growing faster than the rate of sales during the quarter as Wal-Mart stepped up its communications across all media.

Wal-Mart's fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 3.2% as profit topped expectations despite a 0.4% dip in U.S. same-store sales.

President and Chief Executive Mike Duke attributed the third-quarter profit growth to improved productivity and inventory management.

Wal-Mart is gaining market share "all over the world," Duke said in a recorded call. The retailer added 13 million square feet over the third quarter, more than many retailers add in a year, with more than half its growth in the U.S.

Customer traffic rose 1.5% in the U.S. during the third quarter on a comparable-store basis while the average purchase fell. Wal-Mart's Castro-Wright said deflation was the sole contributor to the drop in average purchases, with prices dropping "well beyond what we expected" across many food categories as well as electronics.

The third quarter marked the first time that total grocery prices declined when compared with a year ago, said Castro-Wright, who added that Wal-Mart expects deflation to mitigate in the first quarter. Wal-Mart faces easier comparisons next year.

Wal-Mart's overall gross margin beat analysts' expectations and its Sam's Club showed progress in gross margin and expense reduction.

Wal-Mart again boosted its earnings target for the year, this time to $3.57 to $3.61 a share from August's view of $3.50 to $3.60. The mean estimate of analysts surveyed by FactSet Research was $3.58 for the year.