WAL MART STORES INC, 10-Q filed on 6/4/2010
Quarterly Report
Document and Entity Information
Jun. 1, 2010
3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2010
Document Type
 
10-Q 
Amendment Flag
 
FALSE 
Document Period End Date
 
04/30/2010 
Document Fiscal Year Focus
 
2011 
Document Fiscal Period Focus
 
Q1 
Trading Symbol
 
WMT 
Entity Registrant Name
 
WAL MART STORES INC 
Entity Central Index Key
 
0000104169 
Current Fiscal Year End Date
 
01/31 
Entity Filer Category
 
Large Accelerated Filer 
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding
3,709,648,571 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data
3 Months Ended
Apr. 30,
2010
2009
Revenues:
 
 
Net sales
$ 99,097 
$ 93,471 
Membership and other income
751 
771 
Revenues, Total
99,848 
94,242 
Costs and expenses:
 
 
Cost of sales
74,703 
70,388 
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses
19,373 
18,637 
Operating income
5,772 
5,217 
Interest:
 
 
Debt
455 
448 
Capital leases
67 
70 
Interest income
(51)
(51)
Interest, net
471 
467 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
5,301 
4,750 
Provision for income taxes
1,834 
1,603 
Income from continuing operations
3,467 
3,147 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
(8)
Consolidated net income
3,467 1
3,139 1
Less consolidated net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(143)1
(117)1
Consolidated net income attributable to Walmart
3,324 
3,022 
Basic net income per common share:
 
 
Basic income per common share from continuing operations attributable to Walmart
0.88 
0.77 
Basic loss per common share from discontinued operations attributable to Walmart
 
 
Basic net income per common share attributable to Walmart
0.88 
0.77 
Diluted net income per common share:
 
 
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations attributable to Walmart
0.88 
0.77 
Diluted loss per common share from discontinued operations attributable to Walmart
 
 
Diluted net income per common share attributable to Walmart
0.88 
0.77 
Weighted-average number of common shares:
 
 
Basic
3,765 
3,920 
Diluted
3,781 
3,930 
Dividends declared per common share
$ 1.21 
$ 1.09 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $)
In Millions
Apr. 30, 2010
Jan. 31, 2010
Apr. 30, 2009
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 8,516 
$ 7,907 
$ 6,578 
Receivables, net
4,235 
4,144 
3,356 
Inventories
35,503 
33,160 
34,391 
Prepaid expenses and other
3,291 
2,980 
3,266 
Current assets of discontinued operations
129 
140 
155 
Total current assets
51,674 
48,331 
47,746 
Property and equipment:
 
 
 
Property and equipment
139,811 
137,848 
127,472 
Less accumulated depreciation
(39,602)
(38,304)
(34,145)
Property and equipment, net
100,209 
99,544 
93,327 
Property under capital leases:
 
 
 
Property under capital leases
5,713 
5,669 
5,394 
Less accumulated amortization
(2,994)
(2,906)
(2,617)
Property under capital leases, net
2,719 
2,763 
2,777 
Goodwill
15,859 
16,126 
14,882 
Other assets and deferred charges
3,910 
3,942 
3,358 
Total assets
174,371 
170,706 
162,090 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings
4,812 
523 
1,457 
Accounts payable
31,372 
30,451 
28,541 
Dividends payable
3,546 
 
3,234 
Accrued liabilities
15,617 
18,734 
15,263 
Accrued income taxes
2,726 
1,365 
1,810 
Long-term debt due within one year
6,012 
4,050 
5,731 
Obligations under capital leases due within one year
353 
346 
318 
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
74 
92 
45 
Total current liabilities
64,512 
55,561 
56,399 
Long-term debt
32,668 
33,231 
32,480 
Long-term obligations under capital leases
3,112 
3,170 
3,185 
Deferred income taxes and other
5,152 
5,508 
5,835 
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
325 
307 
277 
Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
Equity:
 
 
 
Common stock and capital in excess of par value
4,059 
4,181 
4,048 
Retained earnings
62,486 
66,638 
61,556 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(216)
(70)
(3,373)
Total Walmart shareholders' equity
66,329 
70,749 
62,231 
Noncontrolling interest
2,273 
2,180 
1,683 
Total equity
68,602 
72,929 
63,914 
Total liabilities and equity
$ 174,371 
$ 170,706 
$ 162,090 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) (USD $)
In Millions
Common Stock
Capital in Excess of Par Value
Retained Earnings
Accumulated Other Comrehensive Loss
Total Walmart Shareholder's Equity
Noncontrolling Interest
Total
2/1/2010 - 4/30/2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balances (in shares)
3,786 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balances
378 
3,803 
66,638 
(70)
70,749 
2,180 
72,929 
Consolidated net income (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interest)
 
 
3,324 
 
3,324 
146 
3,470 
Other comprehensive income
 
 
 
(146)
(146)
155 
Cash dividends ($1.21 per share)
 
 
(4,552)
 
(4,552)
 
(4,552)
Purchase of Company stock (in shares)
(56)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase of Company stock
(6)
(98)
(2,928)
 
(3,032)
 
(3,032)
Other (in shares)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
(18)
 
(14)
(208)
(222)
Ending Balances (in shares)
3,736 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending Balances
$ 372 
$ 3,687 
$ 62,486 
$ (216)
$ 66,329 
$ 2,273 
$ 68,602 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)
3 Months Ended
Apr. 30,
2010
2009
Cash dividends, per share
$ 1.21 
$ 1.09 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $)
In Millions
3 Months Ended
Apr. 30,
2010
2009
Consolidated net income
$ 3,467 2
$ 3,139 2
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
Currency translation
(48)1
(687)1
Net change in fair value of derivatives
83 
(14)
Total comprehensive income
3,502 
2,438 
Less comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
 
 
Less consolidated net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(143)2
(117)2
Currency translation
(181)1
16 1
Amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interest
(324)
(101)
Comprehensive income attributable to Walmart
$ 3,178 
$ 2,337 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)
In Millions
3 Months Ended
Apr. 30,
2010
2009
Consolidated net income, redeemable noncontrolling interest
$ (3)
$ 8 
Foreign currency translation, redeemable noncontrolling interest
$ 26 
$ 25 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (USD $)
In Millions
3 Months Ended
Apr. 30,
2010
2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
Consolidated net income
$ 3,467 1
$ 3,139 1
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
Income from continuing operations
3,467 
3,147 
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
1,864 
1,700 
Other
(689)
(192)
Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
 
 
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
(97)
419 
Decrease (increase) in inventories
(2,230)
153 
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
392 
(315)
Decrease in accrued liabilities
(1,734)
(1,341)
Net cash provided by operating activities
973 
3,571 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
Payments for property and equipment
(2,563)
(2,607)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment
123 
132 
Other investing activities
204 
(208)
Net cash used in investing activities
(2,236)
(2,683)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings, net
4,299 
(266)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
1,971 
1,453 
Payment of long-term debt
(37)
(63)
Dividends paid
(1,136)
(1,067)
Purchase of Company stock
(2,967)
(886)
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest
 
(436)
Other financing activities
(294)
(238)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
1,836 
(1,503)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
36 
(82)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
609 
(697)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
7,907 
7,275 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$ 8,516 
$ 6,578 
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Walmart,” the “Company” or “we”) included in this document are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been included. Such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto are presented in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010. Therefore, the interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with that Annual Report to Shareholders.

Net Income Per Common Share
Net Income Per Common Share

Note 2. Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share attributable to Walmart is based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares. Diluted net income per common share attributable to Walmart is based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock options and other share-based awards. The dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and other share-based awards was 16 million shares for the three months ended April 30, 2010, and 10 million shares for the three months ended April 30, 2009. The Company had approximately 5 million and 28 million stock options outstanding at April 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which were not included in the diluted net income per common share attributable to Walmart calculation because their effect would be antidilutive.

For purposes of determining consolidated net income per common share attributable to Walmart, income from continuing operations attributable to Walmart and the loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
 
(Amounts in millions)    2010     2009  

Income from continuing operations

   $ 3,467      $ 3,147   

Less consolidated net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (143     (117
                

Income from continuing operations attributable to Walmart

     3,324        3,030   

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —          (8
                

Consolidated net income attributable to Walmart

   $ 3,324      $ 3,022   
                
Inventories
Inventories

Note 3. 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 of the Walmart U.S. segment’s merchandise inventories. The Sam’s Club segment’s merchandise and merchandise in our distribution warehouses are valued based on the weighted-average cost using the LIFO method. Inventories for Walmart International operations are primarily valued by the retail method of accounting and are stated using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. At April 30, 2010 and 2009, our inventories valued at LIFO approximate those inventories as if they were valued at FIFO.

Long-Term Debt
Long-Term Debt

Note 4. Long-Term Debt

On April 1, 2010, the Company issued $750 million principal amount of its 2.875% Notes due 2015 and $1.250 billion principal amount of its 5.625% Notes due 2040. The aggregate net proceeds from these note issuances were approximately $2.0 billion. The notes of each series require semi-annual interest payments on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing on October 1, 2010. The 2.875% Notes due 2015 will mature on April 1, 2015, and the 5.625% Notes due 2040 will mature on April 1, 2040. The entire principal amount of the notes of each series is payable at maturity. The notes of each series are senior, unsecured obligations of the Company.

Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements

Note 5. Fair Value Measurements

The Company records and discloses certain financial and non-financial assets and liabilities at their fair value. The fair value of an asset is the price at which the asset could be sold in an orderly transaction between unrelated, knowledgeable and willing parties able to engage in the transaction. A liability’s fair value is defined as the amount that would be paid to transfer the liability to a new obligor in a transaction between such parties, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor.

 

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are measured using a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include:

 

   

Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

 

   

Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

 

   

Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring the Company to develop our own assumptions.

The disclosure of fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at cost are as follows:

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

Long-term debt: The fair value is based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rate for similar types of borrowing arrangements or, where applicable, quoted market prices. The carrying value and fair value of our debt as of April 30, 2010 and January 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

     April 30, 2010    January 31, 2010
(Amounts in millions)    Carrying Value    Fair Value    Carrying Value    Fair Value

Long-term debt

   $ 38,680    $ 40,748    $ 37,281    $ 39,055

Additionally, as of April 30, 2010 and January 31, 2010, the Company held certain derivative asset and liability positions that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The majority of the Company’s derivative instruments relate to interest rate swaps. The fair values of these interest rate swaps have been measured in accordance with Level 2 inputs of the fair value hierarchy. As of April 30, 2010 and January 31, 2010, the notional amounts and fair values of these interest rate swaps are as follows (asset/(liability)):

 

     April 30, 2010     January 31, 2010  
(Amounts in millions)    Notional
Amount
   Fair
Value
    Notional
Amount
   Fair
Value
 

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

   $ 4,445    $ 258      $ 4,445    $ 260   

Receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swaps designated as net investment hedges

     1,250      268        1,250      189   

Receive floating-rate, pay fixed-rate interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges

     638      (20     638      (20

Receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges

     2,902      215        2,902      286   
                              

Total

   $ 9,235    $ 721      $ 9,235    $ 715   
                              

The fair values above are determined based on the income approach and the related inputs of the relevant interest rate and foreign currency forward curves. The estimated amounts the Company would receive or pay upon a termination of the agreements relating to such instruments approximate the fair values as of the reporting dates.

Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivative Financial Instruments

Note 6. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments for hedging and non-trading purposes to manage its exposure to changes in interest and currency exchange rates, as well as to maintain an appropriate mix of fixed- and floating-rate debt. 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) from the counterparty if the derivative liability position exceeds certain thresholds.

The Company’s transactions are with counterparties rated “A+” or better by nationally recognized credit rating agencies. In connection with various derivative agreements with counterparties, the Company held $294 million in cash collateral from these counterparties at April 30, 2010. It is our policy to record cash collateral exclusive of any derivative asset, and any collateral holdings are reflected in our accrued liabilities as amounts due to the counterparties. Furthermore, as part of the master netting arrangements

with these counterparties, the Company is also required to post collateral if the derivative liability position exceeds $150 million. As of April 30, 2010, the Company had no outstanding collateral postings. In the event the Company posts cash collateral, the Company would record the posting as a receivable exclusive of any derivative liability.

 

When the Company uses derivative financial instruments for purposes of hedging its exposure to interest and currency exchange rates, the 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 be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of an instrument’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in the Company’s earnings during the period. Instruments that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, or contracts for which the Company has not elected hedge accounting, are valued at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in earnings during the period of the change.

Fair Value Instruments

The Company is party to receive fixed-rate, pay floating-rate interest rate swaps to hedge the fair value of fixed-rate debt. Under certain swap agreements, the Company pays floating-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. The Company’s interest rate swaps that receive fixed-interest rate payments and pay floating-interest rate payments are designated as fair value hedges. As the specific terms and notional amounts of the derivative instruments match those of the instruments being hedged, the derivative instruments were assumed to be perfectly effective hedges, and all changes in fair value of the hedges were recorded on the balance sheets with no net impact on the income statement. These fair value instruments will mature on dates ranging from February 2011 to May 2014.

Net Investment Instruments

The Company is party to cross-currency interest rate swaps that hedge its net investment in the United Kingdom. The agreements are contracts to exchange fixed-rate payments in one currency for fixed-rate payments in another currency. All changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, offsetting the currency translation adjustment that is also recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. These instruments will mature on dates ranging from October 2023 to February 2030.

The Company has approximately £3.0 billion of outstanding debt that is designated as a hedge of the Company’s net investment in the United Kingdom as of April 30, 2010 and January 31, 2010. The Company also has outstanding approximately ¥437.4 billion of debt that is designated as a hedge of the Company’s net investment in Japan at April 30, 2010 and January 31, 2010, respectively. Any translation of non-U.S. denominated debt is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, offsetting the currency translation adjustment that is also recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. These instruments will mature on dates ranging from January 2011 to January 2039.

Cash Flow Instruments

The Company is party to receive floating-rate, pay fixed-rate interest rate swaps to hedge the interest rate risk of certain non-U.S. denominated debt. The swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of interest expense risk. Changes in the non-U.S. benchmark interest rate result in reclassification of amounts from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings to offset the floating-rate interest expense. These cash flow instruments will mature on dates ranging from August 2013 to August 2014.

The Company is also party to receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swaps to hedge the currency exposure associated with the forecasted payments of principal and interest of non-U.S. denominated debt. The swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of the currency risk related to payments on the non-U.S. denominated debt. Changes in the currency exchange rate result in reclassification of amounts from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings to offset the re-measurement gain or loss on the non-U.S. denominated debt. These cash flow instruments will mature on dates ranging from September 2029 to March 2034. Any ineffectiveness related to these instruments has been and is expected to be immaterial.

Financial Statement Presentation

Hedging instruments with an unrealized gain are recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in 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.

 

As of April 30, 2010 and January 31, 2010, our financial instruments were classified as follows in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

     April 30, 2010    January 31, 2010
(Amounts in millions)    Fair Value
Instruments
   Net
Investment
Hedge
   Cash Flow
Instruments
   Fair Value
Instruments
   Net
Investment
Hedge
   Cash Flow
Instruments

Balance Sheet Classification:

                 

Other assets and deferred charges

   $ 258    $ 268    $ 215    $ 260    $ 189    $ 286
                                         

Asset Subtotals

   $ 258    $ 268    $ 215    $ 260    $ 189    $ 286
                                         

Long-term debt

   $ 258    $ —      $ —      $ 260    $ —      $ —  

Deferred income taxes and other

     —        —        20      —        —        20
                                         

Liability Subtotals

   $ 258    $ —      $ 20    $ 260    $ —      $ 20
                                         
Segments
Segments

Note 7. Segments

The Company is engaged in the operations of retail stores located in all 50 states of the United States, our wholly-owned subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom, our majority-owned subsidiaries in Chile and Mexico and our joint ventures in China and India and our other controlled subsidiaries in China. The Company defines our segments as those business units whose operating results our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) regularly reviews to analyze performance and allocate resources. We sell similar individual products and services in each of our segments. It is impractical to segregate and identify revenue and profits for each of these individual products and services.

As part of an operational realignment in February 2010, our Puerto Rico operations shifted from the Walmart International segment to the Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club segments. The Walmart U.S. segment now includes the Company’s mass merchant concept in the United States and Puerto Rico operating primarily under the “Walmart” or “Wal-Mart” brands, as well as walmart.com. The Walmart International segment now consists of the Company’s operations outside of the United States and Puerto Rico. The Sam’s Club segment now includes the warehouse membership clubs in the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as samsclub.com. All prior periods presented have been restated to maintain comparability. The amounts under the caption “Other” in the Operating Income table below represent unallocated corporate overhead items.

The Company measures the results of its segments using, among other measures, each segment’s operating income that includes certain corporate overhead allocations. From time to time, we revise the measurement of each segment’s operating income, including any corporate overhead allocations, as dictated by the information regularly reviewed by our CODM. When we do so, the segment operating income for each segment affected by the revisions is restated for all periods presented to maintain comparability. In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, certain information systems expenses previously included in unallocated corporate overhead have been allocated to the segment that is directly benefitting from these costs.

Net sales by operating segment were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
(Amounts in millions)    2010    2009

Net Sales:

     

Walmart U.S.

   $ 62,324    $ 61,627

Walmart International

     25,030      20,621

Sam’s Club

     11,743      11,223
             

Total Company

   $ 99,097    $ 93,471
             

 

Operating income by segment was as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
April 30,
 
(Amounts in millions)    2010     2009  

Operating Income:

    

Walmart U.S.

   $ 4,638      $ 4,391   

Walmart International

     1,095        857   

Sam’s Club

     429        393   

Other

     (390     (424
                

Operating income

   $ 5,772      $ 5,217   

Interest expense, net

     (471     (467
                

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

   $ 5,301      $ 4,750   
                

The following table sets forth the change in goodwill, by operating segment, for the three months ended April 30, 2010:

 

(Amounts in millions)    Walmart
International
    Walmart
U.S.
   Sam’s
Club
   Total  

February 1, 2010

   $ 15,606      $ 207    $ 313    $ 16,126   

Currency translation

     (319     —        —        (319

Other

     52        —        —        52   
                              

April 30, 2010

   $ 15,339      $ 207    $ 313    $ 15,859   
                              
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Note 8. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table sets forth the changes in the composition of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended April 30, 2010:

 

(Amounts in millions)    Currency
Translation
    Derivative
Instruments
   Minimum
Pension
Liability
    Total  

Balances at February 1, 2010

   $ 348      $ 77    $ (495   $ (70

Currency translation adjustment

     (229     —        —          (229

Net change in fair value of derivatives

     —          83      —          83   
                               

Balances at April 30, 2010

   $ 119      $ 160    $ (495   $ (216
                               

The currency translation adjustment includes a net translation loss of $992 million at April 30, 2010 related to net investment hedges of our operations in the U.K. and Japan. During the first three months of fiscal 2011, we reclassified $128 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings to offset currency translation gains on the re-measurement of non-U.S. denominated debt.

Common Stock Dividends
Common Stock Dividends

Note 9. Common Stock Dividends

On March 4, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase in the annual dividend for fiscal 2011 to $1.21 per share, an increase of 11% over the dividends paid in fiscal 2010. The annual dividend will be paid in four quarterly installments on April 5, 2010, June 1, 2010, September 7, 2010 and January 3, 2011 to holders of record on March 12, May 14, August 13 and December 10, 2010, respectively. The dividend installments payable on April 5, 2010 and June 1, 2010 were paid as scheduled.

Legal Proceedings
Legal Proceedings

Note 10. Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in a number of legal proceedings. The Company has made accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. For some matters, the amount of liability is not probable or the amount cannot be reasonably estimated and therefore accruals have not been made. However, where a liability is reasonably possible and material, such matters have been disclosed. 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 interest 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.

 

Wage-and-Hour Class Actions: The Company is a defendant in various cases containing class-action allegations in which the plaintiffs are current and former hourly associates who allege that the Company committed wage-and-hour violations by failing to provide rest breaks, meal periods, or other benefits, or otherwise by failing to pay them correctly. The complaints generally seek unspecified monetary damages, injunctive relief, or both. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits, except where the lawsuit has been settled or otherwise as noted below.

In one of the wage-and-hour lawsuits, Braun/Hummel v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a trial was commenced in September 2006, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs allege that the Company failed to pay class members for all hours worked and prevented class members from taking their full meal and rest breaks. On October 13, 2006, the jury awarded back-pay damages to the plaintiffs of approximately $78 million on their claims for off-the-clock work and missed rest breaks. The jury found in favor of the Company on the plaintiffs’ meal-period claims. On November 14, 2007, the trial judge entered a final judgment in the approximate amount of $188 million, which included the jury’s back-pay award plus statutory penalties, prejudgment interest and attorneys’ fees. The Company believes it has substantial factual and legal defenses to the claims at issue, and on December 7, 2007, the Company filed its Notice of Appeal.

Exempt Status Cases: The Company is a defendant in several cases in which the plaintiffs seek class or collective certification of various groups of salaried managers, and challenge their exempt status under state and federal laws. In one of those cases (Sepulveda v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.), class certification was denied by the trial court on May 5, 2006. On April 25, 2008, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the trial court’s ruling in part and reversed it in part, and remanded the case for further proceedings. On May 16, 2008, the Company filed a petition seeking review of that ruling by a larger panel of the court. On October 10, 2008, the court entered an Order staying all proceedings in the Sepulveda appeal pending the final disposition of the appeal in Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., discussed below. Class certification has not been addressed in the other cases. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

Gender Discrimination Cases: The Company is a defendant in Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a class-action lawsuit commenced in June 2001 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. 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. 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 Walmart 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 Company believes that the district court’s ruling is incorrect. On August 31, 2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted the Company’s petition for discretionary review of the ruling. On February 6, 2007, a divided three-judge panel of the court of appeals issued a decision affirming the district court’s certification order. On February 20, 2007, the Company filed a petition asking that the decision be reconsidered by a larger panel of the court. On December 11, 2007, the three-judge panel withdrew its opinion of February 6, 2007, and issued a revised opinion. As a result, the Company’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc was denied as moot. The Company filed a new Petition for Rehearing En Banc on January 8, 2008. On February 13, 2009, the court of appeals issued an Order granting the Petition. On April 26, 2010, the Ninth Circuit issued a divided 6-5 opinion affirming certain portions of the district court’s ruling and reversing other portions. The Company intends to file a petition for a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court seeking review of the Ninth Circuit’s decision. On May 14, 2010, after the parties moved jointly for a stay pending final resolution of the Company’s petition for a writ of certiorari, the district court stayed further proceedings until the earlier of (1) the Supreme Court’s resolution of the Company’s petition or (2) September 30, 2010. 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’s financial condition or results of operations. The plaintiffs also seek punitive damages which, if awarded, could result in the payment of additional amounts material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. 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 that may arise from the litigation.

        Hazardous Materials Investigations: 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California subsequently joined in this investigation. 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. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

In 2005, the Company received administrative document requests from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control seeking information with respect to two of the Company’s distribution facilities, and received a subpoena from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for information regarding the Company’s handling of materials and hazardous waste. California state and local government authorities also initiated investigations into these matters. The Company cooperated fully in these investigations, and recently resolved these matters. Pursuant to the settlement, these authorities, together with the California Attorney General and several county district attorneys, filed a proposed consent judgment in the Superior Court of San Diego County, which was approved by the Court on May 3, 2010. As a part of this settlement, the Company paid $20 million in civil penalties, approximately $1.6 million to reimburse the agencies for investigative costs, $3 million for supplemental environmental projects designed to aid enforcement of environmental laws in California, and $3 million to be spent on measures to ensure environmental compliance at the Company’s facilities in California.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Note 11. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

A new accounting standard, effective for the first annual reporting period beginning after November 15, 2009 and for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, changes the approach to determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and requires companies to assess more frequently whether they must consolidate VIEs. The Company adopted this new standard on February 1, 2010. The adoption of this new standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Subsequent Events
Subsequent Events

Note 12. Subsequent Events

On May 27, 2010, we announced an agreement with Dansk Supermarked A/S, whereby ASDA, our subsidiary in the United Kingdom, will purchase Netto Foodstores Limited (“Netto”). Netto operates 193 stores averaging 8,000 square feet. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in fiscal 2011. The estimated purchase price is approximately £778 million.