Walmart Inc. - WMT STOCK NEWS

The board of directors of Walmart approved an annual cash dividend for fiscal year 2023 of $2.24 per share, up 2% from $2.20 for the previous year. This marks the 49th consecutive year of dividend increases. The dividend will be distributed in four installments of $0.56 each. Key record and payable dates include March 18, May 6, August 12, and December 9, 2022. Walmart continues its commitment to returning cash to shareholders and reported fiscal year 2022 revenue of $573 billion.

Walmart U.S. reported Q4 FY22 net sales exceeding $105 billion with a 5.6% increase in comparable sales. Q4 GAAP EPS was $1.28, and adjusted EPS reached $1.53. The company aims for FY23 growth in line with prior guidance, planning share repurchases of at least $10 billion. Total revenue was $152.9 billion for Q4, impacted by $10.2 billion from divestitures. Walmart U.S. eCommerce sales grew 11%, while international sales decreased by $7.9 billion.

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) announced the appointment of Kelly E. Garcia, CTO of Domino's (NYSE: DPZ), and Gisel Ruiz, former COO of Walmart's Sam's Club, to its Board of Directors effective February 16, 2022. Mary Dillon, executive chair, expressed confidence in their leadership to enhance operational strategies. With these appointments, Ulta's board comprises 13 members, with 54% women and 31% racially diverse. The company emphasizes its commitment to diversity and operational excellence, enhancing its position as the leading U.S. beauty retailer.

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) will host a live conference call on February 17, 2022, at 7 a.m. CST, to discuss its fourth quarter earnings for fiscal year 2022. CEO Doug McMillon and CFO Brett Biggs will present the results and answer questions. Earnings results will be released at 6 a.m. CST on the same day, and a recorded webcast will be available from noon CST. Walmart continues to be a major player in retail, with a revenue of $559 billion and a workforce of over 2.2 million associates globally.

On January 31, 2022, Sam's Club announced its first-ever advertisement during the Big Game, featuring actor Kevin Hart. The 30-second spot showcases the Scan & Go app, allowing members to skip checkout lines, and will air in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Sam's Club will offer new members a limited-time deal based on the football yard line during the ad, with prices ranging from $1 to $45 until February 17, 2022. The campaign also includes a VIP sweepstakes for a chance to win membership packages and other prizes valued at $245,000.

Sam's Club, a division of Walmart (NYSE: WMT), has launched a nationwide rollout of Inventory Scan, enhancing its robotic scrubbers with a new scanning technology developed by Brain Corp. This initiative represents the largest tech deployment by Brain Corp, marking a significant advancement in inventory management. The new cloud-connected towers will provide real-time data on pricing accuracy, stock levels, and planogram compliance, optimizing store operations and improving the shopping experience for members.

Walmart and Plenty Unlimited Inc. have formed a strategic partnership involving a $400M equity investment from Walmart as part of Plenty's Series E funding, subject to regulatory approval. This collaboration aims to utilize Plenty's indoor farming technology to supply fresh produce to Walmart stores, starting with leafy greens sourced from Plenty’s Compton farm in California. Walmart becomes the first major U.S. retailer to invest significantly in vertical farming, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and providing customers with high-quality, pesticide-free produce year-round.