Can Wal-Mart Deliver This Chilly Christmas Season?

Will the Grinch steal Christmas from Wal-Mart?(WMT Quote).

The File

Operations

Business: operates discount retail stores - Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart SuperStores

FY 2000 Revenue: $165 billion

FY 2000 Earnings Per Share: $1.28

2001 Estimated Earnings Growth: 13%

Stock Snapshot

52-Week Range: $41.44 - 70.25

Percentage Change from Jan. 1: --28%

Market Cap: $215.5 billion

P/E Multiple: 34.5

Shares Outstanding: 4.5 billion

He might be sneaking around, but Wal-Mart won't let him get a hand in their stockings. In addition to announcing meeting third-quarter earnings expectations of 31 cents a share on Tuesday, the giant discount retailer said it looked just about on target for the fourth quarter, despite the potential detrimental effects of a slowing economy on consumer spending. However, there were some Wal-Mart's earnings increased by 5.5% in the third quarter, well below their long-term average growth rate of 15%. Wal-Mart also said sales were up 13% to $45.7 billion. ...