Strong Wal-Mart profit trumps bribery probe concerns

(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc's profit and sales surpassed expectations on Thursday as more people shopped at its established U.S. stores and spent more, pushing shares up 5 percent despite ongoing internal and government probes into possible bribery.

Wal-Mart's shares jumped and briefly recovered all of the 8.2 percent plunge suffered after an April 21 New York Times report uncovered an alleged past bribery scheme in Mexico that the newspaper said Wal-Mart executives knew about.

The first-quarter results, including a 10.1 percent jump in profit, showed that Wal-Mart's U.S. recovery is on track and efforts are progressing to cut costs and establish everyday low pricing in markets such as China.

"The real question is, would the stock be higher if it weren't for the investigation? It's very hard to know," said Faye Landes, managing director at Consumer Edge Research.

At the same time, Wal-Mart is seen as a defensive play amid weak economic data and worries about Europe.

Wal-Mart shares could rise to $65 to $70 and perhaps in six to nine months break out of their 13-year trading range, driven by earnings growth, said Gilford Securities analyst Bernard Sosnick. The shares last traded above $70 in 1999.

A strong performance from the giant Walmart U.S. unit pleased investors. Sales at Walmart U.S. stores open at least a year rose 2.6 percent in the first quarter and should rise 1 to 3 percent in the second quarter, the company said.

The rebound in the United States follows Walmart's reversal of its inventory reduction plan after shoppers headed elsewhere to find goods not on Walmart shelves.

"The turnaround they initiated several quarters ago is starting to show some benefit, it's starting to gain traction. But at the end of the day it is still a very challenging backdrop for them," said Walter Stackow, a senior research analyst at Manning & Napier, which owns Wal-Mart shares.

Stackow cited the economic concerns of Walmart's core customers as well as the competition Walmart faces from dollar stores and online retailers.

Economic concerns, led by joblessness, weigh on the world's largest retailer and its shoppers. Many Walmart U.S. customers are still shopping on a paycheck cycle - spending more and buying larger packages of items at the beginning of the month, and then buying less-expensive items and smaller packages as money runs low later in the month.

"We have to continue to see jobs added in the economy, I think that's important across all sectors, especially retail," Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley told reporters.

Wal-Mart's shares were up 5 percent at $62.16 on Thursday afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange. Thursday's intraday high of $62.50 marked the first time Wal-Mart shares have risen above the $62.45 level where they closed just before last month's New York Times story came out.

PROFIT, SALES TOP EXPECTATIONS

Wal-Mart earned $3.74 billion, or $1.09 per share, up from $3.40 billion or 97 cents a share a year earlier. An earlier Easter and warmer weather contributed to the gains, it said.

Wal-Mart had forecast earnings per share of $1.01 to $1.06. Analysts, on average, expected it to earn $1.04 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Sales rose 8.6 percent to $112.27 billion, ahead of analysts' forecast of $110.54 billion.

The 2.6 percent rise in same-store sales topped the company's forecast of flat to 2 percent growth and analysts' average forecast of 1.4 percent, according to Thomson Reuters.

Walmart U.S. same-store sales have risen for three straight quarters following nine consecutive quarterly declines. Store traffic has risen for two straight quarters after six declines. Same-store apparel sales rose for the first time in six years.

For the current second quarter, Wal-Mart expects to earn $1.13 to $1.18 per share from continuing operations. Analysts were looking for a profit of $1.16 per share.

BRIBERY INVESTIGATIONS PROCEED

Wal-Mart has been bombarded by negative comments from shareholders, employees and activists after the Times report that Wal-Mart de Mexico, or Walmex, allegedly orchestrated bribes of $24 million to help it grow quickly last decade and that Wal-Mart's top brass tried to cover it up.

Wal-Mart said on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are both investigating, as are a number of government agencies in Mexico.

It contends the matter should not have a material impact on its business, but cannot say for certain that it will not. Along with incurring costs related to the probes, lawsuits and its own review, the process may impinge on the time some executives have to devote to other matters.

On Thursday, proxy advisory firm Egan Jones said Wal-Mart shareholders should withhold their votes for Chief Executive Mike Duke and former CEO Lee Scott and vote for a proposal brought by shareholders requesting regular reports on the company's political spending.

Also on Thursday, two U.S. lawmakers asked for Wal-Mart to allow a former company lawyer to cooperate in their probe.

Walmex sales rose 13 percent and its same-store sales in Mexico rose 5.6 percent. Operating income at the unit was flat. It opened 45 stores in Mexico during the quarter.

Holley declined to comment on Wal-Mart's prior fiscal-year forecast, which calls for earnings of $4.72 to $4.92 per share. The company is expected to update that forecast when it issues second-quarter results. Sales are still expected to rise 5 to 7 percent, he said.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl and Brad Dorfman in Chicago, additional reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Del., and Aruna Viswanatha in Washington; Editing by Maureen Bavdek and Matthew Lewis)

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