Walmart profit $ 3.78 billion in the first quarter

NEW YORK-the net profit of Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, rose 1.1% in the first quarter of this year, to $ 3.78 billion (US $ 1.14 per share), from $ 3.74 billion (US $ 1.09 per share) in the same period last year. Revenue increased by 1.0%, to $ 114,19 billion. The company predicted earnings per share between $ 1.11 and $ 1.16 and analysts from Thomson Reuters were expecting revenue of $ 116,29 billion.
Walmart's international sales grew by 2.9% in the first quarter, compared to an annual $ 33 million, or 5.4% in constant currency basis. Production costs also increased 1.0%. In pre-market in New York, shares of the company, which is part of the Dow Jones, fell 2.33 percent.
The retailer reported that sales at the same stores concept of Walmart in the USA Network fell 1.4% in the first quarter, excluding fuel. The company was forecasting stable sales. Sales excluding network fuels Sam's Club, on the other hand, rose 0.2%.
The Chief Executive of Walmart, Mike Duke, highlighted "considerable obstacles to sales" and the 30% annual growth in sales in online commerce. For the second quarter of this year, Walmart expects earnings per share between $ 1.22 and $ 1.27, below current analysts ' estimate of $ 1.29.
At the beginning of this week Walmart refused to sign a binding Pact to avoid disasters like the recent collapse of a building in Bangladesh that left more than 1.1 thousand dead. Instead, the retailer has presented his own plan to improve security in its factories in Bangladesh, saying it will hire an external auditor and will require that the owners of the factories if renew when needed. The information is from Dow Jones.