Cash soothes investor concerns

One of the largest dividend increases in Walmart’s history helped shareholders look past, temporarily at least, yesterday’s releaseofsales results that show a disturbing trend at U.S. stores.

Word of soft sales at the start of the first quarter leaked out of Walmart last week and then on Thursday the company announced a 1% increase in fourth quarter U.S. same store sales at the low end of a forecast range of 1% to 3% and indicated first quarter comps would be flat. Rather than sparking a sell off – that happened after last week’s leak – shares surged as much as $2 as investors cheered an 18% increase in the dividend that pushed the annual payout up 29 cents to $1.88 a share.

Aside from the size, what was unusual about the dividend hike was the timing of the announcement. Walmart typically announces adjustments to its dividend in March, not in conjunction with the release of fourth quarter results.

"Our global businesses consistently generate strong free cash flow, providing ample opportunities to fund growth across all our markets and to deliver strong returns to shareholders," said Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., president and CEO Mike Duke. "Our new fiscal year is under way, and we’re excited about the strategies we have in place. With a strong asset base and strategic focus on greater capital discipline, we will continue to save our customers money, to grow our business and to provide solid returns to our shareholders."

The big dividend boost for 2013 also likely softened the blow of a first quarter earnings outlook that was below analysts’ estimates. The company forecast first quarter profits of $1.11 to $1.18 that were below analysts’ consensus forecast of $1.18.