Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon will outline four key areas of focus to drive continued success

OREANDA-NEWS. At its 2016 Investment Community Meeting today, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) will outline the company’s strategic framework to grow by serving customers across all channels, creating a seamless shopping experience. The company is also sharing select guidance information along with its capital expenditure estimates for the next fiscal year.

Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon will outline four key areas of focus to drive continued success:

• Make every day easier for busy families;
• Operate with discipline, including a continued focus on expense management;
• Be the most trusted retailer; and
• Deliver results and position the company to win.

McMillon noted ongoing success will be driven by a number of factors. These include continued momentum in the U.S. business; solid growth in key international markets, including Mexico and Canada; a sharpened focus in China; and e-commerce investments.

“We are encouraged by the progress we’re seeing across our business and we’re moving with speed to position the company to win the future of retail. Our customers want us to run great stores, provide a great e-commerce experience and find ways to save them money and time seamlessly - so that’s what we’re doing,” McMillon said.

Walmart CFO Brett Biggs will outline the company’s financial framework to deliver strong, efficient growth, operate with discipline and allocate capital strategically to drive long-term shareholder value. The company will rely more on comp sales and e-commerce growth to drive the top line and plans to slow new-store openings, while increasing investments in e-commerce, technology, store remodels and other customer initiatives.

Biggs added, “I’m pleased with the momentum in our business. We have the financial strength to strategically invest in growth, while returning significant cash to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.”

¹ See additional information at the end of this release regarding a non-GAAP financial measure

Select guidance (assumes September 2016 currency exchange rates)

• For fiscal year 2018, the company expects GAAP EPS to be relatively flat to fiscal year 2017 adjusted EPS¹. The company expects continued momentum in its store business. Incremental U.S. e-commerce operating investments, including Jet.com, are expected to accelerate e-commerce growth
• For fiscal year 2019, the company expects EPS growth to be approximately 5%.
• Walmart currently has $11.7 billion remaining on its $20 billion share buyback authorization approved in October 2015 and currently expects to complete this buyback around the end of fiscal year 2018.
• Walmart’s capital expenditure plan is expected to be approximately $11.0 billion in fiscal year 2018 as the company moderates new store openings, accelerates the pace of remodels and invests in e-commerce and digital initiatives.
• The company remains on track to generate approximately $80 billion in operating cash flow from fiscal year 2017 through fiscal year 2019.

Capital expenditure details
Projected capital expenditures and unit growth are as follows and exclude the impact of acquisitions, if any:

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, nearly 260 million customers and members visit our 11,539 stores under 63 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries.