WAL MART STORES INC
10-Q, 1997-09-09
VARIETY STORES
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                        Page 13 of 13 (Form 10-Q)
                              UNITED STATES
                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         Washington, D.C.  20549
                                    
                                FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X]  Quarterly  Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended July 31, 1997.
                                   or
[  ]  Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from ______to______.

Commission file number 1-6991

                            WAL-MART STORES, INC.
         (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                    
              Delaware                    ___________71-0415188__________
   (State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)

     702 S.W. Eighth Street
      Bentonville, Arkansas               ____________72716______________
(Address of principal executive offices)

                             (501) 273-4000
          (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
                                    
                              Not applicable
          (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                      if changed since last report)
                                    
Indicate  by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all  reports
required  to  be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act  of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter periods that
the  registrant  was required to file such reports),  and  (2)  has  been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
                           Yes __X__  No _____
                                    
            Applicable Only to Issuers Involved in Bankruptcy
              Proceedings During the Preceding Five Years:
                                    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and
reports  required  to  be  filed by Sections 12,  13,  or  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934 subsequent  to  the  distribution  of
securities under a plan confirmed by the court.
                           Yes _____  No _____
                                    
                  Applicable Only to Corporate Issuers:
                                    
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes
of common stock, as of the latest practical date.

Common Stock, $.10 Par Value -- 2,253,460,633 shares as of July 31, 1997.

                     PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                    
Item 1.  Financial Statements
<TABLE>
                 WAL-MART STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                          (Amounts in millions)
<CAPTION>
                                    
                                               July 31,      January 31,
                                                 1997           1997
ASSETS                                       (Unaudited)      (*Note)
<S>                                            <C>            <C>
Cash and cash equivalents                      $   930        $   883
Receivables                                        919            845
Inventories                                     16,397         15,897
Other current assets                               288            368
   Total current assets                         18,534         17,993

Property, plant and equipment                   24,275         23,182
Less accumulated depreciation                    5,502          4,849
   Net property, plant and equipment            18,773         18,333

Property under capital leases                    2,822          2,782
Less accumulated amortization                      848            791
   Net property under capital leases             1,974          1,991

Other assets and deferred charges                1,392          1,287

   Total assets                                $40,673        $39,604

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Accounts payable                               $ 7,885        $ 7,628
Long-term debt due within one year               1,274            523
Other current liabilities                        3,376          2,806
   Total current liabilities                    12,535         10,957

Long-term debt                                   6,943          7,709
Long-term obligations under capital leases       2,306          2,307
Deferred income taxes and other                    467            463
Minority Interest                                1,159          1,025

Common stock and capital in excess of par value    776            775
Retained earnings                               16,907         16,768
Foreign currency translation adjustment       (    420)      (    400)
   Total shareholders' equity                   17,263         17,143

   Total liabilities and shareholders'
     equity                                    $40,673        $39,604
</TABLE>
[FN]
<F1>
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
<F2>
*Note:  The balance sheet at January 31, 1997, has been derived from the
        audited financial statements at that date, and condensed.

<TABLE>
                 WAL-MART STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                               (Unaudited)
               (Amounts in millions except per share data)
<CAPTION>
                                  
                            Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                                 July 31,                  July 31,

                              1997        1996        1997       1996
<S>                         <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>
Net sales                   $28,386     $25,587     $53,795    $48,359
Other income - net              313         267         588        502
                             28,699      25,854      54,383     48,861
Costs and expenses:
   Cost of sales             22,478      20,336      42,605     38,368
   Operating, selling
     and general and
     administrative
     expenses                 4,767       4,180       9,100      8,028
   Interest costs:
     Debt                       137         163         271        332
     Capital leases              55          55         110        106
                             27,437      24,734      52,086     46,834

Income before income taxes    1,262       1,120       2,297      2,027
Provision for income taxes      467         414         850        750

Net income                  $   795     $   706     $ 1,447    $ 1,277

Net income per share        $   .35     $   .31     $   .64    $   .56

Dividends per share         $ .0675     $ .0525     $  .135    $  .105

Average shareholders'
  equity                    $17,123     $15,504     $17,203    $15,274

Return for the period
  on average
  shareholders' equity         4.64%       4.55%       8.41%      8.36%

Average number of
  common shares
  outstanding                 2,260       2,294       2,268      2,293

</TABLE>
[FN]
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

<TABLE>
                 WAL-MART STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                               (Unaudited)
                          (Amounts in millions)
                                    
<CAPTION>
                                    
                                             Six Months Ended July 31,
                                                 1997          1996
<S>                                            <C>            <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income                                  $  1,447       $ 1,277

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
   cash provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                  770           707
     Increase in inventories                   (    514)     (    385)
     Increase in accounts payable                   248           778
     Increase in accrued liabilities                603           383
     Noncash items and other                   (     44)     (    315)
Net cash provided by operating activities         2,510         2,445

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Payments for property, plant and equipment  (  1,178)     (  1,395)
   Other investing activities                  (     41)           40
Net cash used in investing activities          (  1,219)     (  1,355)

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Decrease in commercial paper                      -       (    614)
   Payment of long-term debt                   (     19)     (    259)
   Dividends paid                              (    307)     (    241)
   Purchase of Company stock                   (  1,037)     (      2)
   Other financing activities                       119      (     33)
Net cash used in financing
   activities                                  (  1,244)      ( 1,149)

Net increase (decrease) in
   cash and cash equivalents                         47      (     59)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
   of year                                          883            83
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
   period                                       $   930       $    24



Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:

Income tax paid                                 $   990       $   784
Interest paid                                       395           454
Capital lease obligations incurred                   59           170

</TABLE>
[FN]

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                 WAL-MART STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
          NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                    
                                    
NOTE A.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION
      The  condensed consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 1997,  and
the  related condensed consolidated statements of income and  cash  flows
for  the  periods  ended July 31, 1997 and 1996 are  unaudited.   In  the
opinion  of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation
of  such  financial statements have been included.  Adjustments consisted
only  of  normal recurring items, except the one-time charge for  closing
the  majority of the Bud's stores discussed in Item 2 of this Form  10-Q.
Interim  results  are not necessarily indicative of results  for  a  full
year. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year's income
statement to conform to current presentation.

      The financial statements and notes are presented in accordance with
the  rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission  and
do  not  contain  certain information included in  the  Company's  annual
report.   Therefore, the interim statements should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in
the Company's annual report.

NOTE B.  INVENTORIES
      Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market value,  using
the  last-in,  first-out (LIFO) method for substantially all inventories.
Quarterly  inventory  determinations under LIFO are  partially  based  on
assumptions  as to inventory levels at the end of the fiscal year,  sales
and  the  rate  of  inflation for the year.  If the  first-in,  first-out
(FIFO) method of accounting had been used by the Company, inventories  at
July  31,  1997,  would have been $314 million higher than  reported,  an
increase in the LIFO reserve of $18 million from January 31, 1997, and an
increase of $10 million from April 30, 1997. If the FIFO method had  been
used  at  July 31, 1996, inventories would have been $321 million  higher
than  reported,  an  increase in the LIFO reserve  of  $10  million  from
January 31, 1996, and an increase of $5 million from April 30, 1996.

NOTE C.  SUBSEQUENT EVENT
      A  merger of the Mexican joint venture companies owned by  Wal-Mart
Stores,  Inc.  and  Cifra, S.A. de C.V.(Cifra) with and  into  Cifra  was
consummated  with  an  effective merger date of  September  1,  1997.   A
Mexican  trust  (the "Trust") of which Wal-Mart is the sole  beneficiary,
received  voting  shares  of Cifra equaling approximately  33.5%  of  the
outstanding  voting shares of Cifra in exchange for the  Company's  joint
venture  interests having a net book value of approximately $639 million.
In  connection with the merger, the Trust made a public tender  offer  to
acquire 593,100,000 shares of the Series "A" Common Shares and Series "B"
Common Shares of Cifra, which was consummated  successfully on August 22,
1997.   The  purchase  price of approximately $1.2 billion  was  paid  on
September  8,  1997, for the Cifra shares purchased in the tender  offer.
The  Company  funded  the  Trust purchase of  Cifra  shares  out  of  its
available  cash.   As a result of the merger and tender  offer,  Wal-Mart
will  hold  approximately 51% of the outstanding voting shares of  Cifra.
The  transaction  will  be accounted for using the  purchase  method  and
Cifra's   financial  results  will  be  consolidated  in  the   Company's
consolidated  financial  statements during the third  quarter  of  fiscal
1998.  Cifra  is not a significant subsidiary and the transaction  should
not  have  a  material  impact  on the Company's  consolidated  operating
results.
  Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
                        and Results of Operations
                                    
Results of Operations

      Increased sales for the six month period ending July 31, 1997, were
attributable  to  an increase in comparable sales in the Wal-Mart  stores
and  Supercenters of  6%, an increase in Sam's Clubs comparable sales  of
3%,  and  to the Company's expansion activities.  Domestic expansion  for
the  six  month  period   included ten new  Wal-Mart  stores,   five  new
Supercenters,  five new Sam's Clubs, along with the conversion of 34 Wal-
Mart  stores  to  Supercenters.  International  expansion  included   the
addition of one Wal-Mart store in Canada, one Supercenter  in Brazil  and
four  Mexican  units.   International sales accounted  for  5%  of  total
Company  sales  in the quarter and the six month period  ended  July  31,
1997,  compared with 4% in the same periods of fiscal 1997.  Sam's  Clubs
sales as a percentage of total Company sales fell from 19% in the quarter
and the six month period ended July 31, 1996, to 18% for the same periods
in fiscal 1998.

      At  July  31,  1997,  the Company had 1,935  Wal-Mart  stores,  383
Supercenters,  and 441 Sam's Clubs in the United States, along  with  six
units  in Argentina, six units in Brazil, 137 Wal-Mart stores in  Canada,
two  units  in  China,  two  Indonesian Supercenters  (operated  under  a
franchise  agreement), 156 units in Mexico, and 11 units in Puerto  Rico.
This  compares with 1,958 Wal-Mart stores, 303 Supercenters and 434 Sam's
Clubs  in  the  United States, along with four units in  Argentina,  five
units  in Brazil, 134 Wal-Mart stores in Canada, 134 units in Mexico  and
11 units in Puerto Rico at the same time last year.

      The  Company's gross profit as a percentage of sales was 20.81%  in
the  second  quarter of fiscal 1998, compared with 20.52% in  the  second
quarter  of  fiscal  1997; and increased from 20.66% for  the  first  six
months  in  fiscal 1997 to 20.80% in fiscal 1998. The increases  are  due
primarily  to  changes  in the percentages of total  sales  generated  by
certain  operating  units and to changes in the mix of merchandise  sold.
The  decrease  in  Sam's  Clubs' sales as a  percentage  of  total  sales
favorably  impacts  the  gross profit percentage as  Sam's  Clubs'  gross
profit  percentage  is  lower  than the Company's  overall  gross  profit
percentage.  Additionally, improvements are due to stronger food  margins
and  sales of summer seasonal merchandise with fewer markdowns this  year
when compared to the previous year periods.

       Operating,  selling  and  general,  and  administrative   expenses
increased as a percentage of sales from 16.34% during the second  quarter
of  fiscal 1997 to 16.79%  during the second quarter of fiscal 1998,  and
increased  from 16.60% for the six month period ended July 31,  1996,  to
16.92%  for  the six month period ended July 31, 1997. During the  second
quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company took a one-time charge of $50 million
for  closing the majority of the Bud's Discount City stores.  This charge
was  reflected  in  operating  income due to  its  immateriality  to  the
Company's  results  of  operations and since  the  Company  continues  to
operate  eight Bud's Discount City stores.  Without the one-time  charge,
expenses  would  have  been 16.62% of sales for the  second  quarter  and
16.82%  for  the six month period ended July 31, 1997.  The remainder  of
the increase is primarily due to payroll and related benefit costs.

      Interest  expense decreased  $26 million in the second  quarter  of
fiscal 1998 and $57 million in the six month period ended July 31,  1997,
when  compared  with  the same periods in fiscal 1997.  The  decrease  is
primarily due to the elimination of commercial paper enabled by  enhanced
cash flows, reduced capital spending and lower inventory levels.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

      Cash flows provided by operating activities were $2,510 million  in
the  first  six months of fiscal 1998 compared to $2,445 million  in  the
same   period  of  fiscal  1997.   The  Company  continues  to   generate
substantial  operating  cash flow through greater emphasis  on  inventory
management. The Company utilized its operating cash flow and cash balance
at the beginning of the year to purchase $1,037 million of Company stock,
pay  dividends  of  $307 million, and invest $1,178  million  in  capital
expenditures.

      At  July 31, 1997, the Company had total assets of $40,673  million
compared  with  $39,604 million at January 31, 1997. Working  capital  at
July  31, 1997, was $5,999 million, down $1,037 million from January  31,
1997.  The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.5 to  1.0
at  July 31, 1997, and July 31, 1996, and 1.6 to 1.0 at January 31, 1997.
The decrease in working capital and the current ratio is primarily due to
the  current classification of $750 million of debt that matures  in  the
first quarter of fiscal 1999.  Additionally, the Company has $500 million
of debt maturing in September 1997.

     In March 1997, the Company announced its intention to purchase up to
$2 billion of its common stock over the next 18 months.  The Company also
increased dividends by 29% in fiscal 1998 to $.27 per share.

      As  described in the notes to the condensed consolidated  financial
statements,  the Company paid approximately $1.2 billion on September  8,
1997,  to acquire 593,100,000 common shares of Cifra.  The Company funded
the purchase with its available cash.  The transaction should not have  a
material impact on the Company's consolidated operating results.

       The   Company  anticipates  that  it  will  continue  to  generate
significant  operating cash flow. The Company foresees no  difficulty  in
obtaining long-term financing in view of its excellent credit rating  and
favorable  experiences in the debt market in the past few  years.   Under
shelf  registration statements previously filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission,  the Company may issue debt securities  aggregating
$751  million.  Operating cash flow along with the Company's  ability  to
obtain  short-term or long-term financing should provide sufficient  cash
to  use  for  capital  expenditures, pay dividends,  meet  maturing  debt
demands, and continue the common stock purchase plan.
Accounting Pronouncements

      In  February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board  (FASO)
issued Statement No. 128, `Earnings per Share', which is required  to  be
adopted  on January 31, 1998.  At that time, the Company will be required
to  change  the method used to compute earnings per share and to  restate
all  prior  periods.  Under the new requirements for calculating  primary
earnings  per  share,  the  dilutive effect  of  stock  options  will  be
excluded.  The impact of adopting the new standard will not result  in  a
change  to earnings per share for the quarter or six month periods  ended
July 31, 1997, and July 31, 1996, as presented.

      In  June  1997,  the  FASB  issued Statement  No.  130,  `Reporting
Comprehensive  Income',  which is effective for  fiscal  years  beginning
after  December  15,  1997.   This statement  establishes  standards  for
reporting  and  display of comprehensive income and its components.   The
Company  anticipates adopting this Statement in fiscal 1999.  Since  this
Statement requires only additional disclosure, there will be no effect on
the Company's results of operation or financial position.

      Also in June, the FASB issued Statement No. 131, `Disclosures about
Segments  of  an Enterprise and Related Information', which is  effective
for  fiscal  years  beginning after December 15,  1997.   This  statement
establishes standards for reporting information about operating  segments
in  annual financial statements and interim financial reports.   It  also
establishes  standards  for  disclosures  about  products  and  services,
geographic  areas  and major customers. The Company anticipates  adopting
this  Statement  in  fiscal  1999.  Since this  Statement  requires  only
additional  disclosure, there will be no effect on the Company's  results
of operation or financial position.

                       PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
                                    
                                    
                                    
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

      The  Company's Annual Shareholders' Meeting was held June 6,  1997,
in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Election of Directors:

      At  that  meeting, the shareholders elected for one-year terms  all
persons  nominated  for  directors as set forth in  the  Company's  proxy
statement dated April 10, 1997.
<TABLE>
                                            Against or               Broker
                             For         Withheld  Abstentions  Non-Votes
<S>                        <C>            <C>             <C>       <C>
Paul R. Carter             2,025,557,447  14,469,930      0         0
John A. Cooper, Jr.        2,025,570,067  14,457,310      0         0
Stephen Friedman           2,025,536,353  14,491,024      0         0
Stanley C. Gault           2,022,263,065  17,764,312      0         0
David D. Glass             2,025,225,847  14,801,530      0         0
Dr. Frederick S. Humphries 2,024,914,038  15,113,339      0         0
E. Stanley Kroenke         2,025,265,511  14,761,866      0         0
Elizabeth A. Sanders       2,025,412,717  14,614,660      0         0
Jack C. Shewmaker          2,022,162,071  17,865,306      0         0
Donald G. Soderquist       2,025,521,589  14,505,788      0         0
Dr. Paula Stern            2,024,954,950  15,072,427      0         0
John T. Walton             2,025,489,788  14,537,589      0         0
S. Robson Walton           2,025,504,021  14,523,356      0         0
</TABLE>

Proposal to Adopt the Director Compensation Plan:

     The shareholders approved the adoption of the Director Compensation
Plan. The Plan requires each director to take at least one-half of his or
her retainer in the form of Wal-Mart stock or deferred stock units.  The
stock units are equivalent in value to Wal-Mart stock.  The number of
shares of Wal-Mart stock issued or stock units credited to a director is
determined based on the stock price on the last business day of each
calendar quarter.  The remainder of the retainer may be taken in either
of these two ways, or it may be taken in cash or deferred in an interest-
bearing account.  Upon retirement, a director may elect to receive
deferred amounts in a single lump sum payment or in installment payments
over a ten-year period.  The Plan will be administered by the
Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors.
<TABLE>
                            Against or                 Broker
              For            Withheld    Abstentions  Non-Votes
          <S>              <C>            <C>            <C>
          2,008,924,977    23,565,227     7,537,173      0
</TABLE>

Shareholder Proposal:

   The Shareholders rejected a shareholder proposal requesting the Board
of Directors to report, without confidential information and at
reasonable cost, on its Standards for Vendor Partners, and review
compliance mechanisms for vendors, subcontractors and buying agents in
the countries where it sources.
<TABLE>
                         Against or                       Broker
              For         Withheld       Abstentions     Non-Votes
           <S>           <C>              <C>           <C>
           57,421,653    1,744,237,072    77,138,551    161,230,101
</TABLE>

Item 5. Other Information

      The  Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995  ("the  Act")
provides  a  safe harbor for forward-looking statements  made  by  or  on
behalf  of  the  Company.  Certain statements contained  in  Management's
Discussion  and Analysis and in other Company filings are forward-looking
statements. These statements discuss among other things, expected growth,
future  revenues, future cash flows and future performance.  The  forward
looking  statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including  but
not  limited  to competitive pressures, inflation, consumer debt  levels,
currency exchange fluctuations, trade restrictions, changes in tariff and
freight  rates, capital market conditions, and other risks  indicated  in
the  Company's  filings  with  the Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.
Actual  results may materially differ from anticipated results  described
in these statements.

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     (a)  The following document is filed as an exhibit to this Form
          10-Q:

          Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule

     (b)  There were no reports on Form 8-K filed for the quarter ended
July 31, 1997.




                               SIGNATURES
                                    
                                    
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                        WAL-MART STORES, INC.




Date:  September 9, 1997                /s/David D. Glass________________
                                           David D. Glass
                                           President and
                                           Chief Executive Officer



Date:  September 9, 1997                /s/John B. Menzer________________
                                           John B. Menzer
                                           Executive Vice President
                                           and Chief Financial Officer






<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1997
<CASH>                                             930
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      919
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     16,397
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                18,534
<PP&E>                                          24,275
<DEPRECIATION>                                   5,502
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  40,673
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           12,535
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           225
<OTHER-SE>                                      17,038
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    40,673
<SALES>                                         53,795
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                54,383
<CGS>                                           42,605
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   52,086
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 381
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,297
<INCOME-TAX>                                       850
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,447
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,447
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .64
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .64
        

</TABLE>


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