WAL-MART PROFIT, VOLUME HIT RECORDS IN QUARTER

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores here said last week the company had record earnings and sales in the 13-week fourth quarter ended Jan. 31.

t sales for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31 were up 20% to $165 billion, and net income increased 22.7% to $5.4 billion, a figure that includes the $198 million cost of an accounting change for membership revenue recognition.

In the Wal-Mart Stores segment, which includes the company's supercenters, sales rose 12.6% to $31.7 billion and operating income increased 14.3% to $2.6 billion in the quarter. In the store segment, sales for the fiscal year grew 14% to $108.7 billion, and operating profit was up 19% to $8.4 billion.

In the Sam's Club segment, fourth-quarter sales rose 7.4% to $7 billion, fiscal year sales were up 8.4% to $24.8 billion, fourth-quarter operating profits increased 7.8% to $236 million and fiscal-year operating profits grew 16.8% to $759 million