WMTL: Wal-Mart Increases Annual Dividend 31 Percent

The Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has approved an increase in the annual dividend to $0.88 per share, a 31% increase from the $0.67 per share paid during fiscal year 2007. For fiscal year ending January 31, 2008, the annual dividend of $0.88 per share will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.22 per share, according to the following record and payable dates:

Record Date
March 16, 2007
May 18, 2007
August 17, 2007
December 14, 2007

Payable Date
April 2, 2007
June 4, 2007
September 4, 2007
January 2, 2008

Based upon this announced increase, the Company plans to return more than $3.6 billion to its shareholders in the form of dividends in fiscal year 2008. Wal-Mart has increased its dividend every year since its first declared dividend of $0.05 in March 1974.

The Company also announced that April 5, 2007 is the record date for its annual shareholders’ meeting that will occur on June 1, 2007.