Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________________________________
FORM 10-K
___________________________________________
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ý | Annual report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018, or
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¨ | Transition report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
Commission file number 001-6991.
___________________________________________
WALMART INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
___________________________________________
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Delaware | | 71-0415188 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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702 S.W. 8th Street Bentonville, Arkansas | | 72716 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (479) 273-4000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share 1.900% Notes Due 2022 2.550% Notes Due 2026
| | New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
___________________________________________
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Yes ¨ No ý
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 for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for at least the past 90 days.
Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large Accelerated Filer | | ý | | Accelerated Filer | | o |
Non-Accelerated Filer | | o | | Smaller Reporting Company | | o |
| | | | Emerging Growth Company | | o |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ¨ No ý
As of July 31, 2017, the aggregate market value of the voting common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing sale price of those shares on the New York Stock Exchange reported on July 31, 2017, was $114,770,199,895. For the purposes of this disclosure only, the registrant has assumed that its directors, executive officers (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) and the beneficial owners of 5% or more of the registrant's outstanding common stock are the affiliates of the registrant.
The registrant had 2,950,696,818 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 28, 2018.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
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Document | | Parts Into Which Incorporated |
Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 30, 2018 (the "Proxy Statement") | | Part III |
Walmart Inc.
Form 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2018
Table of Contents
WALMART INC.
(formerly "WAL-MART STORES, INC.")
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 2018
On February 1, 2018, the legal name of our corporation became "Walmart Inc.," changing from "Wal-Mart Stores, Inc." All references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the information incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K by reference to information in the Proxy Statement of Walmart Inc. for its Annual Shareholders' Meeting to be held on May 30, 2018 and in the exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K to "Walmart Inc.," "Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.," "Walmart," "the Company," "our Company," "we," "us" and "our" are to the Delaware corporation named "Wal-Mart Stores, Inc." prior to February 1, 2018 and named "Walmart Inc." commencing on February 1, 2018 and, except where expressly noted otherwise or the context otherwise requires, that corporation's consolidated subsidiaries.
PART I
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports, statements, and information that Walmart Inc. (which individually or together with its subsidiaries, as the context otherwise requires, is referred to as "we," "Walmart" or the "Company") has filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") or may file with or furnish to the SEC in the future, and prior or future public announcements and presentations that we or our management have made or may make, include or may include, or incorporate or may incorporate by reference, statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), that are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Act.
Nature of Forward-Looking Statements
Such forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but instead express our estimates or expectations for our consolidated, or one of our segment's, economic performance or results of operations for future periods or as of future dates or events or developments that may occur in the future or discuss our plans, objectives or goals. These forward-looking statements relate to:
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• | the growth of our business or change in our competitive position in the future or in or over particular periods; |
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• | the amount, number, growth or increase, in or over certain periods, of or in certain financial items or measures or operating measures, including our earnings per share, including as adjusted for certain items, net sales, comparable store and club sales, our Walmart U.S. operating segment's eCommerce sales, liabilities, expenses of certain categories, expense leverage, returns, capital and operating investments or expenditures of particular types, new store openings and investments in particular formats; |
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• | investments and capital expenditures we will make and how certain of those investments and capital expenditures are expected to be financed; |
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• | our plans to increase investments in eCommerce, technology, store remodels and other customer initiatives, such as online grocery locations; |
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• | volatility in currency exchange rates and fuel prices affecting our or one of our segments' results of operations; |
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• | the Company continuing to provide returns to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, the use of share repurchase authorization over a certain period or the source of funding of a certain portion of our share repurchases; |
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• | our sources of liquidity, including our cash, continuing to be adequate or sufficient to fund and finance our operations, expansion activities, dividends and share repurchases, to meet our cash needs and to fund our domestic operations without repatriating earnings we hold outside of the United States; |
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• | our intention to reinvest the earnings we hold outside of the United States in our foreign operations and certain laws, other limitations and potential taxes on anticipated future repatriations of such earnings not materially affecting our liquidity, financial condition or results of operations; |
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• | the insignificance of ineffective hedges and reclassification of amounts related to our derivatives; |
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• | our effective tax rate for certain periods and the realization of certain net deferred tax assets and the effects of resolutions of tax-related matters; |
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• | the effect of adverse decisions in, or settlement of, litigation or other proceedings to which we are subject; or |
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• | the effect on the Company's results of operations or financial condition of the Company's adoption of certain new, or amendments to existing, accounting standards. |
Our forward-looking statements may also include statements of our strategies, plans and objectives for our operations, including areas of future focus in our operations, and the assumptions underlying any of the forward-looking statements we make. The forward-looking statements we make can typically be identified by the use therein of words and phrases such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could be," "could increase," "could occur," "could result," "continue," "estimate," "expansion," "expect," "expectation," "expected to be," "focus," "forecast," "goal," "grow," "guidance," "intend," "invest," "is expected,"
"may continue," "may fluctuate," "may grow," "may impact," "may result," "objective," "plan," "priority," "project," "strategy," "to be," "we'll," "we will," "will add," "will allow," "will be," "will benefit," "will change," "will come in at," "will continue," "will decrease," "will grow," "will have," "will impact," "will include," "will increase," "will open," "will remain," "will result," "will stay," "will strengthen," "would be," "would decrease" and "would increase," variations of such words or phrases, other phrases commencing with the word "will" or similar words and phrases denoting anticipated or expected occurrences or results. The forward-looking statements include statements made in Part I, Item 3. "Legal Proceedings" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as to our belief that the possible loss or range of any possible loss that may be incurred in connection with certain legal proceedings will not be material to our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. Risks Factors and Uncertainties Affecting Our Business
Our business operations are subject to numerous risks, factors and uncertainties, domestically and internationally, outside of our control. One, or a combination, of these risks, factors and uncertainties could materially affect any of those matters as to which we have made forward-looking statements and cause our actual results or an actual event or occurrence to differ materially from those results or an event or occurrence described in a forward-looking statement. These risks, factors and uncertainties, which may be global in their effect or affect only some of the markets in which we operate and which may affect us on a consolidated basis or affect only some of our reportable segments, include, but are not limited to:
Economic Factors
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• | economic, geo-political, capital markets and business conditions, trends and events around the world and in the markets in which Walmart operates; |
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• | currency exchange rate fluctuations; |
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• | changes in market rates of interest; |
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• | changes in market levels of wages; |
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• | changes in the size of various markets, including eCommerce markets; |
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• | inflation or deflation, generally and in certain product categories; |
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• | transportation, energy and utility costs; |
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• | commodity prices, including the prices of oil and natural gas; |
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• | consumer confidence, disposable income, credit availability, spending levels, shopping patterns, debt levels, and demand for certain merchandise; |
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• | trends in consumer shopping habits around the world and in the markets in which Walmart operates; |
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• | consumer enrollment in health and drug insurance programs and such programs' reimbursement rates and drug formularies; and |
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• | initiatives of competitors, competitors' entry into and expansion in Walmart's markets, and competitive pressures; |
Operating Factors
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• | the amount of Walmart's net sales and operating expenses denominated in U.S. dollar and various foreign currencies; |
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• | the financial performance of Walmart and each of its segments, including the amounts of Walmart's cash flow during various periods; |
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• | Walmart's need to repatriate earnings held outside of the U.S. and changes in U.S. and international tax regulations; |
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• | customer traffic and average ticket in Walmart's stores and clubs and on its eCommerce platforms; |
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• | the mix of merchandise Walmart sells and its customers purchase; |
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• | the availability of goods from suppliers and the cost of goods acquired from suppliers; |
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• | the effectiveness of the implementation and operation of Walmart's strategies, plans, programs and initiatives; |
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• | Walmart's ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including within the eCommerce space; |
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• | the amount of shrinkage Walmart experiences; |
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• | consumer acceptance of and response to Walmart's stores and clubs, digital platforms, programs, merchandise offerings and delivery methods; |
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• | Walmart's gross profit margins, including pharmacy margins and margins of other product categories; |
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• | the selling prices of gasoline and diesel fuel; |
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• | disruption of seasonal buying patterns in Walmart's markets; |
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• | Walmart's expenditures for Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") and other compliance-related matters including the adequacy of our accrual for the FCPA matter; |
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• | disruptions in Walmart's supply chain; |
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• | cybersecurity events affecting Walmart and related costs and impact of any disruption in business; |
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• | Walmart's labor costs, including healthcare and other benefit costs; |
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• | Walmart's casualty and accident-related costs and insurance costs; |
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• | the size of and turnover in Walmart's workforce and the number of associates at various pay levels within that workforce; |
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• | the availability of necessary personnel to staff Walmart's stores, clubs and other facilities; |
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• | unexpected changes in Walmart's objectives and plans; |
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• | developments in, and the outcome of, legal and regulatory proceedings and investigations to which Walmart is a party or is subject, and the liabilities, obligations and expenses, if any, that Walmart may incur in connection therewith; |
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• | changes in the credit ratings assigned to the Company's commercial paper and debt securities by credit rating agencies; |
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• | Walmart's effective tax rate; and |
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• | unanticipated changes in accounting judgments and estimates; |
Regulatory and Other Factors
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• | changes in existing tax, labor and other laws and changes in tax rates, including the enactment of laws and the adoption and interpretation of administrative rules and regulations; |
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• | adoption or creation of new, and modification of existing, governmental policies, programs and initiatives in the markets in which Walmart operates and elsewhere and actions with respect to such policies, programs and initiatives; |
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• | the possibility of the imposition of new taxes on imports and new tariffs and trade restrictions and changes in tariff rates and trade restrictions; |
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• | changes in currency control laws; |
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• | changes in the level of public assistance payments; |
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• | the timing of federal income tax refunds; |
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• | natural disasters, public health emergencies, civil disturbances, and terrorist attacks; and |
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• | changes in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. |
We typically earn a disproportionate part of our annual operating income in the fourth quarter as a result of seasonal buying patterns, which patterns are difficult to forecast with certainty and can be affected by many factors.
Other Risk Factors; No Duty to Update
The above list of factors that may affect the estimates and expectations discussed in or implied or contemplated by forward-looking statements we make or made on our behalf is not exclusive. We are subject to other risks discussed under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and that we may discuss in Management's Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in risks that may be discussed under "Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors" and "Part I, Item 2. Management's Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" appearing in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or may otherwise be disclosed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with the SEC. Investors and other readers are urged to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating our forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements that we make or are made by others on our behalf are based on our knowledge of our business and our operating environment and assumptions that we believe to be or will believe to be reasonable when such forward-looking statements were or are made. As a consequence of the factors described above, the other risks, uncertainties and factors we disclose below and in the other reports as mentioned above, other risks not known to us at this time, changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other circumstances, our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in or implied or contemplated by our forward-looking statements. Consequently, this cautionary statement qualifies all forward-looking statements we make or that are made on our behalf, including those made herein and incorporated by reference herein. We cannot assure you that the results or developments expected or anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that those results or developments will result in the expected consequences for us or affect us, our business, our operations or our operating results in the manner or to the extent we expect. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any of the forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except to the extent required by applicable law.
General
Walmart Inc. ("Walmart," the "Company" or "we") helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores and through eCommerce. Through innovation, we are striving to create a customer-centric experience that seamlessly integrates our eCommerce and retail stores in an omni-channel offering that saves time for our customers. Each week, we serve nearly 270 million customers who visit our more than 11,700 stores and numerous eCommerce websites under 65 banners in 28 countries.
Our strategy is to lead on price, invest to differentiate on access, be competitive on assortment and deliver a great experience. Leading on price is designed to earn the trust of our customers every day by providing a broad assortment of quality merchandise and services at everyday low prices ("EDLP"). EDLP is our pricing philosophy under which we price items at a low price every day so our customers trust that our prices will not change under frequent promotional activity. Price leadership is core to who we are. Everyday low cost ("EDLC") is our commitment to control expenses so those cost savings can be passed along to our customers. Our omni-channel presence provides customers access to our broad assortment anytime and anywhere. We strive to give our customers and members a great digital and physical shopping experience.
Our operations comprise three reportable segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club. Our fiscal year ends on January 31 for our United States ("U.S.") and Canadian operations. We consolidate all other operations generally using a one-month lag and on a calendar year basis. Our discussion is as of and for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2018 ("fiscal 2018"), January 31, 2017 ("fiscal 2017") and January 31, 2016 ("fiscal 2016"). During fiscal 2018, we generated total revenues of $500.3 billion, which was primarily comprised of net sales of $495.8 billion.
We maintain our principal offices at 702 S.W. 8th Street, Bentonville, Arkansas 72716, USA. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "WMT."
The Development of Our Company
Although Walmart was incorporated in Delaware in October 1969, the businesses conducted by our founders began in 1945 when Sam M. Walton opened a franchise Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas. In 1946, his brother, James L. Walton, opened a similar store in Versailles, Missouri. Until 1962, our founders' business was devoted entirely to the operation of variety stores. In that year, the first Wal-Mart Discount City, which was a discount store, opened in Rogers, Arkansas. In 1983, we opened our first Sam's Club, and in 1988, we opened our first supercenter. In 1998, we opened our first Neighborhood Market.
In 1991, we began our first international initiative when we entered into a joint venture in Mexico. Since then, our international presence has expanded and, as of January 31, 2018, our Walmart International segment conducted business in 27 countries.
In 2000, we began our first eCommerce initiative by creating walmart.com. That same year, we also created samsclub.com. Since then, our digital presence has continued to grow. In 2007, walmart.com launched its Site to Store service, enabling customers to make a purchase online and pick up merchandise in stores. In 2016, we acquired jet.com in the U.S. and formed a strategic alliance with JD.com in China. Subsequent to the jet.com purchase, we have acquired several other U.S. eCommerce entities. In 2017, walmart.com launched free two-day shipping on more than 2 million items and we created Store No 8, a tech incubator with a focus to drive commerce forward. These eCommerce efforts have led to omni-channel offerings in many markets, including over 1,100 "Online Grocery" pickup locations in the U.S.
Information About Our Segments
The Company is engaged in the operation of retail, wholesale and other units, as well as eCommerce websites, located throughout the U.S., Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The Company's operations are conducted in three reportable segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club. The Company defines its segments as those operations whose results the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") regularly reviews to analyze performance and allocate resources. The Company sells similar individual products and services in each of its segments. It is impractical to segregate and identify revenues for each of these individual products and services.
Walmart U.S. is our largest segment and operates retail stores in all 50 states in the U.S., Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, with three primary store formats, as well as eCommerce. Walmart U.S. generated approximately 64% of our net sales in fiscal 2018, and of our three segments, Walmart U.S. is the largest and has historically had the highest gross profit as a percentage of net sales ("gross profit rate"). In addition, Walmart U.S. has historically contributed the greatest amount to the Company's net sales and operating income.
Walmart International consists of operations in 27 countries outside of the U.S. and is divided into three major categories: retail, wholesale and other. These categories consist of many formats, including: supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs (including Sam's Clubs) and cash & carry, as well as eCommerce. Walmart International generated
approximately 24% of our fiscal 2018 net sales. The overall gross profit rate for Walmart International is lower than that of Walmart U.S. primarily because of its merchandise mix. Walmart International is our second largest segment.
Sam's Club consists of membership-only warehouse clubs and operates in 44 states in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico, as well as eCommerce. Sam's Club accounted for approximately 12% of our fiscal 2018 net sales. As a membership-only warehouse club, membership income is a significant component of the segment's operating income. Sam's Club operates with a lower gross profit rate and lower operating expenses as a percentage of net sales than our other segments.
The Company measures the results of its segments using, among other measures, each segment's net sales and operating income, which includes certain corporate overhead allocations. From time to time, we revise the measurement of each segment's operating income, including any corporate overhead allocations, as determined by the information regularly reviewed by our CODM. When the measurement of a segment changes, previous period amounts and balances are reclassified to be comparable to the current period's presentation.
Walmart U.S. Segment
The Walmart U.S. segment is a mass merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the "Walmart," "Wal-Mart" and "Walmart Neighborhood Market" brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. The Walmart U.S. segment had net sales of $318.5 billion, $307.8 billion and $298.4 billion for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the most recent fiscal year, no single unit accounted for as much as 1% of total Company consolidated net sales.
Physical. Walmart U.S. operates retail stores in the U.S., including in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, with supercenters in 49 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, discount stores in 41 states and Puerto Rico and Neighborhood Markets and other small store formats in 36 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The following table provides square footage details on each of our formats as of January 31, 2018:
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| | Minimum Square Feet | | Maximum Square Feet | | Average Square Feet |
Supercenters (general merchandise and grocery) | | 69,000 |
| | 260,000 |
| | 178,000 |
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Discount stores (general merchandise and limited grocery) | | 30,000 |
| | 206,000 |
| | 105,000 |
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Neighborhood Markets(1) (grocery) | | 28,000 |
| | 65,000 |
| | 42,000 |
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(1) | Excludes other small formats. |
The following table provides the retail unit count and retail square feet by format for the fiscal years shown:
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| | Supercenters | | Discount Stores |
Fiscal Year | | Opened | | Closed | | Conversions(1) | | Total(2) | | Square Feet(2) | | Opened | | Closed | | Conversions(1) | | Total(2) | | Square Feet(2)
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Balance forward | | | | | | | | 3,158 |
| | 570,409 |
| | | | | | | | 561 |
| | 59,098 |
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2014 | | 72 |
| | — |
| | 58 |
| | 3,288 |
| | 589,858 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | (57 | ) | | 508 |
| | 53,496 |
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2015 | | 79 |
| | — |
| | 40 |
| | 3,407 |
| | 607,415 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | (40 | ) | | 470 |
| | 49,327 |
|
2016 | | 55 |
| | (16 | ) | | 19 |
| | 3,465 |
| | 616,428 |
| | — |
| | (9 | ) | | (19 | ) | | 442 |
| | 45,991 |
|
2017 | | 38 |
| | (2 | ) | | 21 |
| | 3,522 |
| | 625,930 |
| | — |
| | (6 | ) | | (21 | ) | | 415 |
| | 43,347 |
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2018 | | 30 |
| | — |
| | 9 |
| | 3,561 |
| | 632,479 |
| | — |
| | (6 | ) | | (9 | ) | | 400 |
| | 41,926 |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Neighborhood Markets and Other Small Formats | | | | Total Segment |
Fiscal Year | | Opened | | Closed | | Conversions(1) | | Total(2) | | Square Feet(2)
| | | | Opened(3) | | Closed | | Total(2) | | Square Feet(2)
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Balance forward | | | | | | | | 286 |
| | 11,226 |
| | | | | | | | 4,005 |
| | 640,733 |
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2014 | | 122 |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | 407 |
| | 15,778 |
| | | | 198 |
| | — |
| | 4,203 |
| | 659,132 |
|
2015 | | 235 |
| | (3 | ) | | — |
| | 639 |
| | 23,370 |
| | | | 316 |
| | (3 | ) | | 4,516 |
| | 680,112 |
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2016 | | 161 |
| | (133 | ) | | — |
| | 667 |
| | 27,228 |
| | | | 216 |
| | (158 | ) | | 4,574 |
| | 689,647 |
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2017 | | 73 |
| | (5 | ) | | — |
| | 735 |
| | 30,012 |
| | | | 111 |
| | (13 | ) | | 4,672 |
| | 699,289 |
|
2018 | | 85 |
| | (20 | ) | | — |
| | 800 |
| | 30,111 |
| | | | 115 |
| | (26 | ) | | 4,761 |
| | 704,516 |
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(1) | Conversions of discount stores or Neighborhood Markets to supercenters. |
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(2) | "Total" and "Square Feet" columns are as of January 31 for the years shown. Retail square feet are reported in thousands. |
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(3) | Total opened, net of conversions of discount stores or Neighborhood Markets to supercenters. |
Digital. Walmart U.S. provides its customers access to a broad assortment of merchandise, including products not found in our physical stores, and services online through our eCommerce family of brands' websites and third party retail partnership channels, as well as through related mobile commerce and voice-activated commerce applications. Our eCommerce family of brands includes walmart.com, jet.com, hayneedle.com, shoes.com, moosejaw.com, modcloth.com and bonobos.com. Walmart.com offers access to nearly 75 million SKUs, including those carried on Marketplace, a feature of the website that permits third parties to sell merchandise on walmart.com. Walmart.com is also integrated with our physical stores through
services like "Walmart Pickup," "Pickup Today" and in over 1,100 "Online Grocery" pickup locations to provide an omni-channel offering to our customers. Walmart U.S. also offers access to digital content and services including Vudu.
Merchandise. Walmart U.S. does business in three strategic merchandise units, listed below, across several store formats including supercenters, discount stores, Neighborhood Markets and other small store formats, as well as on our eCommerce websites.
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• | Grocery consists of a full line of grocery items, including meat, produce, natural & organics, deli & bakery, dairy, frozen foods, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, floral and dry grocery, as well as consumables such as health and beauty aids, baby products, household chemicals, paper goods and pet supplies; |
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• | Health and wellness includes pharmacy, optical services, clinical services, and over-the-counter drugs and other medical products; |
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• | General merchandise includes: |
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◦ | Entertainment (e.g., electronics, cameras and supplies, photo processing services, wireless, movies, music, video games and books); |
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◦ | Hardlines (e.g., stationery, automotive, hardware and paint, sporting goods, outdoor living and horticulture); |
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◦ | Apparel (e.g., apparel for women, girls, men, boys and infants, as well as shoes, jewelry and accessories); and |
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◦ | Home/Seasonal (e.g., home furnishings, housewares and small appliances, bedding, home decor, toys, fabrics and crafts and seasonal merchandise). |
Walmart U.S. also offers fuel and financial services and related products, including money orders, prepaid cards, wire transfers, money transfers, check cashing and bill payment. These services total less than 1% of annual net sales.
Brand name merchandise represents a significant portion of the merchandise sold in Walmart U.S. We also market lines of merchandise under our private-label store brands, including: "Adventure Force," "AutoDrive," "BlackWeb," "Equate," "Everstart," "Faded Glory," "George," "Great Value," "Holiday Time," "Hyper Tough," "Kid Connection," "Mainstays," "Marketside," "My Life As," "No Boundaries," "Ol' Roy," "Onn," "Ozark Trail," "Parent's Choice," "Prima Della," "Pure Balance," "Sam's Choice," "Special Kitty," "Spring Valley," "Terra & Sky," "Time and Tru," "Way to Celebrate" and "Wonder Nation." The Company also markets lines of merchandise under licensed brands, some of which include: "Better Homes & Gardens," "Farberware," "Russell" and "SwissTech."
The percentage of strategic merchandise unit net sales for Walmart U.S., including online sales, was as follows for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016:
|
| | | | | | |
| | Fiscal Years Ended January 31, |
STRATEGIC MERCHANDISE UNITS | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Grocery | | 56% | | 56% | | 56% |
Health and wellness | | 11% | | 11% | | 11% |
General merchandise | | 33% | | 33% | | 33% |
Total | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% |
Periodically, revisions are made to the categorization of the components comprising our strategic merchandise units. When revisions are made, the previous periods' presentation is adjusted to maintain comparability.
Operations. Many supercenters, discount stores and Neighborhood Markets are open 24 hours each day. A variety of payment methods are accepted at our stores and through our eCommerce websites and mobile commerce applications.
Seasonal Aspects of Operations. Walmart U.S.'s business is seasonal to a certain extent due to calendar events and national and religious holidays, as well as different weather patterns. Historically, its highest sales volume and segment operating income have occurred in the fiscal quarter ending January 31.
Competition. Walmart U.S. competes with both physical retailers operating discount, department, retail and wholesale grocers, drug, dollar, variety and specialty stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and supercenter-type stores, and digital retailers, as well as catalog businesses. We also compete with others for desirable sites for new or relocated retail units.
Our ability to develop, open and operate units at the right locations and to deliver a customer-centric omni-channel experience largely determines our competitive position within the retail industry. We employ many programs designed to meet competitive pressures within our industry. These programs include the following:
| |
• | EDLP: our pricing philosophy under which we price items at a low price every day so our customers trust that our prices will not change under frequent promotional activity; |
| |
• | EDLC: everyday low cost is our commitment to control expenses so our cost savings can be passed along to our customers; |
| |
• | Rollbacks: our commitment to pass cost savings on to the customer by lowering prices on selected goods; |
| |
• | Savings Catcher, Save Even More and Ad Match: strategies to meet or be below a competitor's advertised price; |
| |
• | Walmart Pickup: customer places order online and picks it up for free from a store. The merchandise is fulfilled through our distribution facilities; |
| |
• | Pickup Today: customer places order online and picks it up at a store within four hours for free. The order is fulfilled through existing store inventory; |
| |
• | Online Grocery: customer places grocery order online and has it delivered to home or picks it up at one of our participating stores or remote locations; and |
| |
• | Money Back Guarantee: our commitment to ensure the quality and freshness of the fruits and vegetables in our stores by offering our customers a 100 percent money-back guarantee if they are not satisfied. |
We offer a broad assortment of merchandise that provides one-stop shopping, in-stock levels that give our customers confidence that we will have the products they need and operating hours that allow customers to shop at their convenience. In addition, our eCommerce capabilities, including omni-channel transactions that involve both an eCommerce platform and a physical format, are important factors in our competition with other retailers.
Distribution. For fiscal 2018, approximately 78% of Walmart U.S.'s purchases of store merchandise were shipped through our 157 distribution facilities, which are located strategically throughout the U.S. The remaining merchandise we purchased was shipped directly from suppliers. General merchandise and dry grocery merchandise is transported primarily through the segment's private truck fleet; however, we contract with common carriers to transport the majority of our perishable grocery merchandise.
We ship merchandise purchased by customers on our eCommerce platforms by a number of methods from multiple locations including from our 30 dedicated eCommerce fulfillment centers.
The following table provides further details of our distribution facilities, including return facilities and dedicated eCommerce fulfillment centers, as of January 31, 2018:
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Owned and Operated | | Owned and Third Party Operated | | Leased and Operated | | Third Party Owned and Operated | | Total |
Walmart U.S. distribution facilities | | 103 | | 2 | | 23 | | 29 | | 157 |
Walmart International Segment
The Walmart International segment consists of operations in 27 countries outside of the U.S. and includes numerous formats divided into three major categories: retail, wholesale and other. These categories, including eCommerce, consist of many formats, including: supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs (including Sam's Clubs) and cash & carry. The segment's net sales for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, were $118.1 billion, $116.1 billion and $123.4 billion, respectively, which have been impacted by currency exchange rate fluctuations. During the most recent fiscal year, no single unit accounted for as much as 1% of total Company net sales.
Physical. Walmart International includes physical stores operated by: our wholly-owned subsidiaries operating in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, India, Japan and the United Kingdom; and our majority-owned subsidiaries operating in Africa (which includes Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), Central America (which includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) and Mexico.
Generally, retail units range in size from 8,900 square feet to 186,000 square feet. Our wholesale stores generally range in size from 35,000 square feet to 185,000 square feet. Other, which includes drugstores and convenience stores operating under various banners in Brazil, Mexico and the United Kingdom, range in size up to 2,400 square feet. Also, on a limited basis, Walmart International operates financial institutions that provide consumer credit.
The following table provides the retail unit count(1) and retail square feet(2) for the fiscal years shown: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Africa | | Argentina | | Brazil | | Canada | | Central America | | Chile |
Fiscal Year | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet |
Balance forward | | 377 |
| | 19,775 |
| | 94 |
| | 7,531 |
| | 558 |
| | 32,494 |
| | 379 |
| | 48,354 |
| | 642 |
| | 9,873 |
| | 329 |
| | 12,671 |
|
2014 | | 379 |
| | 20,513 |
| | 104 |
| | 8,062 |
| | 556 |
| | 32,501 |
| | 389 |
| | 49,914 |
| | 661 |
| | 10,427 |
| | 380 |
| | 13,697 |
|
2015 | | 396 |
| | 21,223 |
| | 105 |
| | 8,119 |
| | 557 |
| | 33,028 |
| | 394 |
| | 50,927 |
| | 690 |
| | 11,094 |
| | 404 |
| | 14,762 |
|
2016 | | 408 |
| | 21,869 |
| | 108 |
| | 8,280 |
| | 499 |
| | 30,675 |
| | 400 |
| | 51,784 |
| | 709 |
| | 11,410 |
| | 395 |
| | 15,407 |
|
2017 | | 412 |
| | 22,542 |
| | 107 |
| | 8,264 |
| | 498 |
| | 30,642 |
| | 410 |
| | 53,088 |
| | 731 |
| | 11,770 |
| | 363 |
| | 15,260 |
|
2018 | | 424 |
| | 23,134 |
| | 106 |
| | 8,305 |
| | 465 |
| | 29,824 |
| | 410 |
| | 53,082 |
| | 778 |
| | 12,448 |
| | 378 |
| | 15,990 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | China | | India | | Japan | | Mexico(3) | | United Kingdom | | Total Segment |
Fiscal Year | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet | | Unit Count | | Square Feet |
Balance forward | | 393 |
| | 65,801 |
| | 20 |
| | 1,083 |
| | 438 |
| | 24,448 |
| | 1,988 |
| | 88,833 |
| | 565 |
| | 34,810 |
| | 5,783 |
| | 345,673 |
|
2014 | | 405 |
| | 67,205 |
| | 20 |
| | 1,083 |
| | 438 |
| | 24,489 |
| | 2,199 |
| | 94,900 |
| | 576 |
| | 35,416 |
| | 6,107 |
| | 358,207 |
|
2015 | | 411 |
| | 68,269 |
| | 20 |
| | 1,083 |
| | 431 |
| | 24,429 |
| | 2,290 |
| | 98,419 |
| | 592 |
| | 36,277 |
| | 6,290 |
| | 367,630 |
|
2016 | | 432 |
| | 71,724 |
| | 21 |
| | 1,146 |
| | 346 |
| | 22,551 |
| | 2,360 |
| | 100,308 |
| | 621 |
| | 37,044 |
| | 6,299 |
| | 372,198 |
|
2017 | | 439 |
| | 73,172 |
| | 20 |
| | 1,091 |
| | 341 |
| | 21,921 |
| | 2,411 |
| | 101,681 |
| | 631 |
| | 37,338 |
| | 6,363 |
| | 376,769 |
|
2018 | | 443 |
| | 73,615 |
| | 20 |
| | 1,091 |
| | 336 |
| | 21,181 |
| | 2,358 |
| | 97,024 |
| | 642 |
| | 37,587 |
| | 6,360 |
| | 373,281 |
|
| |
(1) | "Unit Count" includes retail stores, wholesale clubs and other, which includes drugstores and convenience stores. Walmart International unit counts, with the exception of Canada, are stated as of December 31, to correspond with the fiscal year end of the related geographic market. Canada unit counts and square footage are stated as of January 31. For the balance forward, all country balances are stated as of the end of fiscal year 2013. |
| |
(2) | "Square Feet" columns are reported in thousands. |
| |
(3) | All periods presented exclude units and square feet for the Vips restaurant business. The Company completed the sale of the Vips restaurant business in fiscal 2015. |
Unit counts(1) as of January 31, 2018 for Walmart International are summarized by major category for each geographic market as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Geographic Market | | Retail | | Wholesale | | Other(2) | | Total |
Africa(3) | | 335 |
| | 89 |
| | — |
| | 424 |
|
Argentina | | 106 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 106 |
|
Brazil | | 380 |
| | 70 |
| | 15 |
| | 465 |
|
Canada | | 410 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 410 |
|
Central America(4) | | 778 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 778 |
|
Chile | | 373 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 378 |
|
China | | 424 |
| | 19 |
| | — |
| | 443 |
|
India | | — |
| | 20 |
| | — |
| | 20 |
|
Japan | | 336 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 336 |
|
Mexico | | 2,186 |
| | 162 |
| | 10 |
| | 2,358 |
|
United Kingdom | | 617 |
| | — |
| | 25 |
| | 642 |
|
Total | | 5,945 |
| | 365 |
| | 50 |
| | 6,360 |
|
| |
(1) | Walmart International unit counts, with the exception of Canada, are stated as of December 31, 2017, to correspond with the balance sheet date of the related geographic market. Canada unit counts are stated as of January 31, 2018. |
| |
(2) | Other includes drug stores and convenience stores. |
| |
(3) | Africa unit counts by country are Botswana (11), Ghana (2), Kenya (1), Lesotho (3), Malawi (2), Mozambique (5), Namibia (4), Nigeria (5), South Africa (382), Swaziland (1), Tanzania (1), Uganda (1) and Zambia (6). |
| |
(4) | Central America unit counts by country are Costa Rica (247), El Salvador (95), Guatemala (238), Honduras (103) and Nicaragua (95). |
Digital. Walmart International operates eCommerce websites in numerous countries. Customers have access through our eCommerce websites and, in countries where available, mobile commerce applications to a broad assortment of merchandise and services, both of which vary by country. Our omni-channel offerings include capabilities like "Click & Collect" in the United Kingdom and our grocery pick-up and delivery business in several other markets.
Merchandise. The merchandising strategy for Walmart International is similar to that of our operations in the U.S. in terms of the breadth and scope of merchandise offered for sale. While brand name merchandise accounts for a majority of our sales, we have both leveraged U.S. private brands and developed market specific private brands to serve our customers with high quality, lower priced items. Along with the private brands we market globally, such as "Equate," "George," "Great Value," "Holiday Time," "Mainstays," "Ol' Roy" and "Parent's Choice," our international markets have developed market specific brands including "Aurrera," "Cambridge," "Chosen by You" and "Extra Special." In addition, we have developed relationships with
regional and local suppliers in each market to ensure reliable sources of quality merchandise that is equal to national brands at low prices.
Operations. The hours of operation for operating units in Walmart International vary by country and by individual markets within countries, depending upon local and national ordinances governing hours of operation. Operating units in each country accept a variety of payment methods.
Seasonal Aspects of Operations. Walmart International's business is seasonal to a certain extent. Historically, the segment's highest sales volume and operating income have occurred in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year. The seasonality of the business varies by country due to different national and religious holidays, festivals and customs, as well as different weather patterns.
Competition. Walmart International competes with both physical retailers who operate department, drug, discount, variety and specialty stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and supercenter-type stores, wholesale clubs, home-improvement stores, specialty electronics stores, cash & carry operations and convenience stores, and digital retailers, as well as catalog businesses. We also operate, on a limited basis, consumer credit operations. We compete with others for desirable sites for new or relocated units. Our ability to develop, open and operate units at the right locations and to deliver a customer-centric experience that seamlessly integrates digital and physical shopping determines, to a large extent, our competitive position in the markets in which Walmart International operates. We believe price leadership is a critical part of our business model and we continue to focus on moving our markets towards an EDLP approach. Additionally, our ability to operate food departments effectively has a significant impact on our competitive position in the markets where we operate. In the markets in which we have eCommerce websites or mobile commerce applications, those websites and applications help differentiate us from our competitors and help us compete with other retailers for customers and their purchases, both in our digital and physical retail operations.
Distribution. We utilize a total of 188 distribution facilities located in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Through these facilities, we process and distribute both imported and domestic products to the operating units of the Walmart International segment. During fiscal 2018, approximately 83% of Walmart International's purchases passed through these distribution facilities. Suppliers ship the balance of Walmart International's purchases directly to our stores in the various markets in which we operate. The following table provides further details of our international distribution facilities, including 17 dedicated eCommerce fulfillment centers, as of December 31, 2017, with the exception of distribution facilities in Canada, which are stated as of January 31, 2018: |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Owned and Operated | | Owned and Third Party Operated | | Leased and Operated | | Third Party Owned and Operated | | Total |
International distribution facilities | | 43 | | 12 | | 87 | | 46 | | 188 |
We ship merchandise purchased by customers on our eCommerce websites and through our mobile commerce applications by a number of methods from multiple locations including from our dedicated eCommerce fulfillment centers.
Sam's Club Segment
The Sam's Club segment operates membership-only warehouse clubs, as well as samsclub.com, in the U.S. and had net sales of $59.2 billion, $57.4 billion and $56.8 billion for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the most recent fiscal year, no single club location accounted for as much as 1% of total Company net sales.
Membership. Beginning in the year ending January 31, 2019 ("fiscal 2019"), Sam's Club simplified the membership program. The following two options are available to members:
|
| | | |
| Membership Type |
| Plus | | Club |
Annual Membership Fee | $100 | | $45 |
Number of Add-on Memberships ($40 each) | Up to 16 | | Up to 8 |
Eligible for Cash Rewards | Yes | | No |
Eligible for Free Shipping | Yes | | No |
All memberships include a spouse/household card at no additional cost. Plus Members are eligible for Cash Rewards, which is a benefit that provides $10 for every $500 in qualifying Sam's Club purchases up to a $500 cash reward annually. The amount earned can be used for purchases, membership fees or redeemed for cash. Plus Members are also eligible for Free Shipping on the vast majority of merchandise available online, with no minimum order size. Free Shipping is yet another example of creating a new Sam's Club for our members.
Physical. As a membership-only warehouse club, Sam's Club facility sizes generally range between 94,000 and 168,000 square feet, with an average size of approximately 134,000 square feet.
The following table provides the retail unit count and retail square feet for the fiscal years shown:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fiscal Year | | Opened | | Closed | | Total(1) | | Square Feet(1) |
Balance forward | | | | | | 620 |
| | 82,653 |
|
2014 | | 12 |
| | — |
| | 632 |
| | 84,382 |
|
2015 | | 16 |
| | (1 | ) | | 647 |
| | 86,510 |
|
2016 | | 8 |
| | — |
| | 655 |
| | 87,552 |
|
2017 | | 9 |
| | (4 | ) | | 660 |
| | 88,376 |
|
2018 | | 4 |
| | (67 | ) | | 597 |
| | 80,068 |
|
| |
(1) | "Total" and "Square Feet" columns are as of January 31 for the fiscal years shown. Retail square feet are reported in thousands. |
Digital. Sam's Club provides its members access to a broad assortment of merchandise, including products not found in our clubs, and services online at samsclub.com and through our mobile commerce applications. Samsclub.com experiences on average 20.4 million unique visitors a month and offers access to approximately 59,000 SKUs providing the member the option of delivery direct-to-home or to the club through services such as "Club Pickup." Digital retail supports our physical clubs with capabilities like "Scan and Go," a mobile checkout and payment solution, which allows members to bypass the checkout line.
Merchandise. Sam's Club offers merchandise in the following five merchandise categories:
| |
• | Grocery and consumables includes dairy, meat, bakery, deli, produce, dry, chilled or frozen packaged foods, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, floral, snack foods, candy, other grocery items, health and beauty aids, paper goods, laundry and home care, baby care, pet supplies and other consumable items; |
| |
• | Fuel and other categories consists of gasoline stations, tobacco, tools and power equipment, and tire and battery centers; |
| |
• | Home and apparel includes home improvement, outdoor living, grills, gardening, furniture, apparel, jewelry, housewares, toys, seasonal items, mattresses and small appliances; |
| |
• | Technology, office and entertainment includes electronics, wireless, software, video games, movies, books, music, office supplies, office furniture, photo processing and third-party gift cards; and |
| |
• | Health and wellness includes pharmacy, optical and hearing services and over-the-counter drugs. |
The Member's Mark brand continues to expand assortment and deliver member value. In fiscal 2018, Member's Mark sales exceeded $10 billion, driven by growth in grocery, seasonal items and apparel. The percentage of net sales for Sam's Club, including eCommerce sales, by merchandise category, was as follows for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016:
|
| | | | | | |
| | Fiscal Years Ended January 31, |
MERCHANDISE CATEGORY | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Grocery and consumables | | 58% | | 59% | | 59% |
Fuel and other categories | | 21% | | 20% | | 20% |
Home and apparel | | 9% | | 9% | | 9% |
Technology, office and entertainment | | 6% | | 6% | | 7% |
Health and wellness | | 6% | | 6% | | 5% |
Total | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% |
Operations. Operating hours for Sam's Clubs are generally Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Additionally, all club locations offer Plus Members the ability to shop before the regular operating hours Monday through Saturday, starting at 7:00 a.m. A variety of payment methods are accepted at our clubs and online, including the co-branded Sam's Club "Cash Back" MasterCard.
Seasonal Aspects of Operations. Sam's Club's business is seasonal to a certain extent due to calendar events and national and religious holidays, as well as different weather patterns. Historically, its highest sales volume and segment operating income have occurred in the fiscal quarter ending January 31.
Competition. Sam's Club competes with other membership-only warehouse clubs, the largest of which is Costco, as well as with discount retailers, retail and wholesale grocers, general merchandise wholesalers and distributors, gasoline stations as well as digital retailers and catalog businesses. At Sam's Club, we provide value at members-only prices, a quality merchandise assortment, and bulk sizing to serve both our Plus and Club members. Our eCommerce website and mobile commerce
applications have increasingly become important factors in our ability to compete with other membership-only warehouse clubs.
Distribution. During fiscal 2018, approximately 68% of Sam's Club's non-fuel purchases were shipped from Sam's Club's 22 dedicated distribution facilities located strategically throughout the U.S., or from some of the Walmart U.S. segment's distribution facilities, which service the Sam's Club segment for certain items. Suppliers shipped the balance of the Sam's Club segment's purchases directly to Sam's Club locations. The following table provides further details of our dedicated distribution facilities, including two dedicated eCommerce fulfillment centers and two dedicated import facilities, as of January 31, 2018:
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Owned and Operated | | Owned and Third Party Operated | | Leased and Operated | | Third Party Owned and Operated | | Total |
Sam's Club distribution facilities | | 3 | | 3 | | 3 | | 13 | | 22 |
The principal focus of Sam's Club's distribution operations is on cross-docking merchandise, while stored inventory is minimized. Cross-docking is a distribution process under which shipments are directly transferred from inbound to outbound trailers. Shipments typically spend less than 24 hours in a cross-dock facility, and sometimes less than an hour.
Sam's Club uses a combination of our private truck fleet, as well as common carriers, to transport non-perishable merchandise from distribution facilities to clubs. The segment contracts with common carriers to transport perishable grocery merchandise from distribution facilities to clubs.
Sam's Club ships merchandise purchased by members on samsclub.com and through its mobile commerce applications by a number of methods from its dedicated eCommerce fulfillment centers and other distribution centers.
Other Segment Information
Certain financial information relating to our segments is included in Part II, Item 7 under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and in Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Note 15 also includes information regarding total revenues and long-lived assets aggregated by our U.S. and non-U.S. operations. Intellectual Property
We regard our trademarks, service marks, copyrights, patents, domain names, trade dress, trade secrets, proprietary technologies, and similar intellectual property as important to our success, and with respect to our associates, customers and others, we rely on trademark, copyright, and patent law, trade-secret protection, and confidentiality and/or license agreements to protect our proprietary rights. We have registered, or applied for the registration of, a number of U.S. and international domain names, trademarks, service marks and copyrights. Additionally, we have filed U.S. and international patent applications covering certain of our proprietary technology. We have licensed in the past, and expect that we may license in the future, certain of our proprietary rights to third parties.
Suppliers and Supply Chain
As a retailer and warehouse club operator, we utilize a global supply chain that includes over 100,000 suppliers located around the world, including in the United States, from whom we purchase the merchandise that we sell in our stores, clubs and online. In many instances, we purchase merchandise from producers located near the stores and clubs in which such merchandise will be sold, particularly products in the "fresh" category. Our purchases may represent a significant percentage of a number of our suppliers' annual sales, and the volume of product we acquire from many suppliers allows us to obtain favorable pricing from such suppliers. Our suppliers are subject to standards of conduct, including requirements that they comply with local labor laws, local worker safety laws and other applicable laws. Our ability to acquire from our suppliers the assortment and volume of products we wish to offer to our customer, to receive those products within the required time through our supply chain and to distribute those products to our stores and clubs determines, in part, our in-stock levels in our stores and clubs and the attractiveness of our merchandise assortment we offer to our customers and members.
Employees
As of the end of fiscal 2018, Walmart Inc. and our subsidiaries employed approximately 2.3 million employees ("associates") worldwide, with 1.5 million associates in the U.S. and 0.8 million associates internationally. Similar to other retailers, the Company has a large number of part-time, hourly or non-exempt associates. We believe our relationships with our associates are good and are continuing to improve. A large number of associates turn over each year, although Walmart U.S. turnover has been improving in fiscal 2018 as a result of our focus on increasing wages and providing improved tools, technology and training to associates.
Certain information relating to retirement-related benefits we provide to our associates is included in Note 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition to retirement-related benefits, in the U.S., we offer a broad range of Company-paid benefits to our associates. These include a store discount card or Sam's Club membership, bonuses based on Company performance, matching a portion of purchases of our stock by associates through our Associate Stock Purchase Plan and life insurance. In addition to the health-care benefits for eligible full-time and part-time associates in the U.S., as announced in January 2018, we expanded maternity leave and implemented a new paid parental leave program to all full-time associates. We also introduced a $5,000 benefit to assist eligible associates with adoption.
Similarly, in the operations outside the U.S., we provide a variety of associate benefits that vary based on customary local practices and statutory requirements.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following chart names the executive officers of the Company as of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC, each of whom is elected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The business experience shown for each officer has been his or her principal occupation for at least the past five years, unless otherwise noted.
|
| | | | | | |
Name | | Business Experience | | Current Position Held Since | | Age |
Daniel J. Bartlett | | Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, effective June 2013. From November 2007 to June 2013, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of U.S. Operations at Hill & Knowlton, Inc., a public relations company. | | 2013 | | 46 |
| | | | | | |
M. Brett Biggs | | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2016. From January 2014 to December 2015, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Walmart International. From January 2013 to January 2014, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Walmart U.S. | | 2016 | | 49 |
| | | | | | |
Jacqueline P. Canney | | Executive Vice President, Global People, effective August 3, 2015. From September 2003 to July 2015, she served as the Managing Director of Global Human Resources at Accenture plc., a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. | | 2015 | | 50 |
| | | | | | |
David M. Chojnowski | | Senior Vice President and Controller effective January 1, 2017. From October 2014 to January 2017, he served as Vice President and Controller, Walmart U.S. From January 2013 to October 2014, he served as Vice President, Finance Transformation, of Walmart International. | | 2017 | | 48 |
| | | | | | |
Gregory Foran | | Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, Walmart U.S. effective August 2014. From May 2014 to August 2014, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Walmart Asia region. From March 2012 to May 2014, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Walmart China. | | 2014 | | 56 |
| | | | | | |
John Furner | | Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sam's Club, effective February 1, 2017. From October 2015 to January 2017, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Sam's Club. From January 2013 to October 2015, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Walmart China. | | 2017 | | 43 |
| | | | | | |
Marc Lore | | Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. eCommerce, effective September 2016. From April 2014 to September 2016, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Jet.com, Inc. From January 2005 to July 2013, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Quidsi, Inc., an eCommerce retailer that became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. in April 2011. | | 2016 | | 46 |
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Judith McKenna | | Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, Walmart International, effective February 1, 2018. From February 2015 to January 2018, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Walmart U.S. Prior to that position, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Walmart U.S. from April 2014 to February 2015; as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Development, for Walmart International, from April 2013 to April 2014; and as Chief Operating Officer of Asda Group Limited, the Company's subsidiary in the United Kingdom, from July 2011 to April 2013. | | 2018 | | 51 |
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C. Douglas McMillon | | President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 1, 2014. From February 2009 to January 2014, he served as Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, Walmart International. | | 2014 | | 51 |
New Executive Officer
Effective April 2, 2018, Rachel Brand, age 44, will join the Company as Executive Vice President, Global Governance and Corporate Secretary. From May 2017 to February 2018, she served as Associate Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice. From January 2017 to May 2017, she was an Associate Professor of Law at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. Prior to that position, she served as a Board Member on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board of the U.S. government from August 2012 to February 2017.
Our Website and Availability of SEC Reports and Other Information
Our corporate website is located at www.stock.walmart.com. We file with or furnish to the SEC Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, amendments to those reports, proxy statements and annual reports to shareholders, and, from time to time, other documents. The reports and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC are available to investors on or through our corporate website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with or furnish them to the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, such as the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov. In addition, the public may read and copy any of the materials we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our SEC filings, our Code of Ethics for our CEO and Senior Financial Officers and our Statement of Ethics can be found on our website at www.stock.walmart.com. These documents are available in print to any shareholder who requests a copy by writing or calling our Investor Relations Department, which is located at our principal offices.
A description of any substantive amendment or waiver of Walmart's Code of Ethics for the CEO and Senior Financial Officers or our Statement of Ethics for our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer and our controller, who is our principal accounting officer, will be disclosed on our website at www.stock.walmart.com under the Corporate Governance section. Any such description will be located on our website for a period of 12 months following the amendment or waiver.
The risks described below could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Our business operations could also be affected by additional factors that apply to all companies operating in the U.S. and globally.
Strategic Risks
General or macro-economic factors, both domestically and internationally, may materially adversely affect our financial performance.
General economic conditions and other economic factors, globally or in one or more of the markets we serve, may adversely affect our financial performance. Higher interest rates, lower or higher prices of petroleum products, including crude oil, natural gas, gasoline, and diesel fuel, higher costs for electricity and other energy, weakness in the housing market, inflation, deflation, increased costs of essential services, such as medical care and utilities, higher levels of unemployment, decreases in consumer disposable income, unavailability of consumer credit, higher consumer debt levels, changes in consumer spending and shopping patterns, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, higher tax rates, imposition of new taxes or other changes in tax laws, changes in healthcare laws, other regulatory changes, the imposition of measures that create barriers to or increase the costs associated with international trade, overall economic slowdown and other economic factors in the U.S. or in any of the other markets in which we operate could adversely affect consumer demand for the products we sell in the U.S. or such other markets, change the mix of products we sell to one with a lower average gross margin, cause a slowdown in discretionary purchases of goods, adversely affect our net sales and result in slower inventory turnover and greater markdowns of inventory, or otherwise materially adversely affect our operations and operating results.
In addition, the economic factors listed above, any other economic factors or circumstances resulting in higher transportation, labor, insurance or healthcare costs or commodity prices, and other economic factors in the U.S. and other countries in which we operate can increase our cost of sales and operating, selling, general and administrative expenses and otherwise materially adversely affect our operations and operating results.
The economic factors that affect our operations may also adversely affect the operations of our suppliers, which can result in an increase in the cost to us of the goods we sell to our customers or, in more extreme cases, in certain suppliers not producing goods in the volume typically available to us for sale.
We face strong competition from other retailers and wholesale club operators (whether through physical retail, digital retail or the integration of both), which could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
Each of our segments competes for customers, employees, store and club sites, digital prominence, products and services and in other important aspects of its business with many other local, regional, national and global physical and digital retailers, wholesale club operators and retail intermediaries.
Our Walmart U.S. segment competes with both physical retailers operating discount, department, retail and wholesale grocers, drug, dollar, variety and specialty stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and supercenter-type stores, and digital retailers, as well as catalog businesses. Our Sam's Club segment competes with other wholesale club operators, as well as discount retailers, retail and wholesale grocers, general merchandise wholesalers and distributors, gasoline stations, as well as digital retailers and catalog businesses.
Our Walmart International segment competes with both physical retailers who operate department, drug, discount, variety and specialty stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and supercenter-type stores, wholesale clubs, home-improvement stores, specialty electronics stores, cash & carry operations and convenience stores, and digital retailers, as well as catalog businesses.
We compete in a variety of ways, including the prices at which we sell our merchandise, merchandise selection and availability, services offered to customers, location, store hours, in-store amenities, the shopping convenience and overall shopping experience we offer, the attractiveness and ease of use of our digital platforms, cost and speed of and options for delivery to customers of merchandise purchased through our digital platforms or through the omni-channel integration of our physical and digital retail operations.
A failure to respond effectively to competitive pressures and changes in the retail markets or delays or failure in execution of our strategy could materially adversely affect our financial performance. See "Item 1. Business" above for additional discussion of the competitive situation of each of our reportable segments. Certain segments of the retail industry are undergoing consolidation, which could result in increased competition and significantly alter the dynamics of the retail marketplace. Such consolidation, or other business combinations or alliances, may result in competitors with greatly improved financial resources, improved access to merchandise, greater market penetration than they previously enjoyed and other improvements in their competitive positions. Such business combinations or alliances could result in the provision of a wider variety of products and services at competitive prices by such consolidated or aligned companies, which could adversely affect our financial performance.
We may not timely identify or effectively respond to consumer trends or preferences, which could negatively affect our relationship with our customers, demand for the products and services we sell, our market share and the growth of our business.
It is difficult to predict consistently and successfully the products and services our customers will demand and changes in their shopping patterns. The success of our business depends in part on how accurately we predict consumer demand, availability of merchandise, the related impact on the demand for existing products and the competitive environment, whether for customers purchasing products at our stores and clubs, through our digital platforms or through the combination of both. Price transparency, assortment of products, customer experience, convenience and the speed and cost of shipping are of primary importance to customers and continue to increase in importance, particularly as a result of digital tools and social media available to consumers and the choices available to consumers for purchasing products. Our failure to adequately or effectively respond to changing consumer tastes, preferences and shopping patterns, or any other failure on our part to timely identify or effectively respond to changing consumer tastes, preferences and shopping patterns could negatively affect our relationship with our customers, the demand for the products we sell, our market share and the growth of our business.
Failure to grow our eCommerce business through the omni-channel integration of physical and digital retail or otherwise, and the cost of our increasing eCommerce investments, may materially adversely affect our market position, net sales and financial performance.
The retail business is rapidly evolving and consumers are increasingly embracing shopping online and through mobile commerce applications. As a result, the portion of total consumer expenditures with retailers and wholesale clubs occurring through digital platforms is increasing and the pace of this increase could accelerate.
Our strategy, which includes investments in eCommerce, technology, store remodels and other customer initiatives may not adequately or effectively allow us to grow our eCommerce business, increase comparable store sales, maintain or grow our overall market position or otherwise offset the impact on the growth of our business of a moderated pace of new store and club openings. The success of this strategy will depend in large measure on our ability to build and deliver a seamless omni-channel shopping experience and is further subject to the risks we face as outlined in this Item 1A. As a result, our market position, net sales and financial performance could be adversely affected. In addition, a greater concentration of eCommerce sales could result in a reduction in the amount of traffic in our stores and clubs, which would, in turn, reduce the opportunities for cross-store or cross-club sales of merchandise that such traffic creates and could reduce our sales within our stores and clubs and materially adversely affect the financial performance of the physical retail side of our operations. Furthermore, the cost of certain eCommerce and technology investments, including any operating losses incurred by acquired eCommerce businesses will adversely impact our financial performance in the short-term and may adversely impact our financial performance over the longer term.
The performance of strategic alliances to support the expansion of our Walmart International segment could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
Our Walmart International segment may enter into strategic alliances in the countries in which we have existing operations or in other markets to expand our digital retail operations, physical retail operations or both. Any strategic alliance may not generate the level of eCommerce or other sales we anticipate when entering into that alliance or may otherwise adversely impact our
business and competitive position relative to the results we could have achieved in the absence of such alliance. In addition, any investment we make in connection with a strategic alliance could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
Operational Risks
Natural disasters, changes in climate, and geo-political events could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
The occurrence of one or more natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, typhoons, weather conditions such as major or extended winter storms, droughts and tornadoes, whether as a result of climate change or otherwise, severe changes in climate and geo-political events, such as war, civil unrest or terrorist attacks in a country in which we operate or in which our suppliers are located could adversely affect our operations and financial performance.
Such events could result in physical damage to, or the complete loss of, one or more of our properties, the closure of one or more stores, clubs and distribution facilities, the lack of an adequate work force in a market, the inability of customers and associates to reach or have transportation to our stores and clubs affected by such events, the evacuation of the populace from areas in which our stores, clubs and distribution facilities are located, the unavailability of our digital platforms to our customers, changes in the purchasing patterns of consumers and in consumers' disposable income, the temporary or long-term disruption in the supply of products from some local and overseas suppliers, the disruption in the transport of goods from overseas, the disruption or delay in the delivery of goods to our distribution facilities or stores within a country in which we are operating, the reduction in the availability of products in our stores, the disruption of utility services to our stores and our facilities, and disruption in our communications with our stores.
We bear the risk of losses incurred as a result of physical damage to, or destruction of, any stores, clubs and distribution facilities, loss or spoilage of inventory and business interruption caused by such events. These events and their impacts could otherwise disrupt and adversely affect our operations in the areas in which they occur and could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
Risks associated with the suppliers from whom our products are sourced could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
The products we sell are sourced from a wide variety of domestic and international suppliers. Global sourcing of many of the products we sell is an important factor in our financial performance. We expect all of our suppliers to comply with applicable laws, including labor, safety and environmental laws, and to otherwise meet our required supplier standards of conduct. Our ability to find qualified suppliers who uphold our standards, and to access products in a timely and efficient manner, is a significant challenge, especially with respect to suppliers located and goods sourced outside the U.S.
Political and economic instability in the countries in which our foreign suppliers and their manufacturers are located, the financial instability of suppliers, suppliers' failure to meet certain of our supplier standards (including our responsible sourcing standards), labor problems experienced by our suppliers and their manufacturers, the availability of raw materials to suppliers, merchandise safety and quality issues, disruption in the transportation of merchandise from the suppliers and manufacturers to our stores, clubs, and other facilities, including as a result of labor slowdowns at any port at which a material amount of merchandise we purchase enters into the U.S., currency exchange rates, transport availability and cost, transport security, inflation and other factors relating to the suppliers and the countries in which they are located are beyond our control.
In addition, the U.S.'s foreign trade policies, tariffs and other impositions on imported goods, trade sanctions imposed on certain countries, the limitation on the importation of certain types of goods or of goods containing certain materials from other countries and other factors relating to foreign trade are beyond our control. These and other factors affecting our suppliers and our access to products could adversely affect our financial performance.
If the products we sell are not safe or otherwise fail to meet our customers' expectations, we could lose customers, incur liability for any injuries suffered by customers using or consuming a product we sell or otherwise experience material adverse effects to our brand, reputation and financial performance.
Our customers count on us to provide them with safe products. Concerns regarding the safety of food and non-food products that we source from our suppliers or that we prepare and then sell could cause customers to avoid purchasing certain products from us, or to seek alternative sources of supply for all of their food and non-food needs, even if the basis for the concern is outside of our control. Any lost confidence on the part of our customers would be difficult and costly to reestablish. As such, any issue regarding the safety of any food or non-food items we sell, regardless of the cause, could adversely affect our brand, reputation and financial performance.
We rely extensively on information systems to process transactions, summarize results and manage our business. Disruptions in our systems could harm our ability to conduct our operations.
Given the number of individual transactions we have each year, it is crucial that we maintain uninterrupted operation of our business-critical information systems. Our information systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, worms, other malicious computer programs, denial-of-service attacks, security breaches (through cyber-attacks from cyber-attackers and sophisticated organizations), catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes, and usage errors by our associates or contractors. Our information systems are essential to our business operations, including the processing of transactions, management of our associates, facilities, logistics, inventories, physical stores and clubs and our online operations. Our information systems are not fully redundant and if our systems are damaged, breached or cease to function properly, we may have to make a significant investment to repair or replace them, and we may suffer interruptions in our business operations in the interim. Any interruption to our information systems may have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations. In addition, we are constantly updating our information technology processes and systems. The risk of system disruption is increased when significant system changes are undertaken. If we fail to timely integrate and update our information systems and processes, we may fail to realize the cost savings anticipated to be derived from these initiatives.
If the technology-based systems that give our customers the ability to shop with us online do not function effectively, our operating results, as well as our ability to grow our eCommerce business globally, could be materially adversely affected.
Many of our customers shop with us using our digital platforms, which are a part of our omni-channel sales strategy. Increasingly, customers are using computers, tablets, and smart phones to shop online and through digital platforms with us and with our competitors and to do comparison shopping. We use social media and electronic mail to interact with our customers and as a means to enhance their shopping experience. As a part of our omni-channel sales strategy, in addition to home delivery, we offer "Walmart Pickup," "Pickup Today" and "Club Pickup" and, in a growing number of locations, "Online Grocery" programs under which many products available for purchase online can be picked up by the customer at a local Walmart store or Sam's Club, which provides additional customer traffic at such stores and clubs. Omni-channel retailing is a rapidly evolving part of the retail industry and of our operations in the U.S. (whether through organic growth or eCommerce acquisitions) and in a number of markets in which our Walmart International segment operates.
We must anticipate and meet our customers' changing expectations while adjusting for technology investments and developments in our competitors' operations through focusing on the building and delivery of a seamless shopping experience across all channels by each operating segment. Any failure on our part to provide attractive, user-friendly secure digital platforms that offer a wide assortment of merchandise at competitive prices and with low cost and rapid delivery options and that continually meet the changing expectations of online shoppers and developments in online and digital platform merchandising and related technology could place us at a competitive disadvantage, result in the loss of eCommerce and other sales, harm our reputation with customers, have a material adverse impact on the growth of our eCommerce business globally and have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Our digital platforms, which are increasingly important to our business and continue to grow in complexity and scope, and the computer and operating systems on which they run, including those applications and systems in our acquired eCommerce businesses, may be subject to cyber-attacks. Those attacks could involve attempts to gain access to one of our eCommerce websites or mobile commerce applications to obtain and make unauthorized use of customers' or members' payment information and related risks discussed below. Such attacks, if successful, can also create denials of service or otherwise disable, degrade or sabotage one or more of our digital platforms and otherwise significantly disrupt our customers' and members' shopping experience. If we are unable to maintain the security of our digital platforms and keep them operating within acceptable parameters, we could suffer loss of sales, reductions in traffic, reputational damage and deterioration of our competitive position and incur liability for any damage to customers whose personal information is unlawfully obtained and used, any of which events could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations and impede the execution of our strategy for the growth of our business.
Any failure to maintain the security of the information relating to our company, customers, members, associates and vendors, whether as a result of cybersecurity attacks on our information systems or otherwise, could damage our reputation, result in litigation or other legal actions against us, cause us to incur substantial additional costs, and materially adversely affect our business and operating results.
As do most retailers, we receive and store in our digital information systems certain personal information about our customers and members, and we receive and store personal information concerning our associates and vendors. Some of that information is stored digitally in connection with our digital platforms. We also utilize third-party service providers for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, for encryption and authentication technology, content delivery to customers and members, back-office support, and other functions. Such providers may have access to information we hold about our customers, members, associates or vendors. In addition, our eCommerce operations depend upon the secure transmission of confidential information over public networks, including information permitting cashless payments.
Cyber threats are rapidly evolving and those threats and the means for obtaining access to information in digital and other storage media are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Cyber threats and cyber-attackers can be sponsored by countries or sophisticated criminal organizations or be the work of single "hackers" or small groups of "hackers." Each year, cyber-attackers make numerous attempts to access the information stored in our information systems. As cyber threats evolve, change and become more difficult to detect and successfully defend against, one or more cyber-attacks might defeat our or a third-party service provider's security measures in the future and obtain the personal information of customers, members, associates and vendors.
Associate error or malfeasance, faulty password management or other irregularities may also result in a defeat of our or our third-party service providers' security measures and a breach of our or their information systems. Moreover, hardware, software or applications we use may have inherent defects of design, manufacture or operations or could be inadvertently or intentionally implemented or used in a manner that could compromise information security. We or our third-party service providers may not discover any security breach and loss of information for a significant period of time after the security breach occurs.
Any breach of our security measures or any breach, error or malfeasance of those of our third-party service providers and loss of our confidential information, or any failure by us to comply with applicable privacy and information security laws and regulations, could cause us to incur significant costs to protect any customers, members, associates and vendors whose personal data was compromised and to restore their confidence in us and to make changes to our information systems and administrative processes to address security issues and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
In addition, such events could be widely publicized and could materially adversely affect our reputation with our customers, members, associates, vendors and shareholders, could harm our competitive position particularly with respect to our eCommerce operations, and could result in a material reduction in our net sales in our eCommerce operations, as well as in our stores thereby materially adversely affecting our operations, net sales, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and liquidity. Such events could also result in the release to the public of confidential information about our operations and financial condition and performance and could result in litigation or other legal actions against us or the imposition of penalties, fines, fees or liabilities, which may not be covered by our insurance policies. Moreover, a security breach could require us to devote significant management resources to address the problems created by the security breach and to expend significant additional resources to upgrade further the security measures we employ to guard personal information against cyber-attacks and other attempts to access such information and could result in a disruption of our operations, particularly our digital retail operations.
We accept payments using a variety of methods, including cash, checks, credit and debit cards, our private label credit cards and gift cards, and we may offer new payment options over time, which may have information security risk implications. As a retailer accepting debit and credit cards for payment, we are subject to various industry data protection standards and protocols, such as payment network security operating guidelines and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. We cannot be certain that the security measures we maintain to protect all of our information technology systems are able to prevent, contain or detect any cyber-attacks, cyber terrorism, or security breaches from known cyber-attacks or malware that may be developed in the future. To the extent that any cyber-attack or incursion in our or one of our third-party service provider's information systems results in the loss, damage or misappropriation of information, we may be materially adversely affected by claims from customers, financial institutions, regulatory authorities, payment card networks and others. In certain circumstances, payment card association rules and obligations to which we are subject under our contracts with payment card processors make us liable to payment card issuers if information in connection with payment cards and payment card transactions that we hold is compromised, which liabilities could be substantial. In addition, the cost of complying with stricter and more complex data privacy, data collection and information security laws and standards could be significant to us.
Changes in the results of our retail pharmacy business could adversely affect our overall results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.
Walmart has retail pharmacy operations in our Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club segments and a large majority of the retail pharmacy net sales are generated by filling prescriptions for which we receive payment through established contractual relationships with third-party payers and payment administrators, such as private insurers, governmental agencies and pharmacy benefit managers ("PBMs").
Our retail pharmacy operations are subject to numerous risks, including: reductions in the third-party reimbursement rates for drugs; changes in our payer mix (i.e., shifts in the relative distribution of our pharmacy customers across drug insurance plans and programs toward plans and programs with less favorable reimbursement terms); changes in third party payer drug formularies (i.e., the schedule of prescription drugs approved for reimbursement or which otherwise receive preferential coverage treatment); growth in, and our participation in or exclusion from, exclusive and preferred pharmacy network arrangements operated by PBMs and/or any insurance plan or program; increases in the prices we pay for brand name and generic prescription drugs we sell; increases in the administrative burdens associated with seeking third-party reimbursement; changes in the frequency with which new brand name pharmaceuticals become available to consumers; introduction of lower cost generic drugs as substitutes for existing brand name drugs for which there was no prior generic drug competition; changes in drug mix (i.e., the relative distribution of drugs customers purchase at our pharmacies between brands and generics); changes
in the health insurance market generally; changes in the scope of or the elimination of Medicare Part D or Medicaid drug programs; increased competition from other retail pharmacy operations; further consolidation among third party payers, PBMs or purchasers of drugs; overall economic conditions and the ability of our pharmacy customers to pay for drugs prescribed for them to the extent the costs are not reimbursed by a third party; failure to meet any performance or incentive thresholds to which our level of third party reimbursement may be subject; and changes in the regulatory environment for the retail pharmacy industry and the pharmaceutical industry, including as a result of restrictions on the further implementation of or the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the enactment and implementation of a law replacing such act, and other changes in laws, rules and regulations that affect our retail pharmacy business.
If the supply of certain pharmaceuticals provided by one or more of our vendors were to be disrupted for any reason, our pharmacy operations could be severely affected until at least such time as we could obtain a new supplier for such pharmaceuticals. Any such disruption could cause reputational damage and result in a significant number of our pharmacy customers transferring their prescriptions to other pharmacies.
One or a combination of such factors may adversely affect the volumes of brand name and generic pharmaceuticals we sell, our cost of sales associated with our retail pharmacy operations, and the net sales and gross margin of those operations, result in the loss of cross-store or cross-club selling opportunities and, in turn, adversely affect our overall net sales, other results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.
Our failure to attract and retain qualified associates, increases in wage and benefit costs, changes in laws and other labor issues could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
Our ability to continue to conduct and expand our operations depends on our ability to attract and retain a large and growing number of qualified associates globally. Our ability to meet our labor needs, including our ability to find qualified personnel to fill positions that become vacant at our existing stores, clubs and distribution centers, while controlling our associate wage and related labor costs, is generally subject to numerous external factors, including the availability of a sufficient number of qualified persons in the work force of the markets in which we operate, unemployment levels within those markets, prevailing wage rates, changing demographics, health and other insurance costs and adoption of new or revised employment and labor laws and regulations. If we are unable to locate, to attract or to retain qualified personnel, the quality of service we provide to our customers may decrease and our financial performance may be adversely affected.
In addition, if our costs of labor or related costs increase for other reasons or if new or revised labor laws, rules or regulations or healthcare laws are adopted or implemented that further increase our labor costs, our financial performance could be materially adversely affected.
Financial Risks
Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates may materially adversely affect our financial performance and our reported results of operations.
Our operations in countries other than the U.S. are conducted primarily in the local currencies of those countries. Our consolidated financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars, and to prepare those financial statements we must translate the amounts of the assets, liabilities, net sales, other revenues and expenses of our operations outside of the U.S. from local currencies into U.S. dollars using exchange rates for the current period. In recent years, fluctuations in currency exchange rates that were unfavorable to us coupled with such translations have had a material adverse effect on our reported results of operations.
As a result of such translations, fluctuations in currency exchange rates from period-to-period that are unfavorable to us may also result in our consolidated financial statements reflecting significant adverse period-over-period changes in our financial performance or reflecting a period-over-period improvement in our financial performance that is not as robust as it would be without such fluctuations in the currency exchange rates. Such unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations will adversely affect the reported performance of our Walmart International operating segment and have a corresponding adverse effect on our reported consolidated results of operations.
We may pay for products we purchase for sale in our stores and clubs around the world with a currency other than the local currency of the country in which the goods will be sold. When we must acquire the currency to pay for such products and the exchange rates for the payment currency fluctuate in a manner unfavorable to us, our cost of sales may increase and we may be unable or unwilling to change the prices at which we sell those goods to address that increase in our costs, with a corresponding adverse effect on our gross profit. Consequently, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may adversely affect our results of operations.
Failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance could adversely affect the market price and volatility of our stock.
We believe that the price of our stock generally reflects high market expectations for our future operating results. Any failure to meet or delay in meeting these expectations, including our comparable store and club sales growth rates, eCommerce growth
rates, gross margin, or earnings and earnings per share could cause the market price of our stock to decline, as could changes in our dividend or stock repurchase programs or policies. Additionally, failure of Walmart's performance to match that of other retailers may have a negative effect on the price of our stock.
Legal, Tax, Regulatory, Compliance, Reputational and Other Risks
Our operations subject us to legislative, judicial, accounting, legal, regulatory, tax, political and economic risks and conditions specific to the countries or regions in which we operate, which could materially adversely affect our business or financial performance.
In addition to our U.S. operations, we operate our retail business principally through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, India, Japan and the United Kingdom and our majority-owned subsidiaries in Africa, Central America and Mexico.
In fiscal 2018, our Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club operating segments generated approximately 76% of our consolidated net sales. The Federal Government has created the potential for significant changes in trade policies, including tariffs and government regulations affecting trade between the U.S. and other countries where we source many of the products we sell in our stores and clubs. Potential changes which have been discussed include the renegotiation or termination of trade agreements and the imposition of higher tariffs on imports into the U.S. A significant portion of the general merchandise we sell in our U.S. stores and clubs is manufactured in other countries. Any such actions could increase the cost to us of such merchandise (whether imported directly or indirectly) and cause increases in the prices at which we sell such merchandise to our customers, which could materially adversely affect the financial performance of our U.S. operations and our business.
During fiscal 2018, our Walmart International operations generated approximately 24% of our consolidated net sales. Walmart International's operations in various countries also sources goods and services from other countries. Our future operating results in these countries could be negatively affected by a variety of factors, most of which are beyond our control. These factors include political conditions, including political instability, local and global economic conditions, legal and regulatory constraints, local product safety and environmental laws, tax regulations, local labor laws, anti-money laundering laws and regulations, trade policies, currency regulations, and other matters in any of the countries or regions in which we operate, now or in the future.
Our business and results of operations in the UK may be negatively affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, increases in food costs, changes in trade policies, or changes in labor, immigration, tax or other laws resulting from the UK's anticipated exit from the European Union.
Brazilian federal, state and local laws are complex and subject to varying interpretations. Although the Company believes it complies with those laws, the Company's subsidiaries in Brazil are party to a large number of labor claims and non-income tax assessments, which have arisen during the normal course of business in Brazil. These matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and if decided adversely to the Company, could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
The economies of some of the countries in which we have operations have in the past suffered from high rates of inflation and currency devaluations, which, if they occurred again, could adversely affect our financial performance. Other factors which may impact our international operations include foreign trade, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. and of other countries, laws, regulations and other activities of foreign governments, agencies and similar organizations, and risks associated with having numerous facilities located in countries which have historically been less stable than the U.S. Additional risks inherent in our international operations generally include, among others, the costs and difficulties of managing international operations, adverse tax consequences and greater difficulty in enforcing intellectual property rights in countries other than the U.S. The various risks inherent in doing business in the U.S. generally also exist when doing business outside of the U.S., and may be exaggerated by the difficulty of doing business in numerous sovereign jurisdictions due to differences in culture, laws and regulations.
In foreign countries in which we have operations, a risk exists that our associates, contractors or agents could, in contravention of our policies, engage in business practices prohibited by U.S. laws and regulations applicable to us, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"), or the laws and regulations of other countries, such as the UK Bribery Act. We maintain a global policy prohibiting such business practices and have in place a global anti-corruption compliance program designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations. Nevertheless, we remain subject to the risk that one or more of our associates, contractors or agents, including those based in or from countries where practices that violate such U.S. laws and regulations or the laws and regulations of other countries may be customary, will engage in business practices that are prohibited by our policies, circumvent our compliance programs and, by doing so, violate such laws and regulations. Any such violations, even if prohibited by our internal policies, could adversely affect our business or financial performance and our reputation.
We are subject to income taxes and other taxes in both the U.S. and the foreign jurisdictions in which we currently operate or have historically operated. The determination of our worldwide provision for income taxes and current and deferred tax assets and liabilities requires judgment and estimation. Our income taxes could be materially adversely affected by earnings being
lower than anticipated in jurisdictions that have lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated in jurisdictions that have higher statutory tax rates, by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, or by changes in worldwide tax laws, regulations, or accounting principles.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act") was enacted and contains significant changes to U.S. income tax law. Effective in 2018, the Tax Act reduces the U.S. statutory tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and creates new taxes focused on foreign-sourced earnings and related-party payments. In addition, the Company was subject to a one-time transition tax in fiscal 2018 on accumulated foreign subsidiary earnings not previously subject to U.S. income tax. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") on December 22, 2017, which allows companies to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date. Due to the timing of the enactment and the complexity involved in applying the provisions of the Tax Act, the Company made reasonable estimates of the effects and recorded provisional amounts in our financial statements as of January 31, 2018, in accordance with SAB 118. As the Company collects and prepares necessary data, and interprets the Tax Act and any additional guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, the IRS, and other standard-setting bodies, the Company may make adjustments to the provisional amounts during fiscal 2019. Those adjustments may materially impact our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate in the period in which the adjustments are made and could impact our net income and our earnings per share, as well as our consolidated cash flows and liquidity.
We are subject to regular review and audit by both domestic and foreign tax authorities as well as subject to the prospective and retrospective effects of changing tax regulations and legislation. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the ultimate tax outcome may materially differ from the tax amounts recorded in our consolidated financial statements and may materially affect our income tax provision, net income, or cash flows in the period or periods for which such determination and settlement is made.
We operate in complex regulated environments in the United States and in the other countries in which we operate and could be adversely affected by changes to existing legal requirements including the related interpretations and enforcement practices, new legal requirements and/or any failure to comply with applicable regulations. Our pharmacy operations in the United States are subject to numerous federal, state and local regulations including licensing and other requirements for pharmacies and reimbursement arrangements. The regulations to which we are subject include, but are not limited to: federal and state registration and regulation of pharmacies; dispensing and sale of controlled substances and products containing pseudoephedrine; applicable governmental payer regulations including Medicare and Medicaid; data privacy and security laws and regulations including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Affordable Care Act or any successor thereto; laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and health and safety matters, including those governing exposure to, and the management and disposal of, hazardous substances; regulations regarding food and drug safety including those of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") and the Drug Enforcement Administration (the "DEA"), trade regulations including those of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and consumer protection and safety regulations including those of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as well as state regulatory authorities, governing the availability, sale, advertisement and promotion of products we sell and the financial services we offer; anti-kickback laws; false claims laws; and federal and state laws governing health care fraud and abuse and the practice of the professions of pharmacy, optical care and nurse practitioner services.
For example, in the United States the DEA and various other regulatory authorities regulate the distribution and dispensing of pharmaceuticals and controlled substances. We are required to hold valid DEA and state-level licenses, meet various security and operating standards and comply with the federal and various state controlled substance acts and related regulations governing the sale, dispensing, disposal, holding and distribution of controlled substances. The DEA, FDA and state regulatory authorities have broad enforcement powers, including the ability to seize or recall products and impose significant criminal, civil and administrative sanctions for violations of these laws and regulations. We are also governed by foreign, national and state laws of general applicability, including laws regulating matters of working conditions, health and safety and equal employment opportunity and other labor and employment matters, as well as employee benefit, competition, anti-money laundering, antitrust matters and health and wellness related regulations for our pharmacy operations outside of the United States. Changes in laws, regulations and policies and the related interpretations and enforcement practices may alter the landscape in which we do business and may significantly affect our cost of doing business.
The impact of new laws, regulations and policies and the related interpretations and enforcement practices generally cannot be predicted, and changes in applicable laws, regulations and policies and the related interpretations and enforcement practices may require extensive system and operational changes, be difficult to implement, increase our operating costs and require significant capital expenditures. Untimely compliance or noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations could result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties that could adversely affect the continued operation of our businesses, including: suspension of payments from government programs; loss of required government certifications; loss of authorizations to participate in or exclusion from government programs, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the United States; loss of licenses; and significant fines or monetary damages and/or penalties. Any failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements in the United States or in any of the countries in which we operate could result in significant legal and financial
exposure, damage our reputation, and have a material adverse effect on our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to certain legal proceedings that may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
We are involved in a number of legal proceedings, which include consumer, employment, tort and other litigation. In particular, we are currently a defendant in a number of cases containing class-action allegations in which the plaintiffs have brought claims under federal and state wage and hour laws, as well as a number of cases containing class-action allegations in which the plaintiffs have brought claims under federal and state consumer laws.
In addition, ASDA Stores, Ltd. ("ASDA"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has been named as a defendant in over 10,000 "equal value" claims pending in the Manchester Employment Tribunal (the "Employment Tribunal") in the United Kingdom. The claimants, who are current and former ASDA store employees, allege that the work performed by female employees in ASDA's retail stores is of equal value in terms of, among other things, the demands of their jobs to that of male employees working in ASDA's warehouses and distribution facilities, and that the disparity in pay between these different job positions is not objectively justified. The claimants are seeking differential back pay based on higher wage rates in the warehouses and distribution facilities and higher wage rates on a prospective basis. At present, we cannot predict the number of such claims that may be filed, and cannot reasonably estimate any loss or range of loss that may arise from these proceedings.
In December 2017, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated numerous lawsuits filed against a wide array of defendants by various plaintiffs, including counties, cities, healthcare providers, Native American tribes, individuals, and third-party payors, asserting claims generally concerning the impacts of widespread opioid abuse. The consolidated multidistrict litigation is entitled In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804), and is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The Company is named as a defendant in some of the cases included in this multidistrict litigation, including cases filed by several counties in West Virginia; by healthcare providers in Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Florida; and by the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. Similar cases that name the Company have been filed in state courts by various counties and municipalities; by health care providers; and by various Native American Tribes. At present, we cannot predict the number of such claims that may be filed, and cannot reasonably estimate any loss or range of loss that may arise from such claims.
We could be subject to liability, penalties and other sanctions and other adverse consequences arising out of our on-going FCPA matter.
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has been conducting an internal investigation into, among other things, alleged violations of the FCPA and other alleged crimes or misconduct in connection with certain of our foreign subsidiaries, including Wal-Mart de México, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Walmex"), and whether prior allegations of such violations and/or misconduct were appropriately handled by the Company. We have also been conducting a voluntary global review of our policies, practices and internal controls for anti-corruption compliance and are engaged in strengthening our global anti-corruption compliance programs. Since the implementation of the global review and enhanced anti-corruption compliance programs, the Audit Committee and we have identified or been made aware of additional allegations regarding potential violations of the FCPA.
Inquiries or investigations regarding allegations of potential FCPA violations have been commenced in a number of foreign markets in which we operate, including, but not limited to, Brazil, China and India. In November 2011, we voluntarily disclosed our investigative activity to the U.S. Department of Justice (the "DOJ") and the SEC. We have been cooperating with those agencies and discussions have been ongoing with them regarding the resolution of these matters. These discussions have progressed to a point that we can now reasonably estimate a probable loss and have recorded an aggregate accrual of $283 million with respect to these matters (the "Accrual").
A number of federal and local government agencies in Mexico have also initiated investigations of these matters. Furthermore, lawsuits relating to the matters under investigation have been filed by several of our shareholders against us, certain of our current and former directors and officers and certain of Walmex's current and former officers.
We could be exposed to a variety of negative consequences as a result of these matters. One or more enforcement actions could be instituted in respect of the matters that are the subject of some or all of the on-going government investigations, and such actions, if brought, may result in judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, cease and desist orders, debarment or other relief, criminal convictions and/or penalties. The shareholder lawsuits may result in judgments against us and our current and former directors and officers named in those proceedings. We also expect that there will be ongoing media and governmental interest regarding these matters, including additional news articles on these matters that could impact the perception of our role as a corporate citizen among certain audiences. Moreover, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur costs in responding to requests for information or subpoenas seeking documents, testimony and other information in
connection with the government investigations, in defending the shareholder lawsuits and in conducting our review and investigations.
While we have made an Accrual for these matters, because the discussions are continuing, there can be no assurance as to the timing or the terms of the final resolution of these matters. Although we do not presently believe that these matters will have a material adverse effect on our business, given the inherent uncertainties in such situations, we can provide no assurance that these matters will not be material to our business in the future.
|
| |
ITEM 1B. | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
None.
United States
The Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club segments comprise the Company's operations in the U.S. As of January 31, 2018, unit counts for Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club are summarized by format for each state and territory as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Walmart U.S. | | Sam's Club | | |
State or Territory | | Supercenters | | Discount Stores | | Neighborhood Markets and other small formats | | Clubs | | Grand Total |
Alabama | | 101 |
| | 1 |
| | 30 |
| | 13 |
| | 145 |
|
Alaska | | 7 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 9 |
|
Arizona | | 83 |
| | 2 |
| | 31 |
| | 12 |
| | 128 |
|
Arkansas | | 76 |
| | 6 |
| | 37 |
| | 9 |
| | 128 |
|
California | | 141 |
| | 74 |
| | 76 |
| | 29 |
| | 320 |
|
Colorado | | 70 |
| | 4 |
| | 18 |
| | 17 |
| | 109 |
|
Connecticut | | 12 |
| | 21 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | 35 |
|
Delaware | | 6 |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 10 |
|
Florida | | 231 |
| | 9 |
| | 94 |
| | 46 |
| | 380 |
|
Georgia | | 154 |
| | 2 |
| | 35 |
| | 24 |
| | 215 |
|
Hawaii | | — |
| | 10 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | 12 |
|
Idaho | | 23 |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | 1 |
| | 27 |
|
Illinois | | 139 |
| | 17 |
| | 11 |
| | 25 |
| | 192 |
|
Indiana | | 97 |
| | 7 |
| | 11 |
| | 13 |
| | 128 |
|
Iowa | | 58 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 9 |
| | 69 |
|
Kansas | | 58 |
| | 2 |
| | 16 |
| | 9 |
| | 85 |
|
Kentucky | | 79 |
| | 8 |
| | 11 |
| | 9 |
| | 107 |
|
Louisiana | | 89 |
| | 2 |
| | 34 |
| | 14 |
| | 139 |
|
Maine | | 19 |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | 25 |
|
Maryland | | 30 |
| | 18 |
| | 2 |
| | 11 |
| | 61 |
|
Massachusetts | | 27 |
| | 22 |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | 52 |
|
Michigan | | 91 |
| | 3 |
| | 9 |
| | 23 |
| | 126 |
|
Minnesota | | 65 |
| | 4 |
| | 1 |
| | 12 |
| | 82 |
|
Mississippi | | 65 |
| | 3 |
| | 10 |
| | 7 |
| | 85 |
|
Missouri | | 112 |
| | 9 |
| | 18 |
| | 19 |
| | 158 |
|
Montana | | 14 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | 16 |
|
Nebraska | | 35 |
| | — |
| | 7 |
| | 5 |
| | 47 |
|
Nevada | | 30 |
| | 2 |
| | 11 |
| | 7 |
| | 50 |
|
New Hampshire | | 19 |
| | 8 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | 29 |
|
New Jersey | | 29 |
| | 34 |
| | — |
| | 7 |
| | 70 |
|
New Mexico | | 35 |
| | 2 |
| | 9 |
| | 7 |
| | 53 |
|
New York | | 80 |
| | 18 |
| | 7 |
| | 12 |
| | 117 |
|
North Carolina | | 144 |
| | 6 |
| | 45 |
| | 22 |
| | 217 |
|
North Dakota | | 14 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | 17 |
|
Ohio | | 139 |
| | 6 |
| | — |
| | 27 |
| | 172 |
|
Oklahoma | | 81 |
| | 8 |
| | 34 |
| | 13 |
| | 136 |
|
Oregon | | 28 |
| | 7 |
| | 10 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Pennsylvania | | 116 |
| | 21 |
| | 3 |
| | 24 |
| | 164 |
|
Puerto Rico | | 13 |
| | 5 |
| | 17 |
| | 7 |
| | 42 |
|
Rhode Island | | 5 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 9 |
|
South Carolina | | 84 |
| | — |
| | 27 |
| | 13 |
| | 124 |
|
South Dakota | | 15 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | 17 |
|
Tennessee | | 117 |
| | 2 |
| | 21 |
| | 14 |
| | 154 |
|
Texas | | 389 |
| | 20 |
| | 111 |
| | 81 |
| | 601 |
|
Utah | | 41 |
| | — |
| | 12 |
| | 8 |
| | 61 |
|
Vermont | | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 6 |
|
Virginia | | 109 |
| | 6 |
| | 24 |
| | 15 |
| | 154 |
|
Washington | | 52 |
| | 10 |
| | 6 |
| | — |
| | 68 |
|
Washington D.C. | | 3 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 5 |
|
West Virginia | | 38 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 5 |
| | 44 |
|
Wisconsin | | 83 |
| | 4 |
| | 2 |
| | 10 |
| | 99 |
|
Wyoming | | 12 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | 14 |
|
U.S. total | | 3,561 |
| | 400 |
| | 800 |
| | 597 |
| | 5,358 |
|
International
The Walmart International segment comprises the Company's operations outside of the U.S. Unit counts as of January 31, 2018(1) for Walmart International are summarized by major category for each geographic market as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Geographic Market | | Retail | | Wholesale | | Other(2) | | Total |
Africa(3) | | 335 |
| | 89 |
| | — |
| | 424 |
|
Argentina | | 106 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 106 |
|
Brazil | | 380 |
| | 70 |
| | 15 |
| | 465 |
|
Canada | | 410 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 410 |
|
Central America(4) | | 778 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 778 |
|
Chile | | 373 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 378 |
|
China | | 424 |
| | 19 |
| | — |
| | 443 |
|
India | | — |
| | 20 |
| | — |
| | 20 |
|
Japan | | 336 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 336 |
|
Mexico | | 2,186 |
| | 162 |
| | 10 |
| | 2,358 |
|
United Kingdom | | 617 |
| | — |
| | 25 |
| | 642 |
|
International total | | 5,945 |
| | 365 |
| | 50 |
| | 6,360 |
|
| |
(1) | Walmart International unit counts, with the exception of Canada, are stated as of December 31, 2017, to correspond with the balance sheet date of the related geographic market. Canada unit counts are stated as of January 31, 2018. |
| |
(2) | Other includes drug stores and convenience stores. |
| |
(3) | Africa unit counts by country are Botswana (11), Ghana (2), Kenya (1), Lesotho (3), Malawi (2), Mozambique (5), Namibia (4), Nigeria (5), South Africa (382), Swaziland (1), Tanzania (1), Uganda (1) and Zambia (6). |
| |
(4) | Central America unit counts by country are Costa Rica (247), El Salvador (95), Guatemala (238), Honduras (103) and Nicaragua (95). |
Owned and Leased Properties
The following table provides further details of our retail units and distribution facilities, including return facilities, as of January 31, 2018: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Owned and Operated | | Owned and Third Party Operated | | Leased and Operated | | Third Party Owned and Operated | | Total |
U.S. properties | | | | | | | | | | |
Walmart U.S. retail units | | 4,066 |
| | — |
| | 695 |
| | — |
| | 4,761 |
|
Sam's Club retail units | | 512 |
| | — |
| | 85 |
| | — |
| | 597 |
|
Total U.S. retail units | | 4,578 |
| | — |
| | 780 |
| | — |
| | 5,358 |
|
Walmart U.S. distribution facilities | | 103 |
| | 2 |
| | 23 |
| | 29 |
| | 157 |
|
Sam's Club distribution facilities | | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 13 |
| | 22 |
|
Total U.S. distribution facilities | | 106 |
| | 5 |
| | 26 |
| | 42 |
| | 179 |
|
Total U.S. properties | | 4,684 |
| | 5 |
| | 806 |
| | 42 |
| | 5,537 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
International properties | | | | | | | | | | |
Africa | | 39 |
| | — |
| | 385 |
| | — |
| | 424 |
|
Argentina | | 66 |
| | — |
| | 40 |
| | — |
| | 106 |
|
Brazil | | 209 |
| | — |
| | 256 |
| | — |
| | 465 |
|
Canada | | 124 |
| | — |
| | 286 |
| | — |
| | 410 |
|
Central America | | 304 |
| | — |
| | 474 |
| | — |
| | 778 |
|
Chile | | 228 |
| | — |
| | 150 |
| | — |
| | 378 |
|
China | | 3 |
| | — |
| | 440 |
| | — |
| | 443 |
|
India | | 2 |
| | — |
| | 18 |
| | — |
| | 20 |
|
Japan | | 56 |
| | — |
| | 280 |
| | — |
| | 336 |
|
Mexico | | 669 |
| | — |
| | 1,689 |
| | — |
| | 2,358 |
|
United Kingdom | | 442 |
| | — |
| | 200 |
| | — |
| | 642 |
|
Total International retail units | | 2,142 |
| | — |
| | 4,218 |
| | — |
| | 6,360 |
|
International distribution facilities | | 43 |
| | 12 |
| | 87 |
| | 46 |
| | 188 |
|
Total International properties | | 2,185 |
| | 12 |
| | 4,305 |
| | 46 |
| | 6,548 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total retail units | | 6,720 |
| | — |
| | 4,998 |
| | — |
| | 11,718 |
|
Total distribution facilities | | 149 |
| | 17 |
| | 113 |
| | 88 |
| | 367 |
|
Total properties | | 6,869 |
| | 17 |
| | 5,111 |
| | 88 |
| | 12,085 |
|
We own office facilities in Bentonville, Arkansas, that serve as our principal office and own and lease office facilities throughout the U.S. and internationally for operations as well as for field and market management. The land on which our
stores are located is either owned or leased by the Company. We use independent contractors to construct our buildings. All store leases provide for annual rentals, some of which escalate during the original lease or provide for additional rent based on sales volume. Substantially all of the Company's store and club leases have renewal options, some of which include rent escalation clauses.
For further information on our distribution centers, see the caption "Distribution" provided for each of our segments under "Item 1. Business." I. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: We discuss certain legal proceedings in Note 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, entitled "Contingencies," which is included in Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We refer you to that discussion for important information concerning those legal proceedings, including the basis for such actions and, where known, the relief sought. We provide the following additional information concerning those legal proceedings, including the name of the lawsuit, the court in which the lawsuit is pending, and the date on which the petition commencing the lawsuit was filed. ASDA Equal Value Claims: Ms S Brierley & Others v ASDA Stores Ltd (2406372/2008 & Others - Manchester Employment Tribunal); ASDA Stores Ltd v Brierley & Ors (A2/2016/0973 - United Kingdom Court of Appeal); ASDA Stores Ltd v Ms S Brierley & Others (UKEAT/0059/16/DM - United Kingdom Employment Appeal Tribunal); ASDA Stores Ltd v Ms S Brierley & Others (UKEAT/0009/16/JOJ - United Kingdom Employment Appeal Tribunal).
National Prescription Opiate Litigation: In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804); Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. McKesson Corp., et al., WI Circuit Court, Sawyer County, 3/16/18; ApolloMD Bus. Servs., LLC v. Attain Med, Inc., et al., GA State Ct., Fulton Cty., 3/8/2018; Center Point, Inc. v. McKesson Corp., et al, CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 3/6/2018; Cty. of Greenville v. Rite Aid of S.C., Inc., et al., SC Ct. of Common Pleas, 13th Judicial Dist., 3/5/2018; Big Sandy Rancheria of W. Mono Indians v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 3/2/2018; Consolidated Tribal Health Project, Inc. v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 3/2/2018; Robinson Rancheria v.McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 3/2/2018; Round Valley Indian Tribes; Round Valley Indian Health Center, Inc. v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 3/2/2018; Hopland Band of Pomo Indians v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 2/21/2018; Redwood Valley or Little River Band of Pomo Indians of Redwood Valley Rancheria v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 2/21/2018; Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 2/21/2018; Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 2/13/2018; Guidiville Rancheria of Cal. v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 2/13/2018; Odyssey House La., Inc. v. Morris & Dickson Co., et al., LA Civil Dist. Ct., New Orleans Parish, 2/6/2018; Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians v. McKesson Corp., et al., CA Superior Ct., San Francisco County, 1/29/2018; Cty. Comm'n of Mingo Cty. v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Mingo County, 1/18/2018; Brooke Cty. Comm'n v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Marshall County, 12/13/2017; Hancock Cty. Comm'n v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Marshall County, 12/13/2017; Harrison Cty. Comm'n v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Marshall County, 12/13/2017; Lewis Cty. Comm'n v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Marshall County, 12/13/2017; Marshall Cty. Comm'n v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Marshall County, 12/13/2017; Ohio Cty. Comm'n v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Marshall County, 12/13/2017; Tyler Cty. Comm'n v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Marshall County, 12/13/2017; Wetzel Cty. Comm'n v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., WV Circuit Ct., Marshall County, 12/13/2017.
II. CERTAIN OTHER PROCEEDINGS: The Company is a defendant in several lawsuits in which the complaints closely track the allegations set forth in a news story that appeared in The New York Times (the "Times") on April 21, 2012. One of these is a securities lawsuit that was filed on May 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, and subsequently transferred to the Western District of Arkansas, in which the plaintiff alleges various violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the "FCPA") beginning in 2005, and asserts violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, relating to certain prior disclosures of the Company. The plaintiff seeks to represent a class of shareholders who purchased or acquired stock of the Company between December 8, 2011, and April 20, 2012, and seeks damages and other relief based on allegations that the defendants' conduct affected the value of such stock. On September 20, 2016, the court granted plaintiff's motion for class certification. On October 6, 2016, the defendants filed a petition to appeal the class certification ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. On November 7, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit denied the Company's petition.
In addition, a number of derivative complaints have been filed in Delaware and Arkansas, also tracking the allegations of the Times story, and naming various current and former directors and certain former officers as additional defendants. The plaintiffs in the derivative suits (in which the Company is a nominal defendant) allege, among other things, that the defendants who are or were directors or officers of the Company breached their fiduciary duties in connection with their oversight of FCPA compliance. All of the derivative suits have been combined into two consolidated proceedings, one of which was consolidated
in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas and the other in the Delaware Court of Chancery. On March 31, 2015, the Western District of Arkansas granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the consolidated derivative proceedings in that court. On April 15, 2015, plaintiffs filed their notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. On July 22, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the consolidated derivative proceedings in Arkansas. There was no appeal from that ruling. On May 13, 2016, the Delaware Court of Chancery granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the consolidated derivative proceedings in that court. On June 10, 2016, plaintiffs in the Delaware consolidated derivative proceedings filed their notice of appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court. On January 25, 2018, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of the consolidated derivative proceedings in Delaware.
Management does not believe any possible loss or the range of any possible loss that may be incurred in connection with these proceedings will be material to the Company's financial condition or results of operations.
Securities Class Action: City of Pontiac General Employees Retirement System v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., USDC, Western Dist. of AR; 5/7/12.
Derivative Lawsuits: In re Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Delaware Derivative Litigation, Delaware Ct. of Chancery, 4/25/12; Delaware Supreme Court, Dover, DE; 6/10/16.
III. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS: Item 103 of SEC Regulation S-K requires disclosure of certain environmental matters. The following matters are disclosed in accordance with that requirement. For the matters listed below, management does not believe any possible loss or the range of any possible loss that may be incurred in connection with each matter, individually or in the aggregate, will be material to the Company's financial condition or results of operations.
On January 25, 2018, the Environmental Prosecutor of the State of Chiapas (Procuraduría Ambiental del Estado de Chiapas) in Mexico imposed a fine of $163,000 for the absence of an Environmental Impact Authorization License related to the store Mi Bodega Las Rosas. The Company plans to challenge the fine before an administrative court.
In May 2017, WMS Supermercados do Brasil Ltda ("Walmart Brazil") self-reported to the relevant municipal environmental agency, and proposed a remediation plan for, an oil contamination in the soil and underground water at the Walmart and Sam's Club store location in Barueri, São Paulo (Tamboré), which contamination had been confirmed by an internal investigation in April 2017. Walmart Brazil is cooperating with the agency, including seeking authorization to start a remediation plan.
In April 2017, the California Air Resources Board ("ARB") notified the Company that it had taken the position that retailers are required to use unclaimed deposits collected on sales of small containers of automotive refrigerant to fund certain consumer education programs. The ARB alleged that the Company had improperly retained approximately $4.2 million in unclaimed deposits and has sought reimbursement. The Company has denied any wrongdoing.
In November and December 2016, the Environmental and Natural History Ministry of Chiapas, Mexico ("Ministry") notified a subsidiary of the Company, Arrendadora de Centros Comerciales, S. de R.L. de C.V. ("Arrendadora"), that it was proposing aggregated penalties approximating $430,000 in respect to four stores which the Ministry believed may have been constructed without first obtaining a required environmental impact license. Arrendadora has challenged the penalties before an administrative court and the trials are in process. The Ministry had previously proposed penalties of approximately $640,000 related to this matter in 2014, but Arrendadora was released by an administrative court from payment of such penalties on the basis that the Ministry had failed to comply with legal formalities in connection with their imposition.
On April 6, 2015, representatives for the Brazilian Institute of the Environment alleged that Walmart Brazil had failed to file required reports documenting the number of tires imported, sold and recycled. The agency proposed a penalty of approximately $857,000, which may be doubled and excludes additional amounts in respect of inflation and interest, and prohibited Walmart Brazil from selling or importing tires until the matter is resolved. In October 2015, Walmart Brazil filed its defense with the agency against the imposition of this penalty.
In April 2013, a subsidiary of the Company, Corporacion de Compañias Agroindustriales, operating in Costa Rica, became aware that the Municipality of Curridabat is seeking a penalty of approximately $380,000 in connection with the construction of a retaining wall seventeen years ago for a perishables distribution center that is situated along a protected river bank. The subsidiary obtained permits from the Municipality and the Secretaria Técnica Nacional Ambiental at the time of construction, but the Municipality now alleges that the wall is non-conforming.
In January 2011, the Environmental Department of Porto Alegre Municipality formally notified Walmart Brazil of soil inspection reports indicating soil contamination due to leakage of oil from power generating equipment at nine store locations in Brazil. Walmart Brazil is cooperating with the agency as well as the District Attorney's Office for the State of Rio Grande do Sul and has filed a mitigation plan to address the situation.
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ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
Not applicable.
PART II
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ITEM 5. | MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
Market for Common Stock
Walmart's common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, which is the primary market for Walmart's common stock. The common stock trades under the symbol "WMT."
Market Price of Common Stock
The high market price and low market price per share for the Company's common stock for each fiscal quarter in fiscal 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
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| | 2018 | | 2017 |
| | High | | Low | | High | | Low |
1st Quarter | | $ | 75.77 |
| | $ | 66.04 |
| | $ | 70.08 |
| | $ | 62.35 |
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2nd Quarter | | 80.47 |
| | 73.13 |
| | 74.35 |
| | 62.72 |
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3rd Quarter | | 89.11 |
| | 77.50 |
| | 75.19 |
| | 67.07 |
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4th Quarter | | 109.98 |
| | 87.00 |
| | 72.48 |
| | 65.28 |
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The high market price and low market price per share for the Company's common stock for the first fiscal quarter of fiscal 2019, were as follows:
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| 2019 |
| High | | Low |
1st Quarter(1) | $ | 106.56 |
| | $ | 85.28 |
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(1) | Through March 28, 2018. |
Holders of Record of Common Stock
As of March 28, 2018, there were 229,858 holders of record of Walmart's common stock.
Dividends Payable Per Share
For fiscal 2019, dividends will be paid based on the following schedule:
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April 2, 2018 | $ | 0.52 |
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June 4, 2018 | 0.52 |
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September 4, 2018 | 0.52 |
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January 2, 2019 | 0.52 |
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Dividends Paid Per Share
For fiscal 2018, dividends were paid based on the following schedule:
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April 3, 2017 | $ | 0.51 |
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June 5, 2017 | 0.51 |
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September 5, 2017 | 0.51 |
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January 2, 2018 | 0.51 |
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For fiscal 2017, dividends were paid based on the following schedule:
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April 4, 2016 | $ | 0.50 |
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June 6, 2016 | 0.50 |
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September 6, 2016 | 0.50 |
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January 3, 2017 | 0.50 |
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Stock Performance Chart
This graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on Walmart's common stock during the five fiscal years ending with fiscal 2018 to the cumulative total returns on the S&P 500 Retailing Index and the S&P 500 Index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on February 1, 2013, in shares of our common stock and in each of the indices shown and assumes that all of the dividends were reinvested.
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*Assumes $100 Invested on February 1, 2013 Assumes Dividends Reinvested Fiscal Year Ending January 31, 2018
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| Fiscal Years Ended January 31, |
| 2013 |
| 2014 |
| 2015 |
| 2016 |
| 2017 |
| 2018 |
Walmart Inc. | $ | 100.00 |
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| $ | 109.39 |
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| $ | 127.58 |
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| $ | 102.39 |
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| $ | 105.97 |
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| $ | 173.61 |
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S&P 500 Index | 100.00 |
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| 121.52 |
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| 138.80 |
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| 137.88 |
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| 165.51 |
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| 209.22 |
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S&P 500 Retailing Index | 100.00 |
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| 127.72 |
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| 153.64 |
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| 184.32 |
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| 218.76 |
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| 321.37 |
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
From time to time, we repurchase shares of our common stock under share repurchase programs authorized by the Company's Board of Directors. All repurchases made during the fiscal year prior to November 20, 2017 were made under the plan in effect at the beginning of fiscal 2018. On October 9, 2017, the Board of Directors approved a new $20.0 billion share repurchase program which, beginning on November 20, 2017, replaced the previous share repurchase program. As of January 31, 2018, authorization for $18.8 billion of share repurchases remained under the current share repurchase program. Any repurchased shares are constructively retired and returned to an unissued status.
Share repurchase activity under our share repurchase programs, on a trade date basis, for each month in the quarter ended January 31, 2018, was as follows:
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Fiscal Period | | Total Number of Shares Repurchased | | Average Price Paid per Share (in dollars) | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(1) (in billions) |
November 1-30, 2017 | | 6,816,775 |
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