Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
ý
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the quarterly period ended October 31, 2016.
or
o
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the transition period from              to             .
Commission file number 1-6991
image2a08.jpg
WAL-MART STORES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
71-0415188
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
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
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report: N/A
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ý   No  o
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  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
 
ý
  
Accelerated Filer
 
o
Non-Accelerated Filer
 
o
  
Smaller Reporting Company
 
o
Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  o    No  ý
The registrant had 3,073,190,306 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 28, 2016.



Table of Contents

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Form 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended October 31, 2016



Table of Contents
 
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



2


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions, except per share data)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
117,176

 
$
116,598

 
$
351,567

 
$
349,930

Membership and other income
 
1,003

 
810

 
3,370

 
2,533

Total revenues
 
118,179

 
117,408

 
354,937

 
352,463

Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
87,484

 
87,446

 
263,513

 
263,985

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses
 
25,576

 
24,248

 
74,865

 
71,015

Operating income
 
5,119

 
5,714

 
16,559

 
17,463

Interest:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt
 
528

 
509

 
1,536

 
1,555

Capital lease and financing obligations
 
81

 
64

 
246

 
428

Interest income
 
(24
)
 
(21
)
 
(70
)
 
(64
)
Interest, net
 
585

 
552

 
1,712

 
1,919

Income before income taxes
 
4,534

 
5,162

 
14,847

 
15,544

Provision for income taxes
 
1,332

 
1,748

 
4,540

 
5,212

Consolidated net income
 
3,202

 
3,414

 
10,307

 
10,332

Consolidated net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
(168
)
 
(110
)
 
(421
)
 
(212
)
Consolidated net income attributable to Walmart
 
$
3,034

 
$
3,304

 
$
9,886

 
$
10,120

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net income per common share attributable to Walmart
 
$
0.98

 
$
1.03

 
$
3.17

 
$
3.14

Diluted net income per common share attributable to Walmart
 
0.98

 
1.03

 
3.16

 
3.13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
3,089

 
3,210

 
3,114

 
3,221

Diluted
 
3,100

 
3,219

 
3,124

 
3,231

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per common share
 
$

 
$

 
$
2.00

 
$
1.96

See accompanying notes.

3


Table of Contents

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Consolidated net income
$
3,202

 
$
3,414

 
$
10,307

 
$
10,332

Less consolidated net income attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest
(168
)
 
(110
)
 
(421
)
 
(212
)
Consolidated net income attributable to Walmart
3,034

 
3,304

 
9,886

 
10,120

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency translation and other
(757
)
 
(2,694
)
 
(1,086
)
 
(3,941
)
Net investment hedges
258

 
182

 
468

 
101

Cash flow hedges
(179
)
 
(56
)
 
(123
)
 
(75
)
Minimum pension liability
17

 
(1
)
 
(89
)
 
73

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
(661
)
 
(2,569
)
 
(830
)
 
(3,842
)
Less other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest
(2
)
 
298

 
92

 
351

Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Walmart
(663
)
 
(2,271
)
 
(738
)
 
(3,491
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income, net of income taxes
2,541

 
845

 
9,477

 
6,490

Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest
(170
)
 
188

 
(329
)
 
139

Comprehensive income attributable to Walmart
$
2,371

 
$
1,033

 
$
9,148

 
$
6,629

See accompanying notes.

4


Table of Contents

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
 
 
October 31,
 
January 31,
 
October 31,
(Amounts in millions)
 
2016
 
2016
 
2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
5,939

 
$
8,705

 
$
6,990

Receivables, net
 
5,344

 
5,624

 
5,012

Inventories
 
49,822

 
44,469

 
50,706

Prepaid expenses and other
 
2,296

 
1,441

 
2,404

Total current assets
 
63,401

 
60,239

 
65,112

Property and equipment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment
 
179,667

 
176,958

 
176,660

Less accumulated depreciation
 
(70,991
)
 
(66,787
)
 
(65,825
)
Property and equipment, net
 
108,676

 
110,171

 
110,835

Property under capital lease and financing obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property under capital lease and financing obligations
 
11,482

 
11,096

 
10,948

Less accumulated amortization
 
(5,070
)
 
(4,751
)
 
(4,827
)
Property under capital lease and financing obligations, net
 
6,412

 
6,345

 
6,121

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill
 
17,792

 
16,695

 
17,051

Other assets and deferred charges
 
10,576

 
6,131

 
6,025

Total assets
 
$
206,857

 
$
199,581

 
$
205,144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings
 
$
5,082

 
$
2,708

 
$
4,960

Accounts payable
 
42,990

 
38,487

 
40,553

Dividends payable
 
1,541

 

 
1,589

Accrued liabilities
 
21,243

 
19,607

 
19,499

Accrued income taxes
 
459

 
521

 
587

Long-term debt due within one year
 
2,266

 
2,745

 
2,746

Capital lease and financing obligations due within one year
 
549

 
551

 
558

Total current liabilities
 
74,130

 
64,619

 
70,492

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
36,178

 
38,214

 
38,617

Long-term capital lease and financing obligations
 
5,930

 
5,816

 
5,581

Deferred income taxes and other
 
10,144

 
7,321

 
7,824

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
308

 
317

 
321

Capital in excess of par value
 
2,084

 
1,805

 
2,006

Retained earnings
 
87,636

 
90,021

 
87,903

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(12,335
)
 
(11,597
)
 
(10,659
)
Total Walmart shareholders' equity
 
77,693

 
80,546

 
79,571

Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest
 
2,782

 
3,065

 
3,059

Total equity
 
80,475

 
83,611

 
82,630

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
206,857

 
$
199,581

 
$
205,144

See accompanying notes.

5


Table of Contents

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital in
 
 
 
Other
 
Walmart
 
Nonredeemable
 
 
(Amounts in millions)
Common Stock
 
Excess of
 
Retained
 
Comprehensive
 
Shareholders'
 
Noncontrolling
 
Total
Shares
 
Amount
 
Par Value
 
Earnings
 
Loss
 
Equity
 
Interest
 
Equity
Balances as of February 1, 2016
3,162

 
$
317

 
$
1,805

 
$
90,021

 
$
(11,597
)
 
$
80,546

 
$
3,065

 
$
83,611

Consolidated net income

 

 

 
9,886

 

 
9,886

 
421

 
10,307

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes

 

 

 

 
(738
)
 
(738
)
 
(92
)
 
(830
)
Cash dividends declared ($2.00 per share)

 

 

 
(6,221
)
 

 
(6,221
)
 

 
(6,221
)
Purchase of Company stock
(89
)
 
(9
)
 
(125
)
 
(6,044
)
 

 
(6,178
)
 

 
(6,178
)
Cash dividend declared to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 
(522
)
 
(522
)
Other
6

 

 
404

 
(6
)
 

 
398

 
(90
)
 
308

Balances as of October 31, 2016
3,079

 
$
308

 
$
2,084

 
$
87,636

 
$
(12,335
)
 
$
77,693

 
$
2,782

 
$
80,475

See accompanying notes.

6


Table of Contents

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions)
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
 
$
10,307

 
$
10,332

Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
7,374

 
7,023

Deferred income taxes
 
1,167

 
(987
)
Other operating activities
 
(387
)
 
644

Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
 
 
 
 
Receivables, net
 
271

 
783

Inventories
 
(5,516
)
 
(6,637
)
Accounts payable
 
5,121

 
3,603

Accrued liabilities
 
1,256

 
662

Accrued income taxes
 
51

 
(418
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
19,644

 
15,005

 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Payments for property and equipment
 
(7,459
)
 
(8,223
)
Proceeds from the disposal of property and equipment
 
783

 
362

Proceeds from the disposal of certain operations
 

 
246

Purchase of available for sale securities
 
(1,901
)
 

Investment and business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 
(2,406
)
 

Other investing activities
 
(67
)
 
48

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(11,050
)
 
(7,567
)
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Net change in short-term borrowings
 
2,302

 
3,537

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
 
134

 
41

Payments of long-term debt
 
(2,040
)
 
(4,422
)
Dividends paid
 
(4,682
)
 
(4,728
)
Purchase of Company stock
 
(6,254
)
 
(1,720
)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest
 
(320
)
 
(609
)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest
 
(89
)
 
(890
)
Other financing activities
 
(186
)
 
(468
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(11,135
)
 
(9,259
)
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
 
(225
)
 
(324
)
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
(2,766
)
 
(2,145
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
8,705

 
9,135

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
5,939

 
$
6,990

See accompanying notes.

7


Table of Contents

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1. Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Walmart" or the "Company") and the accompanying notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been included. Such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and the accompanying notes, are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") and do not contain certain information included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016. Therefore, the interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with that Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are based on a fiscal year ending on January 31 for the United States ("U.S.") and Canadian operations. The Company consolidates all other operations generally using a one-month lag and based on a calendar year. There were no significant intervening events during the month of October 2016 related to the operations consolidated using a lag that materially affected the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company's business is seasonal to a certain extent due to calendar events and national and religious holidays, as well as weather patterns. Historically, the Company's highest sales volume and operating income have occurred in the fiscal quarter ending January 31.
Receivables
Receivables are stated at their carrying values, net of a reserve for doubtful accounts. Receivables consist primarily of amounts due from:
insurance companies resulting from pharmacy sales;
banks for customer credit and debit cards and electronic bank transfers that take in excess of seven days to process;
consumer financing programs in certain international operations;
suppliers for marketing or incentive programs; and
real estate transactions.
The Walmart International segment offers a limited number of consumer credit products, primarily through its financial institutions in Canada and Chile to customers in those markets. The receivable balance from consumer credit products was $1.2 billion, net of a reserve for doubtful accounts of $77 million at October 31, 2016, compared to a receivable balance of $1.0 billion, net of a reserve for doubtful accounts of $70 million at January 31, 2016. These balances are included in receivables, net, in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Inventories
The Company values inventories at the lower of cost or market as determined primarily by the retail inventory method of accounting, using the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method for substantially all of the Walmart U.S. segment's inventories. The inventory at the Walmart International segment is valued primarily by the retail inventory method of accounting, using the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. The retail inventory method of accounting results in inventory being valued at the lower of cost or market, since permanent markdowns are immediately recorded as a reduction of the retail value of inventory. The inventory at the Sam's Club segment is valued using the LIFO method. At October 31, 2016 and January 31, 2016, the Company's inventories valued at LIFO approximated those inventories as if they were valued at FIFO.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Revenue Recognition
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Subsequently, FASB issued ASUs in 2016 containing implementation guidance related to ASU 2014-09, including: ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which is intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations; ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which is intended to clarify two aspects of Topic 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance; and ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts

8


Table of Contents

with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which contains certain practical expedients in response to identified implementation issues. The Company is planning to adopt ASU 2014-09 and related ASUs on February 1, 2018. Companies may use either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adopt these ASUs. Management is currently evaluating these ASUs, including which transition approach to use, but does not expect these ASUs to materially impact the Company's consolidated net income, financial position or cash flows.
Leases
In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). FASB issued ASU 2016-02 to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required, as well as a retrospective recognition and measurement of impacted leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company's consolidated net income, financial position, cash flows and disclosures.
Financial Instruments
In January 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments–Overall (Topic 825). ASU 2016-01 updates certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company's consolidated net income, financial position and disclosures.
In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments–Credit Losses (Topic 326). ASU 2016-13 modifies the measurement of expected credit losses of certain financial instruments. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2019. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company's consolidated net income, financial position, cash flows and disclosures.
Stock Compensation
In March 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718). ASU 2016-09 includes new guidance on stock compensation, which is intended to simplify accounting for share-based payment transactions. The guidance will change several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and minimum statutory tax withholding requirements. Management has determined that the Company will adopt ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of the year ended January 31, 2018 ("Fiscal 2018"). Management has evaluated this ASU and determined that, upon adoption, it will have an immaterial retrospective impact on the classification of cash flows between operating and financing activities.

Note 2. Net Income Per Common Share
Basic income per common share attributable to Walmart is based on the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the relevant period. Diluted income per common share attributable to Walmart is based on the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the relevant period adjusted for the dilutive effect of share-based awards. The Company did not have significant share-based awards outstanding that were antidilutive and not included in the calculation of diluted income per common share attributable to Walmart for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016 and 2015.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used to determine basic and diluted income per common share attributable to Walmart:
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions, except per share data)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Numerator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
 
$
3,202

 
$
3,414

 
$
10,307

 
$
10,332

Consolidated net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
(168
)
 
(110
)
 
(421
)
 
(212
)
Consolidated net income attributable to Walmart
 
$
3,034

 
$
3,304

 
$
9,886

 
$
10,120

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic
 
3,089

 
3,210

 
3,114

 
3,221

Dilutive impact of stock options and other share-based awards
 
11

 
9

 
10

 
10

Weighted-average common shares outstanding, diluted
 
3,100

 
3,219

 
3,124

 
3,231


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share attributable to Walmart
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.98

 
$
1.03

 
$
3.17

 
$
3.14

Diluted
 
0.98

 
1.03

 
3.16

 
3.13



9


Table of Contents

Note 3. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following table provides the changes in the composition of total accumulated other comprehensive loss for the nine months ended October 31, 2016:
(Amounts in millions and net of income taxes)
 
Currency Translation
and Other
 
Net Investment Hedges
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Minimum
Pension Liability
 
Total
Balances as of February 1, 2016
 
$
(11,690
)
 
$
1,022

 
$
(336
)
 
$
(593
)
 
$
(11,597
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
 
(994
)
 
468

 
(151
)
 
(83
)
 
(760
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
 

 

 
28

 
(6
)
 
22

Balances as of October 31, 2016
 
$
(12,684
)
 
$
1,490

 
$
(459
)
 
$
(682
)
 
$
(12,335
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss for derivative instruments are recorded in interest, net, in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, and the amounts for the minimum pension liability are recorded in operating, selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Note 4. Long-term Debt
The following table provides the changes in the Company's long-term debt for the nine months ended October 31, 2016:
(Amounts in millions)
 
Long-term debt due within one year
 
Long-term debt
 
Total
Balances as of February 1, 2016
 
$
2,745

 
$
38,214

 
$
40,959

Proceeds from long-term debt
 

 
134

 
134

Repayments of long-term debt
 
(2,040
)
 

 
(2,040
)
Reclassifications of long-term debt
 
1,500

 
(1,500
)
 

Other
 
61

 
(670
)
 
(609
)
Balances as of October 31, 2016
 
$
2,266

 
$
36,178

 
$
38,444

Issuances
The Company did not have any material long-term debt issuances during the nine months ended October 31, 2016, but received proceeds from a number of small, immaterial long-term debt issuances by several of its non-U.S. operations.
Maturities
During the nine months ended October 31, 2016, the following long-term debt matured and was repaid:
(Amounts in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maturity Date
 
Principal Amount
 
Fixed vs. Floating
 
Interest Rate
 
Repayment
April 11, 2016
 
1,000 USD
 
Fixed
 
0.600%
 
$
1,000

April 15, 2016
 
1,000 USD
 
Fixed
 
2.800%
 
1,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
2,000

The Company also repaid other, smaller long-term debt as it matured in several of its non-U.S. operations.


10


Table of Contents

Note 5. Fair Value Measurements
The Company records and discloses certain financial and non-financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The fair value of an asset is the price at which the asset could be sold in an ordinary transaction between unrelated, knowledgeable and willing parties able to engage in the transaction. The fair value of a liability is the amount that would be paid to transfer the liability to a new obligor in a transaction between such parties, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are measured using the fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are:
Level 1: observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
Level 3: unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring the Company to develop its own assumptions.
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
The Company holds derivative instruments that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair values are the estimated amounts the Company would receive or pay upon termination of the related derivative agreements as of the reporting dates. The fair values have been measured using the income approach and Level 2 inputs, which include the relevant interest rate and foreign currency forward curves. As of October 31, 2016 and January 31, 2016, the notional amounts and fair values of these derivatives were as follows:
 
October 31, 2016
 
January 31, 2016
(Amounts in millions)
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value
Receive fixed-rate, pay variable-rate interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges
$
5,000

 
$
172

 
$
5,000

 
$
173

Receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges
1,250

 
532

 
1,250

 
319

Receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency swaps designated as cash flow hedges
3,970

 
(837
)
 
4,132

 
(609
)
Total
$
10,220

 
$
(133
)
 
$
10,382

 
$
(117
)
Additionally, the Company has available-for-sale securities that are measured at fair value on recurring basis using Level 1 inputs. Changes in fair value are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements
In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company's assets and liabilities are also subject to nonrecurring fair value measurements. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges. The Company did not record any significant impairment charges to assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, or for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016.
Other Fair Value Disclosures
The Company records cash and cash equivalents and short-term borrowings at cost. The carrying values of these instruments approximate their fair value due to their short-term maturities.
The Company's long-term debt is also recorded at cost. The fair value is estimated using Level 2 inputs based on the Company's current incremental borrowing rate for similar types of borrowing arrangements. The carrying value and fair value of the Company's long-term debt as of October 31, 2016 and January 31, 2016, are as follows: 
 
 
October 31, 2016
 
January 31, 2016
(Amounts in millions)
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Long-term debt, including amounts due within one year
 
$
38,444

 
$
46,797

 
$
40,959

 
$
46,965



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Note 6. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company uses derivative financial instruments for hedging and non-trading purposes to manage its exposure to changes in interest and currency exchange rates, as well as to maintain an appropriate mix of fixed- and variable-rate debt. Use of derivative financial instruments in hedging programs subjects the Company to certain risks, such as market and credit risks. Market risk represents the possibility that the value of the derivative financial instrument will change. In a hedging relationship, the change in the value of the derivative financial instrument is offset to a great extent by the change in the value of the underlying hedged item. Credit risk related to a derivative financial instrument represents the possibility that the counterparty will not fulfill the terms of the contract. The notional, or contractual, amount of the Company's derivative financial instruments is used to measure interest to be paid or received and does not represent the Company's exposure due to credit risk. Credit risk is monitored through established approval procedures, including setting concentration limits by counterparty, reviewing credit ratings and requiring collateral (generally cash) from the counterparty when appropriate.
The Company only enters into derivative transactions with counterparties rated "A-" or better by nationally recognized credit rating agencies. Subsequent to entering into derivative transactions, the Company regularly monitors the credit ratings of its counterparties. In connection with various derivative agreements, including master netting arrangements, the Company held cash collateral from counterparties of $266 million and $345 million at October 31, 2016 and January 31, 2016, respectively. The Company records cash collateral received as amounts due to the counterparties exclusive of any derivative asset. Furthermore, as part of the master netting arrangements with each of these counterparties, the Company is also required to post collateral with a counterparty if the Company's net derivative liability position exceeds $150 million with such counterparties. The Company did not have any cash collateral posted with counterparties at October 31, 2016, however, the Company did have an insignificant amount of cash collateral posted with counterparties at January 31, 2016. The Company records cash collateral it posts with counterparties as amounts receivable from those counterparties exclusive of any derivative liability.
The Company uses derivative financial instruments for the purpose of hedging its exposure to interest and currency exchange rate risks and, accordingly, the contractual terms of a hedged instrument closely mirror those of the hedged item, providing a high degree of risk reduction and correlation. Contracts that are effective at meeting the risk reduction and correlation criteria are recorded using hedge accounting. If a derivative financial instrument is recorded using hedge accounting, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the instrument will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Any hedge ineffectiveness is immediately recognized in earnings. The Company's net investment and cash flow instruments are highly effective hedges and the ineffective portion has not been, and is not expected to be, significant. Instruments that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, or contracts for which the Company has not elected hedge accounting, are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in earnings during the period of the change.
Fair Value Instruments
The Company is a party to receive fixed-rate, pay variable-rate interest rate swaps that the Company uses to hedge the fair value of fixed-rate debt. The notional amounts are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not represent the Company's exposure due to credit loss. The Company's interest rate swaps that receive fixed-interest rate payments and pay variable-interest rate payments are designated as fair value hedges. As the specific terms and notional amounts of the derivative instruments match those of the fixed-rate debt being hedged, the derivative instruments are assumed to be perfectly effective hedges. Changes in the fair values of these derivative instruments are recorded in earnings, but are offset by corresponding changes in the fair values of the hedged items, also recorded in earnings, and, accordingly, do not impact the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. These fair value instruments will mature on dates ranging from October 2020 to April 2024.
Net Investment Instruments
The Company is a party to cross-currency interest rate swaps that the Company uses to hedge its net investments. The agreements are contracts to exchange fixed-rate payments in one currency for fixed-rate payments in another currency. All changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, offsetting the currency translation adjustment of the related investment that is also recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. These instruments will mature on dates ranging from October 2023 to February 2030.
The Company has issued foreign-currency-denominated long-term debt as hedges of net investments of certain of its foreign operations. These foreign-currency-denominated long-term debt issuances are designated and qualify as nonderivative hedging instruments. Accordingly, the foreign currency translation of these debt instruments is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, offsetting the foreign currency translation adjustment of the related net investments that is also recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. At October 31, 2016 and January 31, 2016, the Company had ¥10 billion of outstanding long-term debt designated as a hedge of its net investment in Japan, as well as outstanding long-term debt of £2.5 billion at October 31, 2016 and January 31, 2016 that was designated as a hedge of its net investment in the United Kingdom. These nonderivative net investment hedges will mature on dates ranging from July 2020 to January 2039.

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Cash Flow Instruments
The Company is a party to receive fixed-rate, pay fixed-rate cross-currency interest rate swaps to hedge the currency exposure associated with the forecasted payments of principal and interest of certain non-U.S. denominated debt. The swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of the currency risk related to payments on the non-U.S. denominated debt. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges of foreign exchange risk is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The hedged items are recognized foreign currency-denominated liabilities that are re-measured at spot exchange rates each period, and the assessment of effectiveness (and measurement of any ineffectiveness) is based on total changes in the related derivative's cash flows. As a result, the amount reclassified into earnings each period includes an amount that offsets the related transaction gain or loss arising from that re-measurement and the adjustment to earnings for the period's allocable portion of the initial spot-forward difference associated with the hedging instrument. These cash flow instruments will mature on dates ranging from April 2022 to March 2034.
Financial Statement Presentation
Although subject to master netting arrangements, the Company does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Derivative instruments with an unrealized gain are recorded in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as either current or non-current assets, based on maturity date, and those hedging instruments with an unrealized loss are recorded as either current or non-current liabilities, based on maturity date. Refer to Note 5 for the net presentation of the Company's derivative instruments.
The Company's derivative instruments, as well as its nonderivative debt instruments designated and qualifying as net investment hedges, were classified as follows in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
 
October 31, 2016
 
January 31, 2016
(Amounts in millions)
Fair Value
Instruments
 
Net Investment
Instruments
 
Cash Flow
Instruments
 
Fair Value
Instruments
 
Net Investment
Instruments
 
Cash Flow
Instruments
Derivative instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets and deferred charges
$
172

 
$
532

 
$

 
$
173

 
$
319

 
$
129

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred income taxes and other

 

 
837

 

 

 
738

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonderivative hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt

 
3,142

 

 

 
3,644

 

Gains and losses related to the Company's derivatives primarily relate to interest rate hedges, which are recorded in interest, net, in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Amounts related to the Company's derivatives expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income during the next 12 months are not significant.


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Note 7. Share Repurchases
From time to time, the Company repurchases shares of its common stock under share repurchase programs authorized by the Company's Board of Directors. The current $20.0 billion share repurchase program has no expiration date or other restrictions limiting the period over which the Company can make share repurchases. At October 31, 2016, authorization for $11.3 billion of share repurchases remained under the current share repurchase program. Any repurchased shares are constructively retired and returned to an unissued status.
The Company considers several factors in determining when to execute share repurchases, including, among other things, current cash needs, capacity for leverage, cost of borrowings and the market price of its common stock. The following table provides, on a settlement date basis, the number of shares repurchased, average price paid per share and total amount paid for share repurchases for the nine months ended October 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions, except per share data)
 
2016
 
2015
Total number of shares repurchased
 
90.6

 
23.2

Average price paid per share
 
$
69.04

 
$
74.20

Total amount paid for share repurchases
 
$
6,254

 
$
1,720


Note 8. Common Stock Dividends
Dividends Declared
On February 18, 2016, the Board of Directors approved the fiscal 2017 annual dividend of $2.00 per share, an increase over the fiscal 2016 annual dividend of $1.96 per share. For fiscal 2017, the annual dividend will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.50 per share, according to the following record and payable dates:
Record Date
  
Payable Date
March 11, 2016
  
April 4, 2016
May 13, 2016
  
June 6, 2016
August 12, 2016
  
September 6, 2016
December 9, 2016
  
January 3, 2017

The dividend installments payable on April 4, 2016, June 6, 2016 and September 6, 2016 were paid as scheduled.

Note 9. Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in a number of legal proceedings. The Company has made accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. For some matters, a liability is not probable or the amount cannot be reasonably estimated and therefore an accrual has not been made. However, where a liability is reasonably possible and may be material, such matters have been disclosed. The Company may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these matters, and may enter into settlement agreements, if it believes settlement is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders.
Unless stated otherwise, the matters, or groups of related matters, discussed below, if decided adversely to or settled by the Company, individually or in the aggregate, may result in a liability material to the Company's financial condition or results of operations.
ASDA Equal Value Claims: ASDA Stores, Ltd. ("ASDA"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, is a defendant in over 8,000 "equal value" claims that are proceeding before an Employment Tribunal in Manchester (the "Employment Tribunal") in the United Kingdom ("UK") on behalf of current and former ASDA store employees, who 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 warehouse and distribution facilities, and that the disparity in pay between these different job positions is not objectively justified. Claimants are requesting differential back pay based on higher wage rates in the warehouse and distribution facilities and those higher wage rates on a prospective basis as part of these equal value proceedings. ASDA believes that further claims may be asserted in the near future. On March 23, 2015, ASDA asked the Employment Tribunal to stay all proceedings and to "strike out" substantially all of the claims. On July 23, 2015, the Employment Tribunal denied ASDA's requests. Following additional proceedings, the Employment Appeal Tribunal agreed to review the "strike out" issue and the Court of Appeals agreed to review the stay issue. On May 26, 2016, the Court of Appeals denied ASDA's appeal of the stay issue. On October 14, 2016, following a preliminary hearing, the Employment Tribunal ruled that claimants could compare their positions in ASDA's retail stores with those of employees in ASDA's warehouse and distribution facilities. Claimants will now proceed to the next phase of their claims. That phase will determine whether the

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work performed by the claimants is of equal value to the work performed by employees in ASDA's warehouse and distribution facilities. On November 23, 2016, ASDA filed a request with the Employment Appeal Tribunal to hear an appeal of the October 14, 2016 ruling. At present, the Company 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. The Company believes it has substantial factual and legal defenses to these claims, and intends to defend the claims vigorously.
FCPA Investigation and Related Matters
The Audit Committee (the "Audit Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company, which is composed solely of independent directors, has been conducting an internal investigation into, among other things, alleged violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") and other alleged crimes or misconduct in connection with 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. The Audit Committee and the Company have engaged outside counsel from a number of law firms and other advisors who are assisting in the on-going investigation of these matters.
The Company has also been conducting a voluntary global review of its policies, practices and internal controls for anti-corruption compliance. The Company is engaged in strengthening its global anti-corruption compliance program through appropriate remedial anti-corruption measures.  In November 2011, the Company voluntarily disclosed that investigative activity to the U.S. Department of Justice (the "DOJ") and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Since the implementation of the global review and the enhanced anti-corruption compliance program, the Audit Committee and the Company have identified or been made aware of additional allegations regarding potential violations of the FCPA. When such allegations have been reported or identified, the Audit Committee and the Company, together with their third party advisors, have conducted inquiries and when warranted based on those inquiries, opened investigations. Inquiries or investigations regarding allegations of potential FCPA violations were commenced in a number of foreign markets where the Company operates, including, but not limited to, Brazil, China and India.
As previously disclosed, the Company is under investigation by the DOJ and the SEC regarding possible violations of the FCPA. The Company has been cooperating with the agencies and discussions have begun with them regarding the resolution of these matters. As these discussions are preliminary, the Company cannot currently predict the timing, the outcome or the impact of a possible resolution of these matters.
A number of federal and local government agencies in Mexico have also initiated investigations of these matters. Walmex is cooperating with the Mexican governmental agencies conducting these investigations. Furthermore, lawsuits relating to the matters under investigation have been filed by several of the Company's shareholders against it, certain of its current directors, certain of its former directors, certain of its current and former officers and certain of Walmex's current and former officers.
The Company could be exposed to a variety of negative consequences as a result of the matters noted above. There could be one or more enforcement actions 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 and the shareholder lawsuits referenced above may result in judgments against the Company and its current and former directors and officers named in those proceedings. The Company expects that there will be on-going media and governmental interest, including additional news articles from media publications on these matters, which could impact the perception among certain audiences of the Company's role as a corporate citizen.
In addition, the Company has incurred and expects 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 the review and investigations. These costs will be expensed as incurred. For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company incurred the following third-party expenses in connection with the FCPA investigation and related matters:
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Ongoing inquiries and investigations
 
$
24

 
$
22

 
$
68

 
$
70

Global compliance program and organizational enhancements
 
5

 
8

 
14

 
23

Total
 
$
29

 
$
30

 
$
82

 
$
93

While the Company believes that it is probable that it will incur a loss from these matters, given the on-going nature and complexity of the review, inquiries and investigations, the Company cannot yet reasonably estimate a loss or range of loss that may arise from the conclusion of these matters. Although the Company does not presently believe that these matters will have a material adverse effect on its business, given the inherent uncertainties in such situations, the Company can provide no assurance that these matters will not be material to its business in the future.


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Table of Contents

Note 10. Acquisitions, Disposals and Related Items
In July 2015, the Company completed the purchase of all of the remaining noncontrolling interest in Yihaodian, our e-commerce operations in China, for approximately $760 million, using existing cash to complete this transaction.
In June 2016, the Company sold certain assets relating to Yihaodian, including the Yihaodian brand, website and application, to JD.com, Inc. ("JD") in exchange for Class A ordinary shares of JD representing approximately five percent of JD's outstanding ordinary shares on a fully diluted basis. The $1.5 billion investment in JD is carried at cost and is included in other assets and deferred charges in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The sale resulted in the recognition of a $535 million noncash gain in the Walmart International segment which is included in membership and other income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. During the quarter ended October 31, 2016, the Company purchased $1.9 billion of additional JD shares classified as available for sale securities, representing an additional ownership percentage of approximately five percent, for a total ownership of approximately ten percent of JD's outstanding ordinary shares.
On August 10, 2016, one of the Company's subsidiaries entered into a definitive agreement to sell Suburbia, the apparel retail division in Mexico for approximately $1.0 billion in total consideration, resulting in $591 million in current assets held for sale and $163 million in current liabilities held for sale as of October 31, 2016.  The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in Fiscal 2018.
On September 19, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of Jet.com, Inc., a U.S. based e-commerce company. The integration of Jet.com into Walmart U.S. e-commerce business will build upon the current e-commerce foundation, allowing for synergies from talent, logistical operations and access to a broader customer base. The total purchase price for the acquisition was $2.4 billion, net of cash acquired. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price includes $1.7 billion in goodwill and $0.6 billion in intangible assets. As part of the transaction, the Company will pay additional compensation in cash and equity of approximately $0.8 billion over a five year period. The Company began consolidating Jet.com's operations in the Walmart U.S. segment during the quarter ended October 31, 2016 and the acquisition is not significant to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note 11. Segments
The Company is engaged in retail and wholesale operations located in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, India, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom, as well as countries located in Africa and Central America. The Company's operations are conducted in three business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club. The Company defines its segments as those operations whose results its 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.
The Walmart U.S. segment includes the Company's mass merchant concept in the U.S. operating under the "Walmart" or "Wal-Mart" brands, as well as digital retail. The Walmart International segment consists of the Company's operations outside of the U.S., including various retail websites. The Sam's Club segment includes the warehouse membership clubs in the U.S., as well as samsclub.com. Corporate and support consists of corporate overhead and other items not allocated to any of the Company's 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, the Company revises the measurement of each segment's operating income, including any corporate overhead allocations, as determined by the information regularly reviewed by its CODM. When the measurement of a segment changes, previous period amounts and balances are reclassified to be comparable to the current period's presentation.
Net sales by segment are as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions)
 
2016

2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Walmart U.S.
 
$
74,550

 
$
72,712

 
$
224,086

 
$
216,916

Walmart International
 
28,390

 
29,811

 
85,094

 
90,726

Sam's Club
 
14,236

 
14,075

 
42,387

 
42,288

Net sales
 
$
117,176

 
$
116,598

 
$
351,567

 
$
349,930


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Operating income by segment, as well as operating loss for corporate and support, and interest, net, are as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions)
 
2016

2015
 
2016
 
2015
Operating income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Walmart U.S.
 
$
3,999

 
$
4,506

 
$
12,750

 
$
13,964

Walmart International
 
1,354

 
1,338

 
4,245

 
3,685

Sam's Club
 
396

 
539

 
1,281

 
1,394

Corporate and support
 
(630
)
 
(669
)
 
(1,717
)
 
(1,580
)
Operating income
 
5,119

 
5,714

 
16,559

 
17,463

Interest, net
 
585

 
552

 
1,712

 
1,919

Income before income taxes
 
$
4,534

 
$
5,162

 
$
14,847

 
$
15,544



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Table of Contents

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ("Walmart," the "Company" or "we") is engaged in retail and wholesale operations in various formats around the world. Through our operations, we help people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores or through our e-commerce and mobile capabilities. Through innovation, we are striving to create a customer-centric experience that seamlessly integrates digital and physical shopping. Physical retail encompasses our brick and mortar presence in each of the markets in which we operate. Digital retail is comprised of our e-commerce websites and mobile commerce applications. Each week, we serve nearly 260 million customers who visit our over 11,500 stores under 63 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. Our strategy is to lead on price, invest to differentiate on access, be competitive on assortment and deliver a great experience. By leading on price we 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 digital and physical presence, which we are investing in to integrate, 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 consist of three reportable segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club.
Walmart U.S. is our largest segment with three primary store formats, as well as digital retail. Of our three reportable segments, Walmart U.S. has historically had the highest gross profit as a percentage of net sales ("gross profit rate"). In addition, it has historically contributed the greatest amount to the Company's net sales and operating income.
Walmart International consists of our operations outside of the U.S. and includes retail, wholesale and other businesses. These businesses consist of numerous formats, including supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, including Sam's Clubs, cash & carry, home improvement, specialty electronics, apparel stores, drug stores and convenience stores, as well as digital retail. The overall gross profit rate for Walmart International is lower than that of Walmart U.S. because of its merchandise mix. Walmart International is our second largest segment and has grown through acquisitions, as well as by adding retail, wholesale and other units, and expanding digital retail.
Sam's Club consists of membership-only warehouse clubs as well as digital retail. 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.
Each of our segments contributes to the Company's operating results differently. Each, however, has generally maintained a consistent contribution rate to the Company's net sales and operating income in recent years other than minor changes to the contribution rate for the Walmart International segment due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Our fiscal year ends on January 31 for our U.S. and Canadian operations. We consolidate all other operations generally using a one-month lag and on a calendar year basis. Our business is seasonal to a certain extent due to calendar events and national and religious holidays, as well as weather patterns. Historically, our highest sales volume and operating income have occurred in the fiscal quarter ending January 31.
In June 2016, we announced the sale of certain assets relating to Yihaodian, our e-commerce operations in China, including the Yihaodian brand, website and application, to JD.com, Inc. ("JD") in exchange for approximately 5 percent of JD's outstanding ordinary shares on a fully diluted basis. The sale resulted in the recognition of a $535 million noncash gain in our International segment which is included in membership and other income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
On September 19, 2016, we completed the acquisition of Jet.com, Inc., a U.S. based e-commerce company. The total preliminary purchase price for the acquisition was $2.4 billion, net of cash acquired. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price includes $1.7 billion in goodwill and $0.6 billion in intangible assets. As part of the transaction, we will pay additional compensation in cash and equity of approximately $0.8 billion over a five year period. We began consolidating Jet.com's operations in the Walmart U.S. segment during the quarter ended October 31, 2016.
We intend for this discussion to provide the reader with information that will assist in understanding our financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements from period to period and the primary factors that accounted for those changes. We also discuss certain performance metrics that management uses to assess the Company's performance. Additionally, the discussion provides information about the financial results of the three segments of our business to provide a better understanding of how each of those segments and its results of operations affect the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as a whole.
This discussion, which presents our results for periods occurring in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2017 ("fiscal 2017") and fiscal year ended January 31, 2016 ("fiscal 2016"), should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, and the accompanying notes included in Part I,

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Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended January 31, 2016, the accompanying notes and the related Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contained in our Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended January 31, 2016, and incorporated by reference in, and included as Exhibit 13 to, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016.
Throughout this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, we discuss segment operating income, comparable store and club sales and other measures. Management measures the results of the Company's segments using each segment's operating income, including certain corporate overhead allocations, as well as other measures. From time to time, we revise the measurement of each segment's operating income, including certain corporate overhead allocations, and other measures as determined by the information regularly reviewed by our chief operating decision maker. When we do so, the previous period amounts and balances are reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.
Comparable store and club sales is a metric that indicates the performance of our existing U.S. stores and clubs by measuring the change in sales for such stores and clubs, including e-commerce sales, for a particular period from the corresponding period in the previous year. Walmart's definition of comparable store and club sales includes sales from stores and clubs open for the previous 12 months, including remodels, relocations, expansions and conversions, as well as e-commerce sales. We measure the e-commerce sales impact by including those sales initiated through our websites and our mobile commerce applications and fulfilled through our e-commerce distribution facilities, as well as an estimate for sales initiated online and on our mobile commerce applications, but fulfilled through our stores and clubs. Sales of a store that has changed in format are excluded from comparable store and club sales when the conversion of that store is accompanied by a relocation or expansion that results in a change in the store's retail square feet of more than five percent. Comparable store and club sales are also referred to as "same-store" sales by others within the retail industry. The method of calculating comparable store and club sales varies across the retail industry. As a result, our calculation of comparable store and club sales is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
In discussing our operating results, we use the term "currency exchange rates" to refer to the currency exchange rates we use to convert the operating results for all countries where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. We calculate the effect of changes in currency exchange rates from the prior period to the current period as the difference between current period activity translated using the current period's currency exchange rates, and current period activity translated using the comparable prior year period's currency exchange rates. Throughout our discussion, we refer to the results of this calculation as the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations. Volatility in currency exchange rates may impact the results, including net sales and operating income, of the Company and the Walmart International segment in the future.
The Retail Industry
We operate in the highly competitive retail industry in all of the markets we serve. We face strong sales competition from other discount, department, drug, dollar, variety and specialty stores, warehouse clubs and supermarkets, as well as e-commerce and catalog businesses. Many of these competitors are national, regional or international chains or have a national or international online presence. We compete with a number of companies for prime retail site locations, as well as in attracting and retaining quality employees (whom we call "associates"). We, along with other retail companies, are influenced by a number of factors including, but not limited to: catastrophic events, weather, competitive pressures, consumer disposable income, consumer debt levels and buying patterns, consumer credit availability, cost of goods, currency exchange rate fluctuations, customer preferences, deflation, inflation, fuel and energy prices, general economic conditions, insurance costs, interest rates, labor costs, tax rates, cybersecurity attacks and unemployment.

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Company Performance Metrics
We are committed to helping customers save money and live better through everyday low prices, supported by everyday low costs.  At times, we adjust our business strategies to ensure we maintain our strong leadership position around the world and in the countries in which we operate.  For several years, our performance metrics emphasized three financial priorities: growth, leverage and returns.  We are currently making strategic investments in our associates and in the integration of digital and physical retail.  These investments support long-term growth while we maintain our heritage of everyday low prices which are supported by everyday low cost.  During this time of increased investments, we have shifted our financial priorities to focus primarily on growth, balanced by the long-term health of the Company including returns.  Although we will continue to grow through new stores and clubs, our growth going forward will rely more on increasing comparable store and club sales, as well as our investments to accelerate e-commerce sales growth.  While leverage remains important to everyday low cost, during this time of increased investments, operating expenses may grow at a rate that is greater than or equal to the rate of our net sales growth, and operating income may grow at a rate that is equal to or less than the rate of our net sales growth.
Our objective of balancing growth with returns means that we are focused on efficiently employing assets for return on investment and more effectively managing working capital to deliver strong free cash flow. We will also continue to provide returns to our shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.

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Table of Contents

Growth
We measure our growth primarily by the amount of the period-over-period growth in our net sales and our comparable store and club sales. We also review the progress of our digital retail investments by measuring the impact e-commerce sales have on our comparable store and club sales. At times, we make strategic investments which are focused on the long-term growth of the Company. These strategic investments may not benefit net sales and comparable store and club sales in the near term.
Net Sales
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
(Amounts in millions)
 
Net Sales
 
Percent 
of Total
 
Percent
Change
 
Net Sales
 
Percent 
of Total
 
Net Sales
 
Percent 
of Total
 
Percent
Change
 
Net Sales
 
Percent 
of Total
Walmart U.S.
 
$
74,550

 
63.7
%
 
2.5
 %
 
$
72,712

 
62.3
%
 
$
224,086

 
63.7
%
 
3.3
 %
 
$
216,916

 
62.0
%
Walmart International
 
28,390

 
24.2
%
 
(4.8
)%
 
29,811

 
25.6
%
 
85,094

 
24.2
%
 
(6.2
)%
 
90,726

 
25.9
%
Sam's Club
 
14,236

 
12.1
%
 
1.1
 %
 
14,075

 
12.1
%
 
42,387

 
12.1
%
 
0.2
 %
 
42,288

 
12.1
%
Net sales
 
$
117,176

 
100.0
%
 
0.5
 %
 
$
116,598

 
100.0
%
 
$
351,567

 
100.0
%
 
0.5
 %
 
$
349,930

 
100.0
%
Our consolidated net sales increased 0.5% for both the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The increases in net sales were primarily due to overall positive comparable sales and 1.0% year-over-year growth in consolidated retail square feet. The positive effect of such factors on our consolidated net sales was substantially offset by $2.1 billion and $8.3 billion of fluctuations in currency exchange rates and $73 million and $553 million of decreases in fuel sales due to lower fuel prices at the Sam's Club segment for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively.
Calendar Comparable Store and Club Sales
Comparable store and club sales is a metric which indicates the performance of our existing U.S. stores and clubs by measuring the change in sales for such stores and clubs, including e-commerce sales, for a particular period over the corresponding period in the previous year. The retail industry generally reports comparable store and club sales using the retail calendar (also known as the 4-5-4 calendar). To be consistent with the retail industry, we provide comparable store and club sales using the retail calendar in our quarterly earnings releases. However, when we discuss our comparable store and club sales below, we are referring to our calendar comparable store and club sales calculated using our fiscal calendar. As our fiscal calendar differs from the retail calendar, our calendar comparable store and club sales also differ from the retail calendar comparable store and club sales provided in our quarterly earnings releases. Calendar comparable store and club sales, as well as the impact of fuel, for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016 and 2015, were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
With Fuel
 
Fuel Impact
 
With Fuel
 
Fuel Impact
Walmart U.S.
 
0.8
%
 
1.4
 %
 
0.0
 %
 
0.0
 %
 
1.7
 %
 
1.3
 %
 
0.0
 %
 
0.0
 %
Sam's Club
 
0.6
%
 
(3.2
)%
 
(0.7
)%
 
(3.8
)%
 
(0.3
)%
 
(3.2
)%
 
(1.4
)%
 
(3.8
)%
Total U.S.
 
0.8
%
 
0.6
 %
 
(0.1
)%
 
(0.7
)%
 
1.4
 %
 
0.5
 %
 
(0.2
)%
 
(0.7
)%

Comparable store and club sales in the U.S., including fuel, increased 0.8% and 1.4% for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The total U.S. comparable store and club sales were positively impacted by continued traffic improvement at the Walmart U.S. segment and higher e-commerce sales at both the Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club segments. The positive effect of such factors on our comparable store and club sales were partially offset by the negative impact of lower fuel sales due to lower fuel prices at the Sam's Club segment. E-commerce sales positively impacted comparable sales approximately 0.5% and 0.6% for the three months ended October 31, 2016 and approximately 0.3% and 0.5% for the nine months ended October 31, 2016 for Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club, respectively.

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Returns
While we are focused primarily on growth, we also place a priority on generating returns to ensure our approach is appropriately balanced. We generate returns by efficiently deploying assets and effectively managing working capital. We monitor these efforts through our return on investment and free cash flow metrics, which we discuss below. In addition, we are focused on providing returns to our shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends, which are discussed in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section.
We include Return on Assets ("ROA"), which is based on financial statement line items from our financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP"), and Return on Investment ("ROI") as metrics to assess returns on assets.
Return on Assets and Return on Investment
Management believes ROI is a meaningful metric to share with investors because it helps investors assess how effectively Walmart is deploying its assets. Trends in ROI can fluctuate over time as management balances long-term potential strategic initiatives with possible short-term impacts. We consider ROA to be the financial measure computed in accordance with GAAP that is the most directly comparable financial measure to our calculation of ROI.
ROA was 7.3% and 7.5% for the trailing twelve months ended October 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. ROI was 15.0% and 15.9% for the trailing twelve months ended October 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The declines in ROA and ROI were primarily due to our decrease in operating income over these periods.
We define ROI as adjusted operating income (operating income plus interest income, depreciation and amortization, and rent expense) for the fiscal year or trailing 12 months divided by average invested capital during that period. We consider average invested capital to be the average of our beginning and ending total assets, plus average accumulated depreciation and average accumulated amortization, less average accounts payable and average accrued liabilities for that period, plus a rent factor equal to the rent for the fiscal year or trailing 12 months multiplied by a factor of eight. When we have discontinued operations, we exclude the impact of the discontinued operations.
Our calculation of ROI is considered a non-GAAP financial measure because we calculate ROI using financial measures that exclude and include amounts that are included and excluded in the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. For example, we exclude the impact of depreciation and amortization from our reported operating income in calculating the numerator of our calculation of ROI. In addition, we include a factor of eight for rent expense that estimates the hypothetical capitalization of our operating leases. As mentioned above, we consider ROA to be the financial measure computed in accordance with GAAP that is the most directly comparable financial measure to our calculation of ROI. ROI differs from ROA (which is consolidated net income for the period divided by average total assets for the period) because ROI: adjusts operating income to exclude certain expense items and adds interest income; adjusts total assets for the impact of accumulated depreciation and amortization, accounts payable and accrued liabilities; and incorporates a factor of rent to arrive at total invested capital. Because of the adjustments mentioned above, we believe ROI more accurately measures how we are deploying our key assets and is more meaningful to investors than ROA.
Although ROI is a standard financial metric, numerous methods exist for calculating a company's ROI. As a result, the method used by management to calculate our ROI may differ from the methods used by other companies to calculate their ROI.

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Table of Contents

The calculation of ROI, along with a reconciliation to the calculation of ROA, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, is as follows:
 
 
For the Trailing Twelve Months Ending October 31,
(Amounts in millions)
 
2016
 
2015
CALCULATION OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Numerator
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
$
23,201

 
$
25,412

+ Interest income
 
86

 
101

+ Depreciation and amortization
 
9,805

 
9,315

+ Rent
 
2,610

 
2,579

= Adjusted operating income
 
$
35,702

 
$
37,407

 
 
 
 
 
Denominator
 
 
 
 
Average total assets(1)
 
$
206,001

 
$
206,406

+ Average accumulated depreciation and amortization(1)
 
73,357

 
68,143

- Average accounts payable(1)
 
41,772

 
40,105

- Average accrued liabilities(1)
 
20,371

 
19,136

+ Rent x 8
 
20,880

 
20,632

= Average invested capital
 
$
238,095

 
$
235,940

Return on investment (ROI)
 
15.0
%
 
15.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
CALCULATION OF RETURN ON ASSETS
Numerator
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
 
$
15,055

 
$
15,520

Denominator
 
 
 
 
Average total assets(1)
 
$
206,001

 
$
206,406

Return on assets (ROA)
 
7.3
%
 
7.5
%
 
 
 
As of October 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Certain Balance Sheet Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
$
206,857

 
$
205,144

 
$
207,668

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
76,061

 
70,652

 
65,634

Accounts payable
 
42,990

 
40,553

 
39,656

Accrued liabilities
 
21,243

 
19,499

 
18,773

 
(1) The average is based on the addition of the account balance at the end of the current period to the account balance at the end of the prior period and dividing by 2.

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Table of Contents

Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes, however, that free cash flow, which measures our ability to generate additional cash from our business operations, is an important financial measure for use in evaluating the Company's financial performance. Free cash flow should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, consolidated net income as a measure of our performance and net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. See Liquidity and Capital Resources for discussions of GAAP metrics including net cash provided by operating activities, net cash used in investing activities, and net cash used in financing activities.
We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities in a period minus payments for property and equipment made in that period. We generated free cash flow of $12.2 billion for the nine months ended October 31, 2016, compared to free cash flow of $6.8 billion for the nine months ended October 31, 2015. The increase in free cash flow was led by improved working capital management. Additionally, we benefited from the application of new tax guidelines related to the accelerated deduction of remodels and related expenses.
Walmart's definition of free cash flow is limited in that it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures due to the fact that the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other contractual obligations or payments made for business acquisitions. Therefore, we believe it is important to view free cash flow as a measure that provides supplemental information to our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Although other companies report their free cash flow, numerous methods may exist for calculating a company's free cash flow. As a result, the method used by Walmart's management to calculate our free cash flow may differ from the methods used by other companies to calculate their free cash flow.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net cash provided by operating activities, which we believe to be the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to free cash flow, as well as information regarding net cash used in investing activities and net cash used in financing activities.
 
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions)
 
2016
 
2015
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
19,644

 
$
15,005

Payments for property and equipment
 
(7,459
)
 
(8,223
)
Free cash flow
 
$
12,185

 
$
6,782

 
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities(1)
 
$
(11,050
)
 
$
(7,567
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(11,135
)
 
(9,259
)
(1) "Net cash used in investing activities" includes payments for property and equipment, which is also included in our computation of free cash flow.

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations
Consolidated Results of Operations
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions, except unit counts)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Total revenues
 
$
118,179

 
$
117,408

 
$
354,937

 
$
352,463

Percentage change from comparable period
 
0.7
%

(1.3
)%
 
0.7
%
 
(0.5
)%
Net sales
 
$
117,176

 
$
116,598

 
$
351,567

 
$
349,930

Percentage change from comparable period
 
0.5
%

(1.3
)%
 
0.5
%
 
(0.5
)%
Total U.S. calendar comparable store and club sales increase
 
0.8
%
 
0.6
 %
 
1.4
%
 
0.5
 %
Gross profit margin as a percentage of net sales
 
25.3
%
 
25.0
 %
 
25.1
%
 
24.6
 %
Operating income
 
$
5,119

 
$
5,714

 
$
16,559

 
$
17,463

Operating income as a percentage of net sales
 
4.4
%
 
4.9
 %
 
4.7
%
 
5.0
 %
Consolidated net income
 
$
3,202

 
$
3,414

 
$
10,307

 
$
10,332

Unit counts at period end
 
11,593


11,554

 
11,593

 
11,554

Retail square feet at period end
 
1,157


1,145

 
1,157

 
1,145

Our total revenues, which are mostly comprised of net sales, but also include membership and other income, increased $771 million or 0.7% and $2.5 billion or 0.7% for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. Net sales increased 0.5% for both the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. Net sales were positively impacted by overall positive comparable sales and the 1.0% year-over-year growth in consolidated retail square feet. The positive effect of such factors on our consolidated net sales was substantially offset by $2.1 billion and $8.3 billion of fluctuations in currency exchange rates and $73 million and $553 million of decreases in fuel sales due to lower fuel prices at the Sam's Club segment for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively.
Our gross profit rate increased 34 and 49 basis points for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. Improved margin in general merchandise, consumables and food, including savings in procuring merchandise and lower transportation expense from lower fuel costs in the Walmart U.S. segment, positively impacted our gross profit rate. Improved inventory management and our cost analytics program in certain markets in the Walmart International segment also positively impacted our gross profit rate.
For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, operating expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 103 and 100 basis points, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year, primarily due to an increase in wage expense at the Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club segments resulting from the continued investment in associate wage structure; and our continued investment in digital retail and information technology.
Membership and other income increased $193 million and $837 million for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The increase in membership and other income for the three months ended October 31, 2016 was primarily due to an $86 million gain from the sale of certain shopping malls in Chile. The increase in membership and other income for the nine months ended October 31, 2016 was primarily due to the recognition of a $535 million gain from the sale of certain assets relating to Yihaodian, our e-commerce operations in China, including the Yihaodian brand, website and application, to JD, and an $86 million gain from the sale of certain shopping malls in Chile.
Our effective income tax rate was 29.4% and 30.6% for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, compared to 33.9% and 33.5% for the same periods in the previous fiscal year. Our effective income tax rate may fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of factors including changes in our assessment of certain tax contingencies, valuation allowances, changes in tax law, outcomes of administrative audits, the impact of discrete items and the mix of earnings among our U.S. operations and international operations, which are subject to statutory rates that are generally lower than the U.S. statutory rate.
As a result of the factors discussed above, we reported $3.2 billion and $10.3 billion of consolidated net income for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, a decrease of $212 million and $25 million, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. Diluted net income per common share attributable to Walmart ("EPS") was $0.98 and $3.16 for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, a decrease of $0.05 and an increase of $0.03, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year.

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Table of Contents

Walmart U.S. Segment
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions, except unit counts)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net sales
 
$
74,550

 
$
72,712

 
$
224,086

 
$
216,916

Percentage change from comparable period
 
2.5
%

3.8
%
 
3.3
%
 
4.0
%
Calendar comparable store sales increase
 
0.8
%
 
1.4
%
 
1.7
%
 
1.3
%
Operating income
 
$
3,999

 
$
4,506

 
$
12,750

 
$
13,964

Operating income as a percentage of net sales
 
5.4
%
 
6.2
%
 
5.7
%
 
6.4
%
Unit counts at period end
 
4,648


4,631

 
4,648

 
4,631

Retail square feet at period end
 
697


688

 
697

 
688

Net sales for the Walmart U.S. segment increased $1.8 billion or 2.5% and $7.2 billion or 3.3% for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The increases in net sales were primarily due to year-over-year growth in retail square feet of 1.2%, as well as increases in comparable store sales of 0.8% and 1.7% for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, driven primarily by positive customer traffic. Additionally, e-commerce sales contributed 0.5% and 0.3% to comparable store sales for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively.
Gross profit rate increased 32 and 36 basis points for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year, primarily due to improved margin in general merchandise, consumables and food, including the impact of savings in procuring merchandise and lower transportation expense from lower fuel costs.
For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales increased 130 and 125 basis points, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales for the three months ended October 31, 2016 was primarily driven by an increase in wage expense due to the continued investment in the associate wage structure; as well as our continued investments in information technology. The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales for the nine months ended October 31, 2016 was primarily driven by an increase in wage expense due to the continued investment in the associate wage structure; higher associate incentive compensation; and our continued investment in digital retail and information technology.
As a result of the factors discussed above, segment operating income decreased $507 million and $1.2 billion for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year.

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Table of Contents

Walmart International Segment
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions, except unit counts)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net sales
 
$
28,390

 
$
29,811

 
$
85,094

 
$
90,726

Percentage change from comparable period
 
(4.8
)%
 
(11.4
)%
 
(6.2
)%
 
(9.2
)%
Operating income
 
$
1,354

 
$
1,338

 
$
4,245

 
$
3,685

Operating income as a percentage of net sales
 
4.8
 %
 
4.5
 %
 
5.0
 %
 
4.1
 %
Unit counts at period end
 
6,289


6,271

 
6,289

 
6,271

Retail square feet at period end
 
372


370

 
372

 
370

Net sales for the Walmart International segment decreased $1.4 billion or 4.8% and $5.6 billion or 6.2% for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The decreases in net sales for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016 were due to $2.1 billion and $8.3 billion, respectively, of negative impacts from fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Additionally, net sales for both comparable periods were impacted by positive comparable store sales in the majority of our markets, except in the United Kingdom, and year-over-year growth in retail square feet of 0.7%.
Gross profit rate increased 49 and 55 basis points for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The increase in the gross profit rate was primarily due to improved inventory management and the impact of our cost analytics program in certain markets.
Operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales increased 69 and 45 basis points for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The increases in operating expenses as a percentage of segment net sales were primarily due to declining sales on relatively flat fixed costs in the United Kingdom and the benefit of the cumulative lease adjustment in the prior year.
Membership and other income increased $124 million and $654 million for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year. The increase in membership and other income for the three months ended October 31, 2016 was primarily due to an $86 million gain from the sale of certain shopping malls in Chile. The increase in membership and other income for the nine months ended October 31, 2016 was primarily due to the recognition of a $535 million gain from the sale of certain assets relating to Yihaodian, our e-commerce operations in China, including the Yihaodian brand, website and application, to JD, and an $86 million gain from the sale of certain shopping malls in Chile.
As a result of the factors discussed above, segment operating income increased $16 million and $560 million for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2016, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the previous fiscal year.


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Table of Contents

Sam's Club Segment
We believe the information in the following table under the caption "Excluding Fuel" is useful to investors because it permits investors to understand the effect of the Sam's Club segment's fuel sales on its results of operations, which are impacted by the volatility of fuel prices. Volatility in fuel prices may continue to impact the operating results of the Sam's Club segment in the future. 
 
 
Three Months Ended October 31,
 
Nine Months Ended October 31,
(Amounts in millions, except unit counts)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Including Fuel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
14,236

 
$
14,075

 
$
42,387

 
$
42,288

Percentage change from comparable period
 
1.1
%
 
(2.2
)%
 
0.2
 %
 
(2.0
)%
Calendar comparable club sales increase (decrease)
 
0.6
%
 
(3.2
)%
 
(0.3
)%
 
(3.2
)%
Operating income
 
$
396

 
$
539

 
$
1,281

 
$
1,394

Operating income as a percentage of net sales
 
2.8
%
 
3.8
 %
 
3.0
 %
 
3.3
 %
Unit counts at period end
 
656


652

 
656

 
652

Retail square feet at period end
 
88


87

 
88

 
87

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Excluding Fuel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
13,169

 
$
12,935

 
$
39,345

 
$
38,693

Percentage change from comparable period
 
1.8
%
 
1.6
 %
 
1.7
 %
 
1.9
 %
Operating income
 
$
381