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Wal-Mart news around the web

The overall news for Wal-Mart has been great, as they exceeded expectations, increasing same-store sales by a healthy 2.6 percent over last year at the same time. Estimates were for about 2 percent growth.

The company also announced it was going to open up another 81 stores in March, with 73 of them opening this week. That will provide about 16,500 new jobs for Americans.

Here are those and other stories connected to the retail giant below.

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Wal-Mart sales beat forecasts

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said its February sales beat its own forecast, in a sign that US shoppers are “trading down” in the face of economic pressures.

Premarket: Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers

Shares of Wal-Mart Stores were up 1.2% after the world’s largest retailer posted stronger-than-expected growth in February same-store sales. The company exceeded expectations, posting growth of 2.6% from the year-ago period, compared with estimates for 2% growth.

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Wal-Mart to open 81 stores in March

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said Wednesday it plans to open 81 new stores and clubs in March, as it slows opening its "Supercenter"-style stores.

Seventy-three of the stores opened this week.

The 81 stores will employ 26,000 people, including 16,500 who were newly hired for the openings.

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Wal-Mart increases annual dividend by 8% to 95 cents
 

Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) Stores Inc. Thursday said its board approved an 8% increase in its annual dividend, bringing it to 95 cents a share from 88 cents a share.

The next quarterly dividend, of 23.75 cents, will be paid on April 7 to shareholders of record on March 14. Wal-Mart said it would return more than $3.6 billion in dividends in its 2009 fiscal year.

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Mercy Corps, Wal-Mart give farmers a market

Talk about odd couples: Mercy Corps, Portland's homegrown international humanitarian organization, is teaming with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest corporation, in a venture that both insist will help poor Guatemalan farmers.

The pilot project, announced Wednesday in Guatemala City, has caused misgivings among some staff members at Mercy Corps, a rapidly expanding nonprofit that is developing new models of corporate collaboration. Under the $2.2 million program supported in part by Wal-Mart's charitable foundation, Mercy Corps is helping small-scale farmers learn to supply fruit and vegetables to the retail goliath.

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Wal-Mart Will Hold Annual Shareholders' Meeting June 6

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. today announced that the Company's 2008 annual shareholders' meeting will be held on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 7:00 am in the Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

The Company also announced that April 10, 2008 is the record date for that meeting.

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Mexico's Walmex Feb same-store sales seen up 6 pct

Leading Mexican retailer Wal-Mart de Mexico is expected to post a 6 percent rise in February same-store sales, a Reuters poll of five analysts showed on Wednesday.

Deducting inflation, same-store sales -- or those recorded at outlets that have been open for at least 12 months -- rose between 2 percent and 2.5 percent, below the 5.7 percent in February of 2007, the survey added.