New investments will help fuel its dividend

Article Excerpt

WALMART INC. $104 (New York symbol WMT; Conservative Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 2.9 billion; Market cap: $301.6 billion; Dividend yield: 2.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.walmart.com) is the world’s biggest retailer, with 11,348 outlets in 27 countries. These stores serve a total of 275 million customers each week. The company’s 4,756 locations in the U.S. supply 65% of its overall sales. In 1991, Walmart opened its first store outside of the U.S. through a joint venture with a Mexican retailer. Its international division (24% of total sales) now operates 5,993 stores. The remaining 11% of the company’s sales come from its Sam’s Club warehouse stores; they sell a variety of goods at wholesale prices. There are currently 599 Sam’s Club locations in the U.S. 45 years of annual dividend hikes Walmart has increased its annual dividend rate every year since 1974. It last raised its quarterly dividend by 1.9% with the April 2019 payment. Investors receive $0.53 a share, up from $0.52. The…