Wal-Mart’s 4Q Earnings Decline

Retailer Wal-Mart Stores said Tuesday its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 7.4%, while its full-year 2008 earnings rose 5.1%.

Net earnings for the quarter ended Jan. 31 declined to $3.8 billion, or 96 cents a share, from $4.1 billion, or $1.02, a year earlier, the company said.

Net sales gained 1.7% to $107 billion for the quarter, Wal-Mart said.

Income for fiscal 2008 rose to $13.4 billion, or $3.39 a share, from $12.7 billion, or $3.13, the previous year, the company said.

With about 8,000 tractors and 1,400 straight trucks, Wal-Mart is ranked No. 3 on the Transport Topics Private 100 listing of the largest U.S. and Canadian private carriers.