NEW YORK, USA

WAL-MART’S first-quarter net income fell 5 per cent as bad winter weather and financial struggles kept customers from spending at the world’s largest retailer.

The company’s shares fell nearly two per cent as Wal-Mart reported results that missed Wall Street’s expectations for the third time in five quarters and gave a weak second-quarter earnings forecast.

The results underscore the big challenges facing Wal-Mart’s new CEO, Doug McMillon, who took over the top role on February 1. The retailer is considered an economic bellwether, with the company accounting for nearly 10 per cent of nonautomotive retail spending in the US.

Wal-Mart’s latest performance appears to show that many people are having a hard time stretching their money between pay cheques.

For the period ended April 30, the Bentonville, Arkansas, company earned US$3.59 billion, or US$1.11 per share. That compares with US$3.78 billion, or US$1.14 per share, a year ago.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said that bad weather hurt earnings by about 3 cents per share. Its performance was also dinged by a higher-than-expected tax rate.

Income from continuing operations was US$1.10 per share. Analysts, on average, expected earnings of US$1.15 per share, according to a FactSet survey.

“Like other retailers in the United States, the unseasonably cold and disruptive weather negatively impacted US sales and drove operating expenses higher than expected,” McMillon said in a statement.

Not only did weather affect store traffic, it disrupted the supply chain, slowing production and backing up trucking transportation around the country, the company said.

But Wal-Mart has been suffering from weak sales in the US for some time. Sales at US stores open at least a year dipped 0.2 per cent in the quarter, the fifth consecutive quarter of decline. In the US, while jobs are easier to get and the housing market is gaining momentum, these improvements have not been enough to get Americans to spend. On top of that, the November 1 expiration of a temporary boost in food stamps is hurting its shoppers’ ability to spend.

“Traffic continues to be negative, despite investments in price, TV marketing, and social marketing,” said Belus Capital Advisors analyst Brian Sozzi. “Walmart’s traffic troubles are part related to weather in the first quarter, but also very reflective in how people are now shopping (online) and the company not being able to full play in that trend.”

Total revenue rose one per cent to US$114.96 billion. Wall Street was calling for higher revenue of US$116.43 billion.

The stronger dollar hurt revenue by about US$1.6 billion. Excluding that, revenue would have risen two per cent.

McMillon said in a recorded call that US sales rose during the second half of the quarter, but that Sam’s Club had lower-than-expected sales. While membership income climbed, McMillon said it was mostly because of a fee increase started last year.

Total US revenue rose two per cent to US$67.85 billion. Wal-Mart International’s sales rose 3.4 per cent in the quarter, on a constant currency basis.

Wal-Mart, which has 10,994 stores in 27 countries, is facing stiff completion from dollar chains and online king Amazon.com.

Wal-Mart has been sharpening its focus on everyday low prices at US stores and further pushing that strategy abroad. Wal-Mart also said earlier in the year that it will speed up growth plans for its smaller Neighbourhood Markets and Wal-Mart Express stores that cater to shoppers looking for more convenience with fresh produce and meat and household and beauty products.

In a call with the media, Wal-Mart executives said super centers are getting bigger purchases on each trip from people stocking up on bulk items, but traffic has been weaker, particularly in the bottom performing 10 per cent of its stores.

At Neighbourhood Markets, on the other hand, traffic is up four per cent as people buy fill-in items at the smaller stores.

For the second quarter, Wal-Mart anticipates earnings from continuing operations in a range of US$1.15 to US$1.25 per share. Analysts predict earnings of US$1.28 per share.

The company’s shares fell US$1.88, or nearly two per cent, to US$76.85 in pre-market trading just before the market opened.