(RTTNews) -  Thursday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT: News ) reported second-quarter net income attributable to Walmart of $3.442 billion, compared to net income attributable to Walmart of $3.449 billion in the year ago quarter. Earnings on per share basis, was $0.88 per share, up from $0.87 per share in the prior year quarter.

On average, 22 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $0.86 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Net sales for the quarter were $100.1 billion, down 1.4% from $101.5 billion in the same quarter last year. Without the negative impact of currency exchange rates of $4.2 billion, net sales for the quarter increased 2.7% to approximately $104.3 billion on a constant currency basis. Analysts expected the company to report revenue of $103.08 billion for the quarter.
For the third quarter, the company expects earnings from continuing operations to be in the range pf $0.78 - $0.82 per share, including a three-cent negative impact from currency exchange rates. Analysts currently anticipate the company to earn $0.80 per share for the quarter.

Looking ahead to the full year 2010, the company revised its guidance and now expects earnings from continuing operations in the range of $3.50 - $3.60 per share, compared to a previous range of $3.45 - $3.60 per share. Analysts currently expect the company to earn $3.56 per share.

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by RTT Staff Writer

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