UPDATE: Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) Raises Quarterly Dividend 8.9% to $0.3975; 2.7% Yield

(Updated - March 1, 2012 8:35 AM EST)

Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3975 per share, or $1.59 annualized. This is an 8.9% increase from the prior dividend of $0.365.

The dividend will be payable on April 4, 2012, to stockholders of record on March 12, 2012, with an ex-dividend date of March 8, 2012.

The annual yield on the dividend is 2.7 percent.

Walmart has increased its dividend every year since the first declared dividend of $0.05 per share in March 1974.

"Our free cash flow continues to fund store growth across all our markets, facilitate strategic acquisitions and deliver returns to shareholders through dividends and share repurchase," CEO Mike Duke said. He noted that the company returned $11.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchase during fiscal 2012.

"We have high expectations for fiscal year 2013," he said. "Our core Walmart U.S. business is back on track. International remains our strong growth engine and Sam's Club continues to drive sales momentum. And, we will continue to build our e-commerce capabilities to serve more customers around the world."

For a dividend history and other dividend-related data on Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) click here.

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