E-Commerce helps Walmart grow in Q4

Bentonville, AR-based Walmart reported a slight rise in fourth quarter revenue over last year, but its e-commerce continues strong growth with a 43-percent rise in the quarter.

Walmart’s fiscal year ended in January, and it reported a 40 percent increase in e-commerce over the previous year. The company expanded online grocery order and pickup to more than 2,100 stores and delivery to another 800 stores.

In the Feb. 19 financial report, the retailer reported total revenue for Q4 was $138.8 billion, an increase of $2.5 billion, or 1.9% over Q4 last year. Its Sam’s Club division reported sales increased 3.3% from last year’s Q4, and e-commerce sales grew 21%.

Retail Editor Pamela Riemenschneider says Walmart is doing a better job than Amazon and other competitors in fresh food, including fresh produce.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Walmart benefited from “the U.S. government sending February checks to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in January to ensure payment amid the federal government shutdown. The company said the shift added 0.4% to its comp sales growth.”