We expect another 51 years of annual dividend hikes from Walmart

Article Excerpt

Walmart’s shares are up about 44% in the past year, as the retail giant continues to draw cost-conscious consumers to its stores and websites. We expect the stock will keep rising in the next few years, thanks to Walmart’s strong attention to efficiency. The company’s upcoming purchase of electronics maker Vizio will also give it better access to customer shopping data, which it can use to spur sales. These factors will let Walmart continue its 51-year record of annual dividend hikes. WALMART INC. $76 is a buy. The company (New York symbol WMT; Conservative Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 8.0 billion; Market cap: $608.0 billion; Dividend yield: 1.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.walmart.com) is the world’s largest retailer with 10,619 outlets in 19 countries. Those stores serve a total of 255 million customers each week. Groceries supply roughly 60% of Walmart’s U.S. sales. That encourages repeat visits, which cuts investor risk. General merchandise accounts for a further 25% of its sales, while other items…