In the face of recession in the USA Wal-Mart's profit rose

Wal-Mart, though, said net profit in the quarter ended Jan. 31 rose to $4.096 billion, or $1.02 per share, from $3.94 billion, or 95 cents a share, a year earlier.

 Net sales grew 8.3 percent to $106.27 billion, helped by 18.8
percent international growth and 5 percent growth at U.S. Wal-Mart
stores. Stores in 13 countries outside the U.S. accounted for about
25 percent of total company sales in the quarter, up from 23 percent
a year earlier.

Wal-Mart forecast earnings per share
for the current fiscal year that ends next Jan. 31 of $3.30 to $3.43,
or growth between 4.4 percent and 8.5 percent compared to just over 8
percent in fiscal 2008.