Wal-Mart sales soar in Q3

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores posted its 13th consecutive quarter of U.S. same-store sales growth in Q3, while online sales swelled by 50%. The retailer, which recently negotiated a deal to offer Lord & Taylor branded products through its online channel, beat expectations on several fronts. Earnings of $1 per share exceeded analyst forecasts of $0.97, while revenue came to $123.2 billion as compared with an anticipated $121 billion. Same-store sales in the U.S., excluding fuel, rose by $2.7%, outperforming an estimated 1.8% gain.