Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posted record sales and...

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posted record sales and profit for the fourth quarter and year ended Jan. 31. Unaudited net earnings rose 39% to $627.6 million for the year and 34% to $247.1 million for the quarter. Sales were also up--34% to $15.9 billion for the year and 30% to $5 billion for the quarter. Sam Walton, president of the Bentonville, Ark.-based chain of more than 1,000 stores in 24 states, was optimistic but said economic uncertainty “will require strict expense control and improved inventory management in fiscal 1989.”

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