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Wal-Mart’s Numbers Up, Kmart’s Down: Wal-Mart Stores reported higher quarterly earnings, widening its lead over No. 2 retailer Kmart Corp., which said its profits eroded due to inventory problems. Wal-Mart, the nation’s No. 1 retailer, said earnings for the first quarter rose to $498 million, or 22 cents a share, on sales of $17.7 billion, up from $451 million, or 20 cents a share, on sales of $13.9 billion a year earlier. At Kmart, first-quarter earnings from continuing operations fell to $18 million, or 4 cents a share, on sales of $7.8 billion, down from $23 million, or 12 cents a share, on sales of $7.3 billion a year earlier.