Also . . .
Times Staff and Wire Reports
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 12%, less than analysts estimated, to $684 million, or 30 cents a share, compared with $612 million, or 27 cents, a year ago. . . . J.C. Penney Co.’s fiscal third-quarter profit rose 7.1% to $257 million, or $1.03 a share, up from $240 million, or 95 cents, a year ago.
