LONDON (ShareCast) - (ShareCast News) - Walmart announced its 12th consecutive increase in quarterly comparable sales on Thursday as sales from existing US stores rose 1.3% in the second quarter.
Newly instituted digital programs assisted the big-box retailer in boosting internet sales by 60%.

Earnings per share were ahead of forecast at $1.08, as was the 2.1% rise in revenue to $123.6bn.

"Our customers are responding to the improvements in stores and online, and our results reflect this," chief executive Doug McMillon said in a statement. "Traffic increases at store level and the e-Commerce growth rate are key highlights."

For the full-year, Walmart raised the bottom end of its earnings outlook from $4.20 to a projection for between $4.30 to $4.40 per share.

The group said same-store sales, excluding fuel, would rise by between 1.5% to 2% across its US locations in the third quarter of the year.

Walmart continues to trial a range of digital incentives in its ongoing efforts to stymie internet giant Amazon, such as employee delivery programs and next day delivery

The announcement had done little to affect stock prices as of 1300 BST, with shares up just 0.26% to 80.98p.

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