With Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) turning in disappointing November sales figures yesterday -- a 0.5% decline in same-store sales -- there are many questions of the hour when it comes to the world's largest retailer.

What's important about this is the fact that Wal-Mart's November same-stores sales results demonstrated its first monthly sales decline in a decade -- and this is the holiday season no less.

Does the rest of the holiday season look glum for Wal-Mart? Possibly. Wal-Mart said that it expects December sales to rise 0% to 1%, which falling short of Wall Street's expectations for a 2% increase. Ouch -- expectations and projections being off by an entire percent? With Wal-Mart's volume, that is no small matter at all.

After WMT stock hit $50 per share just over a month ago, shares now sit at $45.65 (Friday midday) following the bad news of the 2% decline in November's sales.

As expected, though, Wal-Mart reported that it racked up double-digit comparable-store sales growth in its pharmacies, thanks to its new $4 generic prescription drugs program. I still think CVS Corp. (NYSE:CVS) and Walgreen Co. (NYSE:WAG) will feel the heat next year as Wal-Mart steals quite a bit of prescription drug business.

Wal-Mart also said it saw food sales increase by 5% in November based on more organic offerings and lower prices. I am not sure I believe the organic part ... yet.

Wal-Mart's November sales decline worst in a decade originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kohl's -- the department store outside the mall -- released financial results for its third quarter yesterday. The chain reported third quarter earnings per share of $0.68, compared to $0.45 during the same period a year ago. Analysts estimated that Kohl's would earn $0.64, so the company blew past its expectations pretty nicely.

Revenue for Kohl's increased 16.6% to $3.6 billion from the year-ago quarter of $3.1 billion and quarterly same-store sales increased 8.5% as well. Kohl's raised its earnings guidance for its 2006 fiscal year from the range of $3.04 - $3.13 per share to between $3.16 and $3.24 per share.

With both retailers J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP) and now Kohl's Corp. (NYSE:KSS) reporting better-than-expected results for their most recent quarters, where is competitor Sears Holdings (NYSE:SHLD) going to land? And what about discounter Target Stores (NYSE:TGT) that also faces increased competition from resurgent retailers like Kohl's, Sears and J.C. Penney?

Sears, best known in history for its catalogs, will be landing its results on the day of November 16 , next Thursday. Stay tuned as I'll be covering what Sears is up to. And, if the competition is any sign, Sears may have a decent quarter coming up next week.

Kohl's up on higher-than-expected Q3 results; Sears next week originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Nov 2006 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wal-Mart's October sales figures not indicative of the retail industry originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.