DALLAS, May 14, 2002/ FW/ --- Giant discount retailer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is on a roll.

The company reported today that for the quarter ended April 30, 2002, total sales increased 14.4% compared to the similar period last year. Total sales were $54.96 billion.

Net income also increased to $1.652 billion, up from $1.38 billion for the similar period prior year quarter.

This report came two days after Walmart announced that for April, the retail chain's sales were $17.660 billion, up 9.3% from $16.164 billion of April 2001.

Lee Scott, President & CEO attributed the record sales and earnings to the efforts of Wal-mart associates. He also said that the company achieved their key financial objectives for the quarter and optimistic that this trend will continue during the whole of 2002.

The report also showed that the Wal-mart Store chain is the super achiever for the company, with an operating profit of $2.554 billion, up 16% compared with $2.199 billion in 2001.

The International segment came in a far second with $381 million operating profit while the wholesaler Sam's Club was working on $281 million operating profit.

Wal-mart Stores operates the Walmart chain, Sam's Club, International and McLane.