Walmart U.S. e-commerce sales up 33 percent in first quarter, comparable sales match estimates

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Walmart Inc on Thursday reported a 33-percent rise in U.S. e-commerce sales during the first quarter, slower than during the same period a year ago but faster than the previous quarter’s 23-percent advance.

Walmart’s e-commerce performance was the most widely anticipated metric after online sales growth slowed during the fourth quarter, fueling investor concern over its ability to compete with e-commerce rival Amazon.com Inc.

Sales at U.S. stores open at least a year rose 2.1 percent, excluding fuel, in the first quarter ended April 30, in line with analyst forecasts, according to Consensus Metrix.

Adjusted earnings per share increased to $1.14 per share, beating expectations of $1.12 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.