Overseas strength lifts Wal-Mart 2Q profit 5.7 pct

NEW YORK — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says its second-quarter profit rose 5.7 percent, fueled by strong international sales and expense cutting. But the world's largest retailer still wasn't able to reverse a two-year U.S. sales slump.

The company raised its annual profit outlook.

The retailer says it earned $3.8 billion, or $1.09 per share, in the three months ended July 31. That compares with $3.6 billion, or 97 cents per share, in the same period last year.

Revenue, excluding Sam's Club membership fees, reached $108.6 billion.

Analysts had expected $1.08 per share on revenue of $108.08 billion.

Revenue at stores open at least a year fell 0.9 percent for the U.S. namesake division. It was the ninth straight quarter that the measure declined compared with the same quarter a year before.