Dividend Aristocrat Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) will raise its quarterly dividend by 8.9 percent to $0.3975 per share in 2012.

The new dividend is payable on April 4, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2012.

Walmart Inc. is operates retail, wholesale and other units, as well as eCommerce websites, located throughout the U.S., Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The company's operations comprise three reportable segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club. Although Walmart was incorporated in Delaware in October 1969, the businesses conducted by our founders began in 1945 when Sam M. Walton opened a franchise Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas. The company has paid a dividend every year since 1973.