Tax Refunds: Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.: NEW YORK, N.Y. - The first few months of the year were tough for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Wal-Mart blamed a litany of factors affecting its budget-conscious customers, including a payroll tax increase, delayed tax refunds, job worries and bad weather. It is the latest in a string of big-name, consumer companies from McDonald's to Macy's, to cite such hurdles in the first quarter of the year. In this May 9, 2013 photo, a worker pushes shopping carts in front of a Walmart store in La Habra, Calif. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is expected to report quarterly results on Thursday, May 16, 2013. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong The world's largest retailer reported Thursday that its first-quarter profit edged up just slightly, and the company struggled with a sales slump in its namesake business during the three-month period. The discounter also offered a quarterly profit outlook that came below Wall Street's projections. Its stock fell on the news. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.