NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Feb. 19, 2015--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today noted Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2015 results. Additionally, the company gave guidance that included a wage increase for associates effective in April that will increase wages to $9 an hour; by Feb. 1, 2016, current associates will be paid $10 an hour. Fourth quarter results included a 1.6% comparable stores sales increase in the U.S. (without fuel). Wal-Mart's sales in the U.S. improved incrementally throughout fiscal 2015, and we expect the company can maintain moderate low-single-digit same-store sales increases over the next year. Overall revenue in fiscal 2016 will weaken because the price of the fuel it sells has dropped, and because of
