Recent year-end market price and financial statement information for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the largest retailer in the world, is provided as follows:
|
Year
|
Year-End
Market Priceper Share
|
Net Income
(basic, millions)
|
Common Stock
Dividend perShare
|
Number of Common
Shares Outstanding (weighted, millions)
|
|
2004
|
$52.33
|
$10,267
|
$0.52
|
4,259
|
|
2003
|
51.33
|
9,054
|
0.36
|
4,363
|
|
2002
|
48.75
|
7,955
|
0.30
|
4,430
|
a. How has the market price of Wal-Mart compared to earnings per share for 2002-2004? Round to two decimal places.
b. What information should be reported to compare earnings over time and across companies?