Walmart’s earnings shine as it preps $2.3-billion Vizio acquisition

Walmart kicked off U.S. retailers’ reporting season on Tuesday with robust fourth-quarter results after inflation-squeezed shoppers flocked to its stores, and said it would buy smart-TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion.

Shares in the retail giant rose 6% to a record high of $180.31 in early trading after it also gave an upbeat annual sales forecast and announced a 9% rise in its dividend, the biggest increase in more than a decade.