Walmart announced this morning an increase in the company’s stock dividend from $1.88 to $1.92 a share, or slightly more than a 2 percent increase. More than half of that increase will accrue to the benefit of the family of founder Sam Walton.

The company noted that it returned $12.8 billion to shareholders in fiscal 2014 in the form of dividends and share repurchases.

Advertisement

The company release didn’t note that the Walton family owns directly or controls about 51 percent of the company stock, meaning that more than $6 billion of those benefits accrued to the family.

Arkansas Times: Your voice in the fight

Are you tired of watered-down news and biased reporting? The Arkansas Times has been fighting for truth and justice for 50 years. As an alternative newspaper in Little Rock, we are tough, determined, and unafraid to take on powerful forces. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, we are making a difference. But we can't do it without you. Join the 3,400 paid subscribers who support our great journalism and help us hire more writers. Sign up for a subscription today or make a donation of as little as $1 and help keep the Arkansas Times feisty for years to come.

Previous article It was a good week for health care in Arkansas Next article Blue Cross explains reversal on providing family coverage to same-sex couples