As a result, when Target's March numbers weren't as bad as expected and Wal-Mart's weren't as good as expected, the companies' stock prices headed in opposite directions in advance of the Easter weekend. Share's of Wal-Mart opened sharply lower last Thursday at $50.04 from the previous day's close of $52.61, before regaining some ground to end the day at $50.66, after the company reported a 1.4% same-store sales increase for its U.S. stores and Sam's Club divisions that was less than half the 3.2% increase analysts expected. Conversely, Target shares opened sharply higher at $38.59 from the prior day's close of $37.60, and would end the day at $39.89 after the company reported a 6.3% same-store sales decline that was better than the company's guidance for a high-single digit decline and analysts' estimates of a 7% decline. It also helped that the company forecast flat same-store sales for April.