Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Contact: | | John G. Call | Katie Loughnot |
| | | Senior Vice President, | Vice President, Investor Relations |
| | | Chief Financial Officer | Phone:(925)965-4509 |
| | | Phone: (925) 965-4315 | Email:katie.loughnot@ros.com |
ROSS STORES REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER
AND FISCAL YEAR 2007 RESULTS
Pleasanton, California, March 19, 2008 - -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended February 2, 2008 of $.70, compared to $.66 for the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2007. Net earnings for the 13 weeks ended February2, 2008 totaled $94.5 million, compared to net earnings for the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2007 of $93.1 million. Sales for the 13 weeks ended February 2, 2008 increased 3% to $1.652 billion compared to $1.608 billion for the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2007. Comparable store sales for the 13 weeks ended February 2, 2008 rose 2% over the 13 weeks ended February 3, 2007.
For the 52 weeks ended February 2, 2008, earnings per share were $1.90, compared to $1.70 for the 53 weeks ended February 3, 2007. Net earnings for the 52 weeks ended February 2, 2008 totaled $261.1 million, compared to $241.6 million for the 53 weeks ended February 3, 2007. Sales for the 2007 fiscal year increased 7% to $5.975 billion, with comparable store sales up 1% on top of a 4% gain in the prior year.
Adjusting for the extra week in fiscal 2006, these results represent earnings per share increases of 19% and 17% for the fourth quarter and fiscal year, respectively, on a 52-week basis. The 53rd week in fiscal 2006 added approximately $88 million in sales and earnings equivalent to approximately $.07 per share to both the fourth quarter and the year.
3
Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We realized solid earnings growth for both the fourth quarter and the full year. Our ability to deliver compelling bargains to customers allowed us to successfully navigate the challenging retail climate, reflecting the resiliency of our off-price business model. The strongest regions for both the fourth quarter and the year were the Northwest and Texas, while Dresses, Home and Shoes were the best performing merchandise categories.”
Mr. Balmuth continued, “For the 13-week fourth quarter of 2007, operating margin was 9.0% compared to 9.3% for the 14-week period in the prior year, as improvement in merchandise gross margin was offset mainly by increases in occupancy and store operating costs as a percent of sales. For the 2007 fiscal year, operating margin of 7.0% increased about 5 basis points over the prior year. Comparisons to last year are impacted by the 53rd week, which we estimate benefited the 2006 fourth quarter and fiscal year operating margin by about 55 and 20 basis points, respectively.”
“Strong operating cash flows during 2007 continued to provide the resources to make capital investments in new store growth and infrastructure, and fund our ongoing stock repurchase and dividend programs. During the year, we invested $236 million in capital, which supported the addition of 67 net new Ross locations, 26 dd’s DISCOUNTS® stores, distribution network projects and other various information technology and infrastructure investments,” said Mr. Balmuth.
“We also repurchased a total of 6.9 million shares of common stock in 2007, for an aggregate purchase price of $200 million, completing our two-year program. In January 2008, our Board of Directors approved a new two-year $600 million stock repurchase program for 2008 and 2009. This represents a 50% increase over the prior authorization, reflecting our ongoing confidence in the future growth prospects of the business. The Board also approved a 27% increase in our quarterly cash dividend to $.095 per share, our fourteenth consecutive annual dividend increase,” Mr. Balmuth concluded.
The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time to communicate additional details concerning the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2007 results and management’s outlook and plans for 2008. A real time audio webcast of the conference call will be available atwww.rossstores.com. An audio playback will be available at 706-645-9291, ID # 34935291 through March 26, 2008.
4
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and the recorded comments and transcript on our website contain forward-looking statements regarding expected sales and earnings levels that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from management’s current expectations. The words “plan,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “projected,” “guidance,” “looking ahead” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Risk factors for Ross Dress for Less® (“Ross”) and dd’s DISCOUNTS® include, without limitation, competitive pressures in the apparel industry; changes in the level of consumer spending on or preferences for apparel or home-related merchandise, including the potential impact from uncertainty in mortgage credit markets and higher gas prices; changes in geopolitical and general economic conditions; unseasonable weather trends; disruptions in supply chain; lower than planned gross margin, including higher than planned markdowns and higher than expected inventory shortage; greater than planned operating costs; our ability to continue to purchase attractive brand-name merchandise at desirable discounts; our ability to attract and retain personnel with the retail talent necessary to execute our strategies; our ability to effectively operate our various supply chain, core merchandising and other information systems; our ability to improve our merchandising capabilities through the development and implementation of new processes and systems enhancements; achieving and maintaining targeted levels of productivity and efficiency in our distribution centers; potential pressure on freight costs from higher-than-expected fuel surcharges; and obtaining acceptable new store locations. Other risk factors are detailed in our SEC filings including, without limitation, the Form 10-K for fiscal 2006, Form 10-Q’s for fiscal 2007 and Form 8-K’s for fiscal 2007 and 2008. The factors underlying our forecasts are dynamic and subject to change. As a result, our forecasts speak only as of the date they are given and do not necessarily reflect our outlook at any other point in time. We do not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements.
* * * *
Ross Stores, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the nation’s second largest off-price retailer with fiscal 2007 revenues of $6.0 billion. As of March 1, 2008, the Company operated 838 Ross Dress for Less® (“Ross”) stores and 54 dd’s DISCOUNTS® locations, compared to 771 Ross and 26 dd’s DISCOUNTS locations at the end of the same period last year. Ross offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices. dd’s DISCOUNTS features a more moderately-priced assortment of first-quality, in-season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 70 percent off moderate department and discount store regular prices. Additional information is available atwww.rossstores.com.
* * * *
5
Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
| | Three Months Ended | | Twelve Months Ended |
| | February 2, | | | February 3, | | | February 2, | | | February 3, | |
| ($000, except stores and per share data, unaudited) | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | |
| Sales | $ | 1,651,702 | | | $ | 1,608,437 | | | $ | 5,975,212 | | | $ | 5,570,210 | |
| |
| Costs and expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cost of goods sold | | 1,264,902 | | | | 1,230,741 | | | | 4,618,220 | | | | 4,317,527 | |
| Selling, general and administrative | | 237,525 | | | | 227,645 | | | | 935,901 | | | | 863,033 | |
| Interest income, net | | (2,691 | ) | | | (3,414 | ) | | | (4,029 | ) | | | (8,627 | ) |
| Total costs and expenses | | 1,499,736 | | | | 1,454,972 | | | | 5,550,092 | | | | 5,171,933 | |
| |
| Earnings before taxes | | 151,966 | | | | 153,465 | | | | 425,120 | | | | 398,277 | |
| |
| Provision for taxes on earnings | | 57,504 | | | | 60,358 | | | | 164,069 | | | | 156,643 | |
| Net earnings | $ | 94,462 | | | $ | 93,107 | | | $ | 261,051 | | | $ | 241,634 | |
| |
| |
| Earnings per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | $ | 0.71 | | | $ | 0.68 | | | $ | 1.93 | | | $ | 1.73 | |
| Diluted | $ | 0.70 | | | $ | 0.66 | | | $ | 1.90 | | | $ | 1.70 | |
| |
| |
| Weighted average shares outstanding (000) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | 132,805 | | | | 137,550 | | | | 135,093 | | | | 139,488 | |
| Diluted | | 134,447 | | | | 140,174 | | | | 137,142 | | | | 141,883 | |
| |
| |
| Dividends per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash dividends declared per share | $ | 0.17 | | | $ | 0.14 | | | $ | 0.32 | | | $ | 0.26 | |
| |
| |
| Stores open at end of period | | 890 | | | | 797 | | | | 890 | | | | 797 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
6
Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
| | February 2, | | February 3, |
| ($000, unaudited) | 2008 | | 2007 |
| Assets | | | | | |
| |
| Current Assets | | | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 257,580 | | $ | 367,388 |
| Short-term investments | | 6,098 | | | 5,247 |
| Accounts receivable | | 37,468 | | | 30,105 |
| Merchandise inventory | | 1,025,295 | | | 1,051,729 |
| Prepaid expenses and other | | 51,921 | | | 44,245 |
| Deferred income taxes | | 19,639 | | | 16,242 |
| Total current assets | | 1,398,001 | | | 1,514,956 |
| |
| Property and equipment, net | | 868,315 | | | 748,233 |
| Other long-term assets | | 64,240 | | | 64,266 |
| Long-term investments | | 40,766 | | | 31,136 |
| Total assets | $ | 2,371,322 | | $ | 2,358,591 |
| |
| |
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | | | | | |
| |
| Current Liabilities | | | | | |
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other | $ | 988,787 | | $ | 1,049,680 |
| Income taxes payable | | 21,818 | | | 33,577 |
| Total current liabilities | | 1,010,605 | | | 1,083,257 |
| |
| Long-term debt | | 150,000 | | | 150,000 |
| Other long-term liabilities | | 161,169 | | | 129,303 |
| Deferred income taxes | | 78,899 | | | 86,201 |
| |
| Commitments and contingencies | | | | | |
| |
| Stockholders' Equity | | 970,649 | | | 909,830 |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 2,371,322 | | $ | 2,358,591 |
| | | | | | |
7
Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows| | Twelve Months Ended |
| | February 2, | | | February 3, | |
| ($000, unaudited) | 2008 | | | 2007 | |
| Cash Flows From Operating Activities | | | | | | | |
| Net earnings | $ | 261,051 | | | $ | 241,634 | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by | | | | | | | |
| operating activities: | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | 120,699 | | | | 108,135 | |
| Stock-based compensation | | 25,165 | | | | 26,680 | |
| Deferred income taxes | | (10,699 | ) | | | (10,684 | ) |
| Tax benefit from equity issuance | | 6,535 | | | | 12,090 | |
| Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation | | (5,140 | ) | | | (9,599 | ) |
| Change in assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | |
| Merchandise inventory | | 26,434 | | | | (113,638 | ) |
| Other current assets, net | | (15,039 | ) | | | (8,138 | ) |
| Accounts payable | | (63,199 | ) | | | 221,644 | |
| Other current liabilities | | (18,716 | ) | | | 34,417 | |
| Other long-term, net | | 26,468 | | | | 4,326 | |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | | 353,559 | | | | 506,867 | |
| |
| Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities | | | | | | | |
| Purchase of assets under lease | | - | | | | (87,329 | ) |
| Additions to property and equipment | | (236,121 | ) | | | (136,626 | ) |
| Proceeds from sales of property and equipment | | 356 | | | | 615 | |
| Purchases of investments | | (146,082 | ) | | | (71,938 | ) |
| Proceeds from investments | | 137,104 | | | | 59,337 | |
| Net cash used in investing activities | | (244,743 | ) | | | (235,941 | ) |
| |
| Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities | | | | | | | |
| Payment of term debt | | - | | | | (50,000 | ) |
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | | - | | | | 150,000 | |
| Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation | | 5,140 | | | | 9,599 | |
| Issuance of common stock related to stock plans | | 20,753 | | | | 32,517 | |
| Treasury stock purchased | | (3,879 | ) | | | (3,787 | ) |
| Repurchase of common stock | | (200,000 | ) | | | (200,000 | ) |
| Dividends paid | | (40,638 | ) | | | (33,634 | ) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | | (218,624 | ) | | | (95,305 | ) |
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | (109,808 | ) | | | 175,621 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents: | | | | | | | |
| Beginning of period | | 367,388 | | | | 191,767 | |
| End of period | $ | 257,580 | | | $ | 367,388 | |
| |
| Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures | | | | | | | |
| Interest paid | $ | 9,668 | | | $ | 759 | |
| Income taxes paid | $ | 164,223 | | | $ | 147,122 | |
| |
| Non-Cash Investing Activities | | | | | | | |
| Change in fair value of investment securities | $ | 1,503 | | | $ | (183 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
8
