Stein Mart (SMRTQ) 8-K Stein Mart, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2007 Financial Results

Exhibit 99.1

1200 RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD • JACKSONVILLE, FL 32207-1809 • (904) 346-1500

May 24, 2007	For more information:
	Susan Datz Edelman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Director, Stockholder Relations
	(904) 346-1506
	sedelman@steinmart.com

STEIN MART, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2007 FINANCIAL RESULTS

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Stein Mart, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMRT) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended May 5, 2007. As a reminder, the 53^rd week in fiscal 2006 created a timing shift in the 4-5-4 calendar for fiscal 2007, creating a one-week difference between Stein Mart’s fiscal reporting periods and comparable store sales reporting periods. This timing shift positively impacted total net sales for the first quarter of 2007.

For the 13-week first quarter of 2007, the Company earned $8.1 million or $0.18 per diluted share as compared to net income of $7.6 million or $0.17 per diluted share in 2006. Net sales increased 3.1 percent to $376.1 million from $364.8 million for the 13 weeks ended April 29, 2006. Comparable store sales for the 13 weeks ended May 5, 2007 decreased 2.0 percent from the 13 weeks ended May 6, 2006.

Gross profit increased to $104.9 million or 27.9 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2007 compared to $97.6 million or 26.7 percent of sales in the same period last year. The gross profit rate increased 120 basis points due to improved markup and decreased markdowns, somewhat offset by increased share-based buying costs.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $97.4 million or 25.9 percent of sales as compared to $90.5 million or 24.8 percent of sales during the same period last year. The SG&A rate was higher due to a lack of leverage on negative comparable store sales, and reflected increases in store operating expenses, depreciation, advertising, and share-based compensation.

“Our first quarter performance was severely impaired by the significant shortfall in April sales,” said Michael D. Fisher, president and chief executive officer of Stein Mart, Inc. “Following the earlier Easter and record cold weather in early April, we had hoped to see a stronger recovery, but our business is still underperforming our spring plan and we are concerned about the impact of a lower level of consumer spending going forward.”

Guidance for Second Quarter 2007

The timing shift from the fiscal 2006 53^rd week will have a negative impact on second quarter 2007 total net sales in comparison to total net sales from the second quarter of 2006. Management expects comparable store sales to be flat to slightly positive for the second quarter, based on recent selling trends. Gross margin will be negatively impacted by the expectation of higher markdowns to clear seasonal commodity merchandise and the aforementioned calendar shift. In addition, investments made in the last year for systems, infrastructure and an accelerated store-opening program will adversely affect selling, general and administrative expenses.

Based on this comparable stores sales forecast, the calendar shift, the expectation of increased markdowns and the expense demands outlined above, management is establishing second quarter 2007 earnings guidance of $0.06 to $0.10 per share.

“We made substantial investments in our business last year, anticipating higher sales in 2007,” Fisher noted. “In this more challenging environment, we need greater productivity to leverage expenses, and we are pursuing aggressive cost reduction opportunities throughout the organization. We expect these strategies will begin to benefit the bottom line in the second half of the year.”

Store Network Update

Two stores (Austin, TX and La Mirada, CA) were opened in the first quarter and one was relocated. As of May 5, 2007, the Company operated 270 stores as compared to 263 stores at the same time last year.

For the remainder of the year, the Company plans to open 12-15 stores for a total of 14-17 new stores for 2007. Leases have been signed for additional locations in North Carolina, Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, Texas, New Jersey and Nevada. Two locations are expected to close and one additional store will be relocated.

Dividend and Stock Repurchase Update

The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0625 per common share payable on June 22, 2007 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 8, 2007.

In the first quarter of 2007, the Company repurchased 201,500 shares of stock at a cost of $3 million, and an additional 250,000 shares thus far in the second quarter. In April, the Board of Directors authorized an additional 2.5 million shares of common stock for repurchase by the Company.

Conference Call with Management

Management will discuss these financial results and the Company’s perspective on the remainder of the spring season in a conference call with financial analysts today (May 24, 2007) at 10:00 a.m. ET. The call may be heard on the investor relations portion of Stein Mart’s website at http://ir.steinmart.com, and a recording of the call will remain on the website until the end of the month.

About Stein Mart

Stein Mart stores offer the fashion merchandise, service and presentation of a better department or specialty store, at prices competitive with off-price retail chains. Currently with locations from California to New York, Stein Mart’s focused assortment of merchandise features moderate to designer brand-name apparel for women and men, as well as accessories, gifts, linens and shoes.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT>>>>>>> Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release may be forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied will not be realized. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Stein Mart’s actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted or expected results. Those risks include, without limitation:

• the effectiveness of advertising,marketing and promotional strategies

• changes in consumer spending due to current events and/or general economic conditions

• on-going competition from other retailers

• unanticipated weather conditions and unseasonable weather

• changing preferences in apparel

• adequate sources of merchandise at acceptable prices

• availability of new store sites at acceptable lease terms

• the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees to support planned growth

• ability to successfully implement strategies to exit or improve under-performing stores

• disruption of the Company’s distribution system

• acts of terrorism

and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SMRT-F

###

Additional information about Stein Mart, Inc. can be found at www.steinmart.com

Stein Mart, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except for share data)

	May 5, 2007		February 3, 2007		April 29, 2006
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	23,484	$	17,560	$	33,553
Short-term investments		—		10,835		25,000
Trade and other receivables		10,172		10,164		11,510
Inventories		308,279		290,943		287,627
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		17,151		14,531		15,615
Total current assets		359,086		344,033		373,305
Property and equipment, net		112,376		113,254		95,156
Other assets		28,633		23,064		16,791
Total assets	$	500,095	$	480,351	$	485,252
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	91,635	$	83,243	$	125,213
Accrued liabilities		73,093		78,522		73,603
Income taxes payable		9,108		7,483		6,733
Total current liabilities		173,836		169,248		205,549
Notes payable to banks		5,420		—		—
Other liabilities		24,359		22,931		17,394
Total liabilities		203,615		192,179		222,943
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock - $.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
Common stock - $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 43,850,458, 43,736,720 and 43,587,650 shares issued and outstanding, respectively		438		437		436
Additional paid-in capital		24,888		21,803		23,392
Unearned compensation		—		—		(6,002	)
Retained earnings		271,154		265,932		244,483
Total stockholders’ equity		296,480		288,172		262,309
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	500,095	$	480,351	$	485,252

Stein Mart, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

	13 Weeks Ended May 5, 2007		13 Weeks Ended April 29,2006
Net sales	$	376,119	$	364,831
Cost of merchandise sold		271,209		267,245
Gross profit		104,910		97,586
Selling, general and administrative expenses		97,411		90,536
Other income, net		5,379		4,153
Income from operations		12,878		11,203
Interest income, net		127		891
Income before income taxes		13,005		12,094
Provision for income taxes		4,893		4,535
Net income	$	8,112	$	7,559
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.19	$	0.17
Diluted	$	0.18	$	0.17
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		43,240		43,228
Diluted		43,912		44,074

Stein Mart, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	13 Weeks Ended May 5, 2007			13 Weeks Ended April 29, 2006
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	8,112		$	7,559
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		6,365			6,029
Impairment of property and other assets		108			—
Store closing charges		55			331
Deferred income taxes		(1,092	)		(714	)
Share-based compensation		2,300			891
Tax benefit from equity issuances		293			180
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		(267	)		(51	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Trade and other receivables		(8	)		(389	)
Inventories		(17,336	)		(21,839	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(687	)		(1,943	)
Other assets		(2,410	)		(225	)
Accounts payable		8,392			36,805
Accrued liabilities		(4,938	)		(7,294	)
Income taxes payable		(3,983	)		(3,159	)
Other liabilities		2,005			227
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(3,091	)		16,408
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(5,266	)		(12,981	)
Purchases of short-term investments		(36,580	)		(463,750	)
Sales of short-term investments		47,415			543,685
Net cash provided by investing activities		5,569			66,954
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under notes payable to banks		7,420			—
Repayments of notes payable to banks		(2,000	)		—
Cash dividends paid		(2,734	)		(68,117	)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		267			51
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		3,450			1,542
Repurchase of common stock		(2,957	)		(3,485	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		3,446			(70,009	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		5,924			13,353
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		17,560			20,200
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	23,484		$	33,553
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid	$	8,341		$	8,211