Chico's Fas (CHS) 8-K Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Exhibit 99.1

Chico’s FAS, Inc.• 11215 Metro Parkway• Fort Myers, Florida 33966• (239) 277-6200

For Immediate Release

Executive Contact:
Robert C. Atkinson
Vice President-Investor Relations
Chico’s FAS, Inc.
(239) 274-4199

Chico’s FAS, Inc. Announces Third Quarter EPS of $0.13
And Comparable Store Sales Increase of 12.8%

• Third quarter sales increased 13.4% to $446.9 million

• Quarter-end inventories decreased $27.2 million or 15% per selling square foot

• Cash and marketable securities were $423.3 million at quarter-end

     Fort Myers, FL- November 18, 2009- Chico’s FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2009 third quarter and nine months ended October 31, 2009.

2009 Third Quarter and Nine Months Financial Results

     For the third quarter ended October 31, 2009, the Company had net income of $22.7 million or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.0 million, or $0.01 per diluted share for the third quarter ended November 1, 2008.

     For the nine months ended October 31, 2009, the Company had net income of $52.1 million or $0.29 per diluted share, compared to net income of $21.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share in the first nine months of the prior year. Excluding the impairment charges recorded prior to the fiscal third quarter of 2009, the Company had net income of $60.3 million, or $0.34 per diluted share compared to net income of $21.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2008.

Sales

     Net sales for the thirteen-week period ended October 31, 2009 increased from $394.2 million to $446.9 million. Consolidated comparable store sales increased 12.8% for the thirteen-week period ended October 31, 2009 compared to a 13.4% decrease for the like period last year ended November 1, 2008. The Chico’s/Soma Intimates brands’ comparable store sales increased 12.2% compared to a 16.2% decrease for the like period last year, and the White House | Black Market (WH|BM) brand’s comparable store sales increased 14.4% compared to a 4.8% decrease for the like period last year. Direct-to-consumer sales, not included in comparable store sales, increased approximately 33% over third quarter 2008.

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Gross Margin

     Gross margin, expressed as a percentage of net sales, increased by 400 basis points to 57.6% from 53.6% in the prior year’s third quarter and in dollars from $211.4 million to $257.3 million. The gross margin increase was attributable to significant improvements in the brand merchandise margins at both Chico’s and WH|BM. The increased merchandise margins benefited from both lower markdowns and higher initial markups for the Chico’s and WH|BM brands. However, the improvements in gross margins were partially offset by the continued investment in merchandise payroll.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

     Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 increased from $213.1 million in the prior period to $221.0 million in the current period. However, expressed as a percentage of net sales, SG&A in the current quarter decreased by 450 basis points compared to the prior period primarily from leverage associated with improved comparable store sales as well as effective implementation of on-going cost reduction strategies at the store level.

     Store operating expenses for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 increased by $0.6 million, but decreased by 470 basis points, primarily due to leverage resulting from improved comparable store sales.

     Marketing expense for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 increased by $2.9 million primarily due to increases in print and broadcast advertisement associated with expanded national marketing campaigns designed to more effectively target purchasing during the fall and holiday shopping seasons.

     National Store Support Center costs, including corporate and other non-brand specific expenses, for the third quarter of 2009 increased by $4.4 million dollars due primarily to the increase in performance-based compensation accruals.

Inventories

     Quarter-ended inventory decreased $27.2 million or approximately 14.5% from the prior year’s third quarter. Consolidated inventory at the end of the third quarter was $61 per selling square foot, reflecting a decrease of approximately 15% compared to $72 at the end of the prior year’s third quarter. Quarter-ended inventory for the WH|BM brand decreased approximately 22% per selling square foot over the prior year’s third quarter, while Chico’s brand inventory decreased approximately 17% quarter over quarter.

Cash and Marketable Securities

     Cash and marketable securities at the end of the third quarter totaled $423.3 million, approximately $167 million higher than the prior year‘s third quarter end. Net cash provided from operating activities for the nine months ended October 31, 2009 increased by $126.1 million compared to the prior year as a result of higher cash flows from operations, an increase in accounts payables and accrued expenses, as well as lower inventory levels. Additionally, the Company invested $51.0 million in capital expenditures for the first nine months in fiscal 2009 versus $92.3 million for the same period last year.

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ABOUT CHICO’S FAS, INC.
The Company is a women’s specialty retailer of private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other non-clothing gift items. The Company operates 1,074 specialty stores, including stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The Chico’s brand currently operates 608 boutique and 43 outlet stores, publishes a catalog during key shopping periods throughout the year, and conducts e-commerce atwww.chicos.com.

White House | Black Market currently operates 331 boutique and 16 outlet stores, publishes a catalog highlighting its latest fashions and conducts e-commerce atwww.whitehouseblackmarket.com.

Soma Intimates is the Company’s developing concept with 75 boutique stores and 1 outlet store today. Soma Intimates also publishes a catalog for its customers and conducts e-commerce atwww.soma.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 Certain statements contained herein, including without limitation, statements addressing the beliefs, plans, objectives, estimates or expectations of the Company or future results or events constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements involve known or unknown risks, including, but not limited to, general economic and business conditions, and conditions in the specialty retail industry. There can be no assurance that the actual future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur. Users of forward-looking statements are encouraged to review the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K, its filings on Form 10-Q, management’s discussion and analysis in the Company’s latest annual report to stockholders, the Company’s filings on Form 8-K, and other federal securities law filings for a description of other important factors that may affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized.

For more detailed information on Chico’s FAS, Inc., please go to our corporate website,www.chicosfas.com.

(Financial Tables Follow)

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Chico’s FAS, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended								Thirteen Weeks Ended
	October 31, 2009				November 1, 2008				October 31, 2009				November 1, 2008
	Amount		% of Sales		Amount		% of Sales		Amount		% of Sales		Amount			% of Sales
Net sales by Chico’s/Soma stores	$	853,374		66.8	$	832,052		68.8	$	300,957		67.3	$	269,079			68.2
Net sales by White House | Black Market stores		357,319		28.0		328,696		27.2		121,408		27.2		106,751			27.1
Net sales by direct-to-consumer		66,727		5.2		48,278		4.0		24,498		5.5		18,413			4.7
Net sales		1,277,420		100.0		1,209,026		100.0		446,863		100.0		394,243			100.0
Cost of goods sold		555,713		43.5		555,490		45.9		189,585		42.4		182,870			46.4
Gross margin		721,707		56.5		653,536		54.1		257,278		57.6		211,373			53.6
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
Store operating expenses		482,481		37.8		485,436		40.2		165,106		37.0		164,494			41.7
Marketing		58,976		4.6		61,673		5.1		24,974		5.6		22,043			5.6
National Store Support Center		85,123		6.7		83,553		6.9		30,887		6.9		26,535			6.7
Impairment charges		13,026		1.0		—		—		—		—		—			—
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses		639,606		50.1		630,662		52.2		220,967		49.5		213,072			54.0
Income (loss) from operations		82,101		6.4		22,874		1.9		36,311		8.1		(1,699	)		(0.4	)
Interest income, net		1,337		0.1		6,433		0.5		334		0.1		2,394			0.6
Income before income taxes		83,438		6.5		29,307		2.4		36,645		8.2		695			0.2
Income tax provision (benefit)		31,300		2.4		7,900		0.6		13,900		3.1		(1,300	)		(0.3	)
Net income	$	52,138		4.1	$	21,407		1.8	$	22,745		5.1	$	1,995			0.5
Per share data:
Net income per common share-basic	$	0.29			$	0.12			$	0.13			$	0.01
Net income per common & common equivalent share—diluted	$	0.29			$	0.12			$	0.13			$	0.01
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic		177,348				176,452				177,662				176,517
Weighted average common & common equivalent shares outstanding—diluted		178,516				176,599				179,251				176,604

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Chico’s FAS, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)

	October 31,			January 31,			November 1,
	2009			2009			2008
	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	60,985		$	26,549		$	50,233
Marketable securities, at market		362,322			242,153			206,105
Receivables		5,845			33,993			38,287
Income tax receivable		728			11,706			—
Inventories		160,030			132,413			187,271
Prepaid expenses		24,152			21,702			24,063
Deferred taxes		7,524			17,859			19,131
Total Current Assets		621,586			486,375			525,090
Property and Equipment:
Land and land improvements		20,311			18,627			18,225
Building and building improvements		84,062			74,998			74,542
Equipment, furniture and fixtures		395,225			376,218			381,812
Leasehold improvements		416,003			418,691			428,755
Total Property and Equipment		915,601			888,534			903,334
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(386,999	)		(327,989	)		(319,083	)
Property and Equipment, Net		528,602			560,545			584,251
Other Assets:
Goodwill		96,774			96,774			96,774
Other intangible assets		38,930			38,930			38,930
Deferred taxes		39,398			38,458			29,406
Other assets, net		27,323			5,101			9,368
Total Other Assets		202,425			179,263			174,478
	$	1,352,613		$	1,226,183		$	1,283,819
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	97,238		$	56,542		$	81,948
Accrued liabilities		123,069			88,446			83,883
Current portion of deferred liabilities		2,236			1,748			1,528
Total Current Liabilities		222,543			146,736			167,359
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Deferred liabilities		167,819			177,251			174,307
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock		1,779			1,771			1,765
Additional paid-in capital		266,112			258,312			257,854
Retained earnings		694,116			641,978			682,522
Other accumulated comprehensive income		244			135			12
Total Stockholders’ Equity		962,251			902,196			942,153
	$	1,352,613		$	1,226,183		$	1,283,819
						��

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Chico’s FAS, Inc.
Consolidated Cash Flow Statements
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 31,			November 1,
	2009			2008
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	52,138		$	21,407
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities — Depreciation and amortization, cost of goods sold		5,770			7,122
Depreciation and amortization, other		66,637			68,190
Deferred tax expense (benefit)		9,394			(12,728	)
Stock-based compensation expense, cost of goods sold		1,994			2,612
Stock-based compensation expense, other		4,549			6,822
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		(1,473	)		(100	)
Impairment charges		13,026			—
Deferred rent expense, net		1,963			5,423
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		1,361			711
Decrease (increase) in assets —
Receivables, net		2,314			(528	)
Income tax receivable		10,978			23,973
Inventories		(27,617	)		(43,010	)
Prepaid expenses and other		(2,671	)		(3,035	)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities —
Accounts payable		40,696			(6,186	)
Accrued and other deferred liabilities		21,200			3,492
Total adjustments		148,121			52,758
Net cash provided by operating activities		200,259			74,165
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
(Purchases) sales of marketable securities, net		(120,061	)		54,376
Purchases of property and equipment		(51,016	)		(92,320	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(171,077	)		(37,944	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		3,960			307
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		1,473			100
Repurchase of common stock		(179	)		(196	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		5,254			211
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		34,436			36,432
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,Beginning of period		26,549			13,801
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,End of period	$	60,985		$	50,233

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SEC Regulation G — The Company reports its consolidated financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, to supplement these consolidated financial results, management believes that certain non-GAAP operating results, which exclude impairment and certain other non-recurring charges, may provide a more meaningful measure on which to compare the Company’s results of operations between periods. The Company believes these non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses that impact the comparability of the results. A reconciliation of the first nine months of 2009 earnings per diluted share on a GAAP basis to earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis is presented in the table below:

Chico’s FAS, Inc.
Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliation
Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS)

	39 weeks ended
	October 31, 2009
Diluted EPS on a GAAP basis (as reported)	$	0.29
Add: Impact of impairment charges		0.05
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS	$	0.34

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