DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC.
REPORTS FIRST QUARTER NET EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE OF $0.38
CHESAPEAKE, Va. – May 30, 2007 – Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR), the nation's leading operator of single-price point dollar stores, reported net earnings per diluted share of $0.38, for the fiscal first quarter ended May 5, 2007, an increase of 22.6% over the $0.31 earnings per diluted share for the same period, one year ago. Sales for the quarter were $975.0 million, a 13.8% increase compared to $856.5 million, for the same period, one year ago. Comparable store sales increased 5.8% for the quarter.
“We are pleased with the strength of our first quarter results,” said President and CEO Bob Sasser. “With increases in both traffic and average ticket, Dollar Tree delivered record first quarter sales, net income and earnings per share. I am especially pleased with the improvement in operating margin that comes as the result of planning and execution by our merchandising, operations and logistics teams.”
“Heading into the second quarter, our inventories are well balanced. Dollar Tree is the destination for cool summer savings on hot items for the pool, beach, and barbeque season and we have a great selection of basic products our customers need every day, all at amazing value.”
For the first quarter, our gross margin rate was 33.4%, which is flat when compared to last year’s first quarter. This rate reflects positive leverage of buying, distribution, and occupancy costs attributable to the comparable store sales increase as well as a small negative impact from increases in diesel fuel costs.
Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 27.0 % in the first quarter of 2007, compared to 27.2% in the same quarter last year. The improvement in rate also reflects the leverage associated with the positive comparable store sales, as well as the Company’s dedication to expense control.
Operating margin in this year’s first quarter was 6.4%, a 20 basis point improvement compared to the 6.2% reported for the same period, one year ago.
During the first quarter of 2007, the Company expended $153.3 million for share repurchase. Substantially all of this amount was facilitated through a $150 million Accelerated Share Buyback program, through Goldman, Sachs & Co.
The Company estimates sales for the second quarter of 2007 to be in the range of $960 - $985 million, based on a low to mid single digit positive comparable store sales increase. Based upon this sales forecast, diluted earnings per share are estimated to be in the range of $0.29 to $0.32.
Full year sales are now forecasted to be in the range of $4.28 to $4.38 billion while diluted earnings per share is expected to be $2.00 to $2.12, and reflects an increase of $0.04 and $0.02 diluted earnings per share above the low and high end of previous earnings guidance for fiscal 2007. These results also include the impact of approximately $210 million of estimated share repurchase activity for 2007.
On Wednesday, May 30, 2007, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its earnings results at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The telephone number for the call is 888-202-2422. A recorded version of the call will be available until midnight Friday, June 8, and may be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112, and the access code is 5260884. A webcast of the call is accessible through Dollar Tree's website, www.DollarTree.com/medialist.cfm, and will remain on-line until midnight Friday, June 8.
As of May 5, 2007, Dollar Tree operated 3,280 stores in 48 states. During the first quarter, Dollar Tree opened 75 stores, closed 14 stores, expanded or relocated 27. The Company’s retail selling square footage totaled approximately 27.0 million at May 5, 2007, an 8.0% increase compared to a year ago.
A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements address future events, developments or results and typically use words such as believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, forecast, or estimate. For example, our forward-looking statements include statements regarding second-quarter and full year sales and second-quarter and full year diluted earnings per share. For a discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our future events, developments or results, you should carefully review the “Risk Factors,” "Business," and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections in our Annual Report on Form 10 - K filed April 4, 2007. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the future events, developments or results described by our forward looking statements in this document could turn out to be materially and adversely different from those we discuss or imply. We are not obligated to release publicly any revisions to any forward looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report and you should not expect us to do so.
| CONTACT: | Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., Chesapeake |
| | Timothy J. Reid, 757-321-5284 |
| | www.DollarTree.com |
DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC. |
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements |
(Dollars in millions, except per share data) |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | First Quarter ended | |
| | | May 5, | | | April 29, | |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | | | | | | |
| Net sales | | $ | 975.0 | | | $ | 856.5 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Cost of sales | | | 649.7 | | | | 570.4 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Gross profit | | | 325.3 | | | | 286.1 | |
| | | | 33.4 | % | | | 33.4 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Selling, general & administrative expenses | | | 263.0 | | | | 232.6 | |
| | | | 27.0 | % | | | 27.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Operating income | | | 62.3 | | | | 53.5 | |
| | | | 6.4 | % | | | 6.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Interest expense, net | | | (1.6 | ) | | | (0.9 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Income before income taxes | | | 60.7 | | | | 52.6 | |
| | | | 6.2 | % | | | 6.1 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Income tax expense | | | 22.6 | | | | 19.7 | |
| Income tax rate | | | 37.2 | % | | | 37.4 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net income | | $ | 38.1 | | | $ | 32.9 | |
| | | | 3.9 | % | | | 3.8 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net earnings per share: | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | $ | 0.38 | | | $ | 0.31 | |
| Weighted average number of shares | | | 99.2 | | | | 106.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted | | $ | 0.38 | | | $ | 0.31 | |
| Weighted average number of shares | | | 100.0 | | | | 106.8 | |
DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC. |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets |
(Dollars in millions) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | May 5, | | | Feb. 3, | | | Apr. 29, | |
| | | 2007 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 59.8 | | | $ | 85.0 | | | $ | 64.2 | |
| Short-term investments | | | 128.7 | | | | 221.8 | | | | 223.2 | |
| Merchandise inventories | | | 599.7 | | | | 605.0 | | | | 633.8 | |
| Other current assets | | | 50.0 | | | | 47.2 | | | | 25.0 | |
| Total current assets | | | 838.2 | | | | 959.0 | | | | 946.2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Property and equipment, net | | | 715.3 | | | | 715.3 | | | | 702.9 | |
| Intangibles, net | | | 145.5 | | | | 146.6 | | | | 144.8 | |
| Other assets, net | | | 63.9 | | | | 52.4 | | | | 43.9 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | | $ | 1,762.9 | | | $ | 1,873.3 | | | $ | 1,837.8 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current portion of long-term debt | | | 18.8 | | | | 18.8 | | | | 19.0 | |
| Accounts payable | | | 186.7 | | | | 189.2 | | | | 187.3 | |
| Other current liabilities | | | 110.1 | | | | 132.0 | | | | 103.7 | |
| Income taxes payable | | | 9.9 | | | | 43.3 | | | | 34.5 | |
| Total current liabilities | | | 325.5 | | | | 383.3 | | | | 344.5 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Long-term debt, excluding current portion | | | 250.0 | | | | 250.0 | | | | 250.0 | |
| Other liabilities | | | 89.5 | | | | 72.3 | | | | 75.9 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities | | | 665.0 | | | | 705.6 | | | | 670.4 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shareholders' equity | | | 1,097.9 | | | | 1,167.7 | | | | 1,167.4 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | $ | 1,762.9 | | | $ | 1,873.3 | | | $ | 1,837.8 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| STORE DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Number of stores open at end of period | | | 3,280 | | | | 3,219 | | | | 3,119 | |
| Total selling square footage (in millions) | | | 27.0 | | | | 26.3 | | | | 25.0 | |
DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC. |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
(Dollars in millions) |
| | | | | | | |
| | | First Quarter Ended | |
| | | May 5, | | | April 29, | |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | | | | | | |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | |
| Net income | | $ | 38.1 | | | $ | 32.9 | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by | | | | | | | | |
| operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | 39.3 | | | | 36.3 | |
| Other non-cash adjustments | | | 5.8 | | | | (5.5 | ) |
| Changes in working capital | | | (52.7 | ) | | | 13.8 | |
| Total adjustments | | | (7.6 | ) | | | 44.6 | |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 30.5 | | | | 77.5 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | |
| Capital expenditures | | | (39.7 | ) | | | (42.5 | ) |
| Purchase of short-term investments | | | (452.5 | ) | | | (178.6 | ) |
| Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments | | | 545.5 | | | | 229.4 | |
| Purchase of Deals assets, net of cash acquired of $0.3 | | | - | | | | (50.8 | ) |
| Other | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) |
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | | | 53.2 | | | | (42.6 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | |
| Principal payments under capital lease obligations | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) |
| Proceeds from stock issued pursuant to stock-based | | | | | | | | |
| compensation plans | | | 37.9 | | | | 10.3 | |
| Payments for share repurchases | | | (153.3 | ) | | | (47.8 | ) |
| Tax benefit of stock options exercised | | | 6.6 | | | | 1.1 | |
| Net cash used in financing activities | | | (108.9 | ) | | | (36.5 | ) |
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | (25.2 | ) | | | (1.6 | ) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | 85.0 | | | | 65.8 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 59.8 | | | $ | 64.2 | |
