Exhibit 12.1 Kohl's Corporation Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ($000s) 13 Weeks Ended ------------------ Fiscal Year (1) May 2, May 3, --------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1997 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Earnings - -------- Income before income taxes and extraordinary items $44,231 $25,471 $235,063 $171,368 $122,729 $117,451 $96,691 Fixed charges 15,103 13,439 57,683 44,054 30,770 19,758 16,144 Less interest capitalized during period (445) (643) (2,043) (2,829) (1,287) (603) (376) ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- $58,889 $38,267 $290,703 $212,593 $152,212 $136,606 $112,459 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fixed Charges - ------------- Interest (expensed or capitalized) $ 6,059 $ 6,647 $ 26,541 $21,822 $14,895 $ 7,911 $6,253 Portion of rent expense representative of interest 8,994 6,729 30,798 22,031 15,798 11,777 9,113 Amortization of deferred financing fees 50 63 344 201 77 70 778 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- $15,103 $13,439 $57,683 $44,054 $30,770 $19,758 $16,144 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.90 2.85 5.04 4.83 4.95 (2) 6.91 6.97 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== (1) Fiscal 1997, 1996, 1994 and 1993 are 52 week years and fiscal 1995 is a 53 week year. (2) Excluding the credit operations non-recurring expense of $14,052, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would be 5.40.