Exhibit 12.1 Kohl's Corporation Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ($000s) 39 Weeks Ended -------------- Fiscal Year (1) Oct 30, Oct 31, --------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Earnings - -------- Income before income taxes and extraordinary items $ 224,415 $ 161,787 $ 316,749 $ 235,063 $ 171,368 $ 122,729 $ 117,451 Fixed charges (3) 59,672 46,049 63,135 57,446 42,806 30,649 19,758 Less interest capitalized during period (2,651) (1,215) (1,878) (2,043) (2,829) (1,287) (603) --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- $ 281,436 $ 206,621 $ 378,006 $ 290,466 $ 211,345 $ 152,091 $ 136,606 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= Fixed Charges - ------------- Interest (expensed or capitalized) (3) $ 24,044 $ 18,196 $ 24,550 $ 26,304 $ 20,574 $ 14,774 $ 7,911 Portion of rent expense representative of interest 35,447 27,704 38,385 30,798 22,031 15,798 11,777 Amortization of deferred financing fees 181 149 200 344 201 77 70 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- $ 59,672 $ 46,049 $ 63,135 $ 57,446 $ 42,806 $ 30,649 $ 19,758 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 4.72 4.49 5.99 5.06 4.94 4.96 (2) 6.91 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= (1) Fiscal 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1994 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. (3) Interest expense for fiscal 1997, 1996, and 1995 has been restated to properly reflect interest expense included on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.