PLEASANTON, Calif., March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended January 29, 2011 of $1.37, up from $1.16 for the 13 weeks ended January 30, 2010. These results represent a strong 18% increase on top of an outstanding 53% gain for the same period last year. Net earnings for the 2010 fourth quarter grew to a record $161.8 million, up 13% from $142.9 million in the prior year. Sales for the fourth quarter ended January 29, 2011 grew 8% to $2.145 billion, with comparable store sales up 4% on top of a 10% gain in 2009.

For the 52 weeks ended January 29, 2011, earnings per share were $4.63, up a robust 31% on top of a 52% gain in fiscal 2009 when earnings per share totaled $3.54. Net earnings for fiscal 2010 grew 25% to a record $554.8 million, from $442.8 million in the prior year. Sales for fiscal 2010 rose 9% to $7.866 billion, with same store sales up 5% on top of a 6% increase in 2009.

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are extremely pleased with our robust sales and earnings gains for the fourth quarter and full year that were well ahead of our expectations. This strong growth is even more notable considering that it was on top of very large increases in the prior year. These results demonstrate that we continue to benefit from our favorable position as a value retailer as well as the efficient execution of our off-price strategies."

Mr. Balmuth continued, "Earnings before interest and taxes for the 2010 fourth quarter grew to 12.3% of sales, up about 60 basis points on top of an exceptional 260 basis point increase in the prior year. Our improved profit margin for the quarter was due to a 105 basis point decline in cost of goods sold partially offset by a 45 basis point increase in selling, general and administrative costs, which primarily reflects a timing difference related to benefit costs versus the prior year. For fiscal 2010, operating margin rose to a record 11.5%, up 140 basis points on top of a 250 basis point gain in 2009. This higher level of profitability was driven by a 130 basis point increase in gross margin combined with a 10 basis point reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses. The key factors contributing to our improved profitability for 2010 were much higher merchandise gross margin, lower shortage costs and leverage on operating expenses from the solid gain in same store sales."

Healthy operating cash flows continued throughout the year, providing the resources to make capital investments in new store growth and infrastructure as well as to fund the Company's ongoing stock repurchase and dividend programs. A total of 6.7 million shares of common stock were repurchased during fiscal 2010, for an aggregate purchase price of $375 million. As the Company announced last month, its Board of Directors approved a new repurchase program for up to $900 million of common stock over the next two years through fiscal 2012. This new authorization, which represented approximately 12% of the Company's total market capitalization at the time of the announcement, replaced the $375 million remaining under the prior two-year $750 million stock repurchase program. The Board also raised the quarterly cash dividend to $.22 per share, up 38% on top of a 45% increase in the prior year.

In commenting on these actions, Mr. Balmuth noted, "Our larger stock repurchase authorization and substantial increase in the quarterly cash dividend demonstrate our confidence in the Company's ongoing ability to generate significant amounts of excess cash after self funding the capital needs of our business. We have repurchased stock as planned every year since 1993 and have also raised our quarterly cash dividend annually since 1994. This consistent record of returning excess cash reflects our unwavering commitment to enhancing stockholder value and returns."

Looking ahead, Mr. Balmuth said, "We believe that the current record level of operating profitability we achieved in 2010 is sustainable, mainly due to our ongoing ability to offer customers desirable name-brand bargains while running our business with much lower inventory levels. Reducing the amount of merchandise in our stores has stimulated sales growth by increasing the freshness of our assortments. It has also been a key driver of record levels of merchandise gross margin, as faster inventory turns have resulted in much lower markdowns as a percent of sales. Going forward, we remain confident that our steadfast focus on diligently executing our off-price strategies will enable us to continue to deliver compelling bargains and achieve our targets for both sales and earnings growth in 2011 and beyond."

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time to provide additional details concerning the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2010 results and management's outlook and plans for fiscal 2011. A real time audio webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investors section of the Company's website, located at http://www.rossstores.com/. An audio playback will be available at 706-645-9291, ID #47993893 until 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 24, 2011, as well as at the Company's website address.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and the recorded conference call on our corporate website contain forward-looking statements regarding expected sales and earnings levels in future periods that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations. The words "plan," "expect," "target," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "forecast," "projected," "guidance," "looking ahead" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Risk factors for Ross Dress for Less(R) ("Ross") and dd's DISCOUNTS(R) include without limitation, competitive pressures in the apparel or home-related merchandise industry; changes in the level of consumer spending on or preferences for apparel or home-related merchandise; the potential impact from the macro-economic environment and uncertainty in financial and credit markets including but not limited tointerest rates, recession, inflation, deflation,energy costs, tax rates and policy, unemployment trends, and fluctuating commodity costs; changes in geopoliticalconditions; unseasonable weather trends; disruptions in supply chain; lower than planned gross margin, including higher than planned markdowns and higher than expected inventory shortage; greater than planned operating costs; our ability to continue to purchase attractive brand-name merchandise at desirable discounts; our ability to attract and retain personnel with the retail talent necessary to execute our strategies; our ability to effectively operate our various supply chain, core merchandising and other information systems; our ability to improve our merchandising capabilities through the implementation of new processes and systems enhancements; achieving and maintaining targeted levels of productivity and efficiency in our distribution centers; and obtaining acceptable new store locations. Other risk factors are detailed in our SEC filings including, without limitation, the Form 10-K for fiscal 2009, Form 10-Qs for fiscal 2010 and Form 8-Ks for fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011. The factors underlying our forecasts are dynamic and subject to change. As a result, our forecasts speak only as of the date they are given and do not necessarily reflect our outlook at any other point in time. We do not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Ross Stores, Inc., an S&P 500, Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the nation's second largest off-price retailer with fiscal 2010 revenues of $7.9 billion. As of February 26, 2011 the Company operated 988 Ross Dress for Less(R) ("Ross") stores and 70 dd's DISCOUNTS(R) locations, compared to 953 Ross and 54 dd's DISCOUNTS locations at the end of the same period last year. Ross offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices. dd's DISCOUNTS features a more moderately-priced assortment of first-quality, in-season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 70 percent off moderate department and discount store regular prices. Additional information is available at http://www.rossstores.com/.

Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
				Three Months Ended				Twelve Months Ended
				January 29,		January 30,		January 29,		January 30,
($000, except stores and per share data, unaudited)				2011		2010		2011		2010
Sales				$ 2,145,242		$1,979,839		$ 7,866,100		$7,184,213
Costs and Expenses
	Costs of goods sold			1,562,355		1,462,581		5,729,735		5,327,278
	Selling, general and administrative			319,624		286,114		1,229,775		1,130,813
	Interest expense, net			2,513		2,604		9,569		7,593
		Total costs and expenses		1,884,492		1,751,299		6,969,079		6,465,684
Earnings before taxes				260,750		228,540		897,021		718,529
Provision for taxes on earnings				98,954		85,657		342,224		275,772
Net earnings				$ 161,796		$ 142,883		$ 554,797		$ 442,757
Earnings per share
	Basic			$ 1.40		$ 1.18		$ 4.71		$ 3.60
	Diluted			$ 1.37		$ 1.16		$ 4.63		$ 3.54
Weighted average shares outstanding (000)
	Basic			115,799		121,013		117,821		122,887
	Diluted			117,938		123,355		119,902		125,014
Dividends
	Cash dividends declared per share			$ 0.380		$ 0.270		$ 0.700		$ 0.490
Stores open at end of period				1,055		1,005		1,055		1,005

Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
				January 29,		January 30,
($000, unaudited)				2011		2010
Assets
Current Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents			$ 833,924		$ 768,343
	Short-term investments			3,204		1,754
	Accounts receivable			45,384		44,234
	Merchandise inventory			1,086,917		872,498
	Prepaid expenses and other			63,807		58,618
	Deferred income taxes			10,003		-
		Total current assets		2,043,239		1,745,447
Property and equipment, net				983,776		942,999
Long-term investments				14,082		16,848
Other long-term assets				75,107		63,339
Total assets				$ 3,116,204		$2,768,633
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current Liabilities
	Accounts payable			$ 767,455		$ 658,299
	Accrued expenses and other			292,174		259,582
	Accrued payroll and benefits			235,030		218,234
	Income taxes payable			57,661		51,505
	Deferred income taxes			-		2,894
		Total current liabilities		1,352,320		1,190,514
Long-term debt				150,000		150,000
Other long-term liabilities				189,989		174,543
Deferred income taxes				91,203		96,283
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity				1,332,692		1,157,293
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity				$ 3,116,204		$2,768,633

Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
				Twelve Months Ended
				January 29,		January 30,
($000, unaudited)				2011		2010
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net earnings				$ 554,797		$ 442,757
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
provided by operating activities:
	Depreciation and amortization			160,693		159,043
	Stock-based compensation			36,551		25,746
	Deferred income taxes			(17,977)		16,113
	Tax benefit from equity issuance			15,412		8,582
	Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(14,746)		(7,291)
	Change in assets and liabilities:
		Merchandise inventory		(214,419)		8,560
		Other current assets		(6,339)		(6,441)
		Accounts payable		102,851		115,893
		Other current liabilities		52,594		118,980
		Other long-term, net		3,649		6,442
		Net cash provided by operating activities		673,066		888,384
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Additions to property and equipment				(198,651)		(158,487)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment				-		10
Purchases of investments				(6,842)		(2,904)
Proceeds from investments				8,648		24,548
		Net cash used in investing activities		(196,845)		(136,833)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation				14,746		7,291
Issuance of common stock related to stock plans				36,479		49,393
Treasury stock purchased				(9,544)		(6,045)
Repurchase of common stock				(375,000)		(300,000)
Dividends paid				(77,321)		(55,202)
		Net cash used in financing activities		(410,640)		(304,563)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents				65,581		446,988
Cash and cash equivalents:
		Beginning of year		768,343		321,355
		End of year		$ 833,924		$ 768,343
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Interest paid				$ 9,668		$ 9,668
Income taxes paid				$ 330,589		$ 201,232
Non-Cash Investing Activities
Increase in fair value of investment securities				$ 490		$ 1,435

SOURCE Ross Stores, Inc.

CONTACT:
John Call
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
+1-925-965-4315
or
Bobbi Chaville
Senior Director, Investor Relations
+1-925-965-4289
bobbi.chaville@ros.com
both of Ross Stores, Inc.