PLEASANTON, Calif., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 of $1.28, up from $1.07 for the 13 weeks ended July 31, 2010. These results represent a 20% increase on top of exceptional 30% and 52% gains in the second quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net earnings for the 2011 second quarter grew to $148.3 million, up 15% from $129.3 million in the prior year. Sales for the quarter ended July 30, 2011 increased 9% to $2.089 billion, with comparable store sales up 5% on top of a 4% gain in 2010.

For the six months ended July 30, 2011, earnings per share were $2.76, up from $2.24 for the six months ended July 31, 2010. These results represent a 23% increase on top of outstanding earnings per share gains of 45% and 37% for the first half of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net earnings for the six months ended July 30, 2011 were $321.2 million, up 18% from $271.6 million in the prior year period. Sales for the first six months of 2011 increased 8% to $4.164 billion, with comparable store sales up 4% on top of a robust 7% gain last year.

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with our better-than-expected performance for both the second quarter and first six months of 2011. Our ability to increase the percentage of fresh name brand bargains our customers see, while also strictly controlling inventories and expenses, has enabled us to capitalize on our favorable position as a value retailer."

Mr. Balmuth continued, "Operating margin in the second quarter grew about 55 basis points to 11.7%, driven primarily by a 50 basis point reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses. Cost of goods sold declined by about 5 basis points, as higher merchandise gross margin and leverage on occupancy expenses were partially offset by an expected increase in packaway-related distribution costs as a percent of sales."

Discussing the Company's financial condition, Mr. Balmuth noted, "Our balance sheet and cash flows remain healthy, and we continue to enhance stockholder returns through our stock repurchase and dividend programs. During the first six months of fiscal 2011, we repurchased 3.1 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $230 million. We remain on track to complete by the end of fiscal 2011 approximately $450 million of our current two-year $900 million stock repurchase authorization."

Looking ahead, Mr. Balmuth said, "While we are pleased with our ahead-of-plan performance year to date, we believe it is prudent to be cautious in our outlook for the back half of the year mainly due to the unknown impact on consumers from the recent stock market volatility and increased economic uncertainty. It is also unclear how higher sourcing costs and expected price increases throughout all of retail will impact our business. As a result, although we hope to do better, our sales and earnings targets for the second half of 2011 remain unchanged. For the third quarter ending October 29, 2011, we are projecting same store sales to increase 1% to 2% and earnings per share of $1.00 to $1.04. For the fourth quarter ending January 28, 2012, we are forecasting a 2% to 3% increase in comparable store sales and earnings per share of $1.53 to $1.59. Earnings per share for the 2011 fiscal year ending January 28, 2012 are now projected to be $5.29 to $5.39. This updated range compares to our previous guidance of $5.16 to $5.31 and represents forecasted growth of 14% to 16% over earnings per share of $4.63 in fiscal 2010."

The Company will provide additional details about its second quarter results and management's outlook for the third and fourth quarters of 2011 on a conference call to be held on Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. Participants may listen to a real time audio webcast of the conference call by visiting the Investors section of the Company's website located at http://www.rossstores.com/. A recorded version of the call will also be available at the website address, and via a telephone recording through 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 706-645-9291, ID # 90617064.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and the conference call comments on our corporate website contain forward-looking statements regarding expected sales, earnings levels and other financial results 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® ("Ross") and dd's DISCOUNTS® 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 impact from the macro-economic environment and financial and credit markets including but not limited to interest 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 2010 and Form 10-Q and 8-Ks for 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. is an S&P 500, Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company headquartered in Pleasanton, California, with fiscal 2010 revenues of $7.9 billion. The Company operates Ross Dress for Less® ("Ross"), the largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States with 1,013 locations in 27 states and Guam. 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% off department and specialty store regular prices. The Company also operates 78 dd's DISCOUNTS® locations in six states that feature 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% off moderate department and discount store regular prices. Additional information is available at http://www.rossstores.com/.

Contact:John G. Call Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Phone: (925) 965-4315

Bobbi Chaville Senior Director, Investor Relations Phone: (925) 965-4289 Email: mailto: bobbi.chaville@ros.com

SOURCE Ross Stores, Inc.