NEWARK, Calif., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported that net earnings for the 13 weeks ended November 2, 2002 increased 29% to $45.1 million from $35.0 million for the 13 weeks ended November 3, 2001. Earnings per share for the same period rose 33% to $.57 from $.43 in the prior year. Current year third quarter sales totaled $870 million, up 18% from the $739 million in sales for the third quarter ended November 3, 2001. Comparable store sales for the period grew 7% over the prior year.

For the 39 weeks ended November 2, 2002, net earnings increased 36% to $142.4 million from $105.1 million for the same period in 2001. Earnings per share for the same period rose 38% to $1.78 from $1.29 in the prior year. Sales for the first nine months grew 20% to $2.567 billion, compared to $2.138 billion in the prior year, with same store sales up 9% for the period.

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The strength of our business in the third quarter was geographically broadbased, with solid comparable store sales gains in all major markets. Year-to-date merchandise trends also continued, with the home categories registering mid teen gains in same store sales for the quarter. Ladies apparel remained healthy. Junior sportswear, in particular, had a robust back-to-school season with a high single digit comparable store sales gain on top of an over 40% increase in the prior year."

Mr. Balmuth continued, "Gross margin during the third quarter declined 38 basis points due to a combination of the de-leveraging effect on occupancy costs, mainly from the start-up of our new southeast distribution center, and slightly lower merchandise margins. Our sharper pricing strategy has been an important factor in delivering more competitive values, which helped to drive higher than expected sales and lower markdowns as a percent of sales. In addition, we realized significant improvement in our expense ratio, with general, selling and administrative costs as a percent of sales down 90 basis points. The quarter benefited from excellent expense control and leverage on fixed costs from the 7% increase in same store sales, as well as processing efficiencies from our new distribution center systems investments. As a result, operating margin for the third quarter grew 68 basis points over the prior year to 8.5%."

"We recently completed our 2002 expansion program. By year-end, we will have added 55 new locations or 12% growth, to end 2002 with 507 stores in 23 states. Our success in new markets has been a key driver in generating stronger increases in top line sales over the past several quarters. We just opened two stores in our newest state, Alabama, and plan to enter other new markets in Tennessee and Louisiana in 2003," noted Mr. Balmuth.

Mr. Balmuth continued, "In early February, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a new two-year $300 million stock repurchase program. During the first nine months of 2002, we repurchased 3.2 million shares of common stock for an aggregate investment of $123.4 million, ending the quarter with 77.6 million shares of common stock outstanding."

The company will provide additional details concerning its third quarter results and business outlook on a conference call to be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Participants may listen to a real time audio webcast of the conference call by visiting the company's web site located at www.rossstores.com. A recorded version of the call will also be available until the end of the month at the web site address and via a telephone recording through November 26, 2002 at 402-220-5900, PIN #2342.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements which are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations. The words "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Risk factors include obtaining acceptable new store locations, competitive pressures in the apparel industry, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the level of consumer spending on or preferences in apparel or home-related merchandise, the company's ability to successfully implement various new supply chain, financial and merchandising systems, unseasonable weather trends, and greater than planned operating costs. Other risk factors are detailed in the company's Form 10-K for fiscal 2001. 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 the company's outlook at any other point in time. The company does not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Ross Stores, Inc. operates a national chain of off-price retail stores offering first quality, in-season, branded apparel and apparel-related merchandise for the entire family at prices that average 20% to 60% less than department and specialty stores, as well as merchandise for the home at similar savings. The company had 510 stores in operation as of November 2, 2002, compared to 453 stores at the end of the same period last year.

                                ROSS STORES, INC.
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                 November 2,       November 3,
    ($000)                                         2002               2001

ASSETS

    Current Assets
           Cash and cash equivalents              $101,490           $36,182
           Accounts receivable                      29,238            22,221
           Merchandise inventory                   751,845           697,854
           Other current assets                     46,198            29,837
                Total Current Assets              $928,771          $786,094

           Property and equipment, net             376,743           323,806
           Lease rights, deferred income
            taxes and other assets                  35,735            39,992
                                                $1,341,249        $1,149,892

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities

           Accounts payable, accrued
            expenses and other                    $636,382          $485,120
           Income taxes payable                     39,265            25,875
                Total Current Liabilities         $675,647          $510,995

            Long-term debt                          25,000            75,000
            Other liabilities                       40,556            39,029
            Deferred Income Taxes                    7,646                 0

    Stockholders' Equity                           592,400           524,868
                                                $1,341,249        $1,149,892



                                ROSS STORES, INC.
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                                   Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
    ($000, except per share data,    Nov. 2,   Nov. 3,    Nov. 2,     Nov. 3,
     unaudited)                       2002      2001       2002        2001

    Sales                          $870,196  $739,272  $2,566,738  $2,138,223

    Costs and Expenses
           Cost of goods sold and
            occupancy               602,181   508,746   1,765,871   1,478,668
           General, selling and
            administrative          180,230   159,755     527,182     446,981
           Depreciation and
            amortization             13,681    12,792      39,310      36,869
           Interest expense              85       463         493       3,168
                                    796,177   681,756   2,332,856   1,965,686

    Earnings before income taxes     74,019    57,516     233,882     172,537

    Provision for taxes on
     earnings                        28,941    22,489      91,448      67,462
    Net earnings                    $45,078   $35,027    $142,434    $105,075


    Earnings per share
           Basic                      $0.58     $0.44       $1.82       $1.31
           Diluted                    $0.57     $0.43       $1.78       $1.29


    Weighted average shares
     outstanding (000)
           Basic                     77,714    79,925      78,338      80,059
           Diluted                   79,203    81,479      79,974      81,236

    Stores open end of period           510       453         510         453



                     

SOURCE Ross Stores, Inc.

-0- 11/19/2002

CONTACT:
John G. Call
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
1-510-505-4315
or
Katie Loughnot, Vice President, Investor Relations
1-510-505-4509
or katie.loughnot@ros.com
both of Ross Stores, Inc.