PLEASANTON, Calif., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ROST) today reported that sales increased 11% to $534 million for the
four weeks ended May 2, 2009, up from $480 million for the four weeks ended
May 3, 2008. Comparable store sales for the month grew 6% over the prior year.
For the quarter ended May 2, 2009, sales totaled $1.692 billion, a 9%
increase over the $1.556 billion in sales for the thirteen weeks ended May 3,
2008. Comparable store sales for the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2009 grew 3%
on top of a 3% increase in the prior year period.
Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer,
commented, "We are very pleased with our sales gains for both April and the
first quarter, especially considering the ongoing challenging economic and
retail environment. We believe our solid performance throughout the quarter
was driven by our continued ability to deliver compelling bargains to
customers. Dresses, Children's and Shoes were the best performing merchandise
categories for the month while the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic were the
strongest regions."
Mr. Balmuth continued, "Our first quarter earnings are benefiting from
above-plan sales, better-than-expected merchandise gross margin and tight
expense control. As a result, earnings per share for the thirteen weeks ended
May 2, 2009 are now estimated to be $.71 to $.72, up a strong 18% to 20% from
the prior year's $.60 per share. This compares to our previous earnings per
share range of $.68 to $.70."
Additional recorded information concerning today's press release and the
Company's future outlook can be accessed by calling 706-645-9291, ID#
82461828, from 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on May 7, 2009 through 8:00 p.m. Eastern
time on May 8, 2009. A transcript of these comments is available in the
Investors section of the corporate website at www.rossstores.com. The Company
will report first quarter 2009 earnings results and provide second quarter
sales and earnings guidance on Thursday, May 21st. May 2009 sales results will
be issued on Thursday, June 4th.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and the recorded comments
and transcript 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 estimated
earnings per share for the first quarter ended May 2, 2009 are preliminary and
subject to adjustments. 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, including the potential impact from
uncertainty in financial and credit markets and the severity and duration of
the current recession; changes in geopolitical and general economic
conditions; 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 development and
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 2008 and Form 8-K's for fiscal 2009. 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., a Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company
headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the nation's second largest
off-price retailer with fiscal 2008 revenues of $6.5 billion. As of May 2,
2009, the Company operated 922 Ross Dress for Less(R) ("Ross") stores and 52
dd's DISCOUNTS(R) locations, compared to 864 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 www.rossstores.com.
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.
Web Site: http://www.rossstores.com
