PLEASANTON, Calif., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended May 1, 2010 of $1.16, up from $.72 for the quarter ended May 2, 2009. These results represent a 61% increase on top of 20% growth in the prior year. Net earnings for the first quarter of 2010 rose 56% to a record $142.3 million, up from $91.4 million in the first quarter of 2009.  Sales for the 13 weeks ended May 1, 2010 grew 14% to $1.935 billion, with comparable store sales up 10% on top of a 3% gain in the prior year.

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are very pleased with our exceptional first quarter performance, which was driven by robust sales gains and record levels of profitability that were well ahead of plan.  We believe our results continue to benefit from the superior execution of our off-price strategies combined with our favorable position as a value retailer in the current economic and retail environment."  

Mr. Balmuth continued, "Operating margin for the quarter grew about 320 basis points to a record 12.1%.  The largest driver of this increase was a 230 basis point improvement in gross margin, which benefited mainly from higher merchandise gross margin and leverage on occupancy and distribution expenses as a percent of sales.  Selling, general and administrative costs as a percent of sales declined by about 90 basis points, primarily due to leverage from the strong gains in same store 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 three months of fiscal 2010, we repurchased 1.8 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $94 million.  We remain on track to complete by the end of fiscal 2010 approximately $375 million of our current two-year $750 million stock repurchase authorization."  

Looking ahead, Mr. Balmuth said, "For the second quarter ending July 31, 2010, we continue to forecast a same store sales gain of 3% to 4% and earnings per share growth of 16% to 21% to $.95 to $.99, up from $.82 in the same period last year. For the 2010 fiscal year ending January 29, 2011, EPS is projected to grow 16% to 20% to $4.11 to $4.24, up from $3.54 in fiscal 2009.  These forecasted increases are especially noteworthy considering they are on top of robust 52% gains in earnings per share for both the second quarter and full year in 2009."

The Company will provide additional details concerning its first quarter results and management's outlook for the second quarter and the full year on a conference call to be held on Thursday, May 20, 2010 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 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, May 27, 2010 at 706-645-9291, ID # 55962228.

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 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, including the potential impact from the macro-economic environment, uncertainty in financial and credit markets, and changes in geopolitical 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 recent 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 and Form 8-Ks for fiscal 2010.  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 2009 revenues of $7.2 billion.  As of May 1, 2010 the Company operated 967 Ross Dress for Less® ("Ross") stores and 54 dd's DISCOUNTS® locations, compared to 922 Ross and 52 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.

Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
				Three Months Ended
				May 1,		May 2,
($000, except stores and per share data, unaudited)				2010		2009
Sales				$1,934,778		$1,691,599
Costs and Expenses
	Costs of goods sold			1,406,082		1,268,709
	Selling, general and administrative			294,472		272,030
	Interest expense, net			2,388		1,656
		Total costs and expenses		1,702,942		1,542,395
Earnings before taxes				231,836		149,204
Provision for taxes on earnings				89,489		57,817
Net earnings				$   142,347		$     91,387
Earnings per share
	Basic			$         1.19		$         0.73
	Diluted			$         1.16		$         0.72
Weighted average shares outstanding (000)
	Basic			119,829		124,692
	Diluted			122,332		126,564
Dividends
	Cash dividends declared per share			$             -		$             -
Stores open at end of period				1,021		974

Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
				May 1,		May 2,
($000, unaudited)				2010		2009
Assets
Current Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents			$   823,652		$   459,302
	Short-term investments			1,941		1,033
	Accounts receivable			54,268		50,098
	Merchandise inventory			908,065		917,661
	Prepaid expenses and other			67,895		65,557
	Deferred income taxes			3,923		13,487
		Total current assets		1,859,744		1,507,138
Property and equipment, net				933,654		942,432
Long-term investments				15,857		33,411
Other long-term assets				73,352		59,139
Total assets				$2,882,607		$2,542,120
Liabilities and Stockholders? Equity
Current Liabilities
	Accounts payable			$   748,779		$   682,251
	Accrued expenses and other			231,927		225,564
	Accrued payroll and benefits			148,913		134,571
	Income taxes payable			99,932		46,333
		Total current liabilities		1,229,551		1,088,719
Long-term debt				150,000		150,000
Other long-term liabilities				185,375		163,687
Deferred income taxes				88,328		103,956
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders? Equity				1,229,353		1,035,758
Total liabilities and stockholders? equity				$2,882,607		$2,542,120

Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
				Three Months Ended
				May 1,		May 2,
($000, unaudited)				2010		2009
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net earnings				$ 142,347		$  91,387
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
provided by operating activities:
	Depreciation and amortization			39,844		37,556
	Stock-based compensation			8,910		6,497
	Deferred income taxes			(14,772)		7,405
	Tax benefit from equity issuance			6,810		2,821
	Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(6,482)		(2,064)
	Change in assets and liabilities:
		Merchandise inventory		(35,567)		(36,603)
		Other current assets		(19,311)		(19,244)
		Accounts payable		110,149		159,514
		Other current liabilities		(43,557)		(6,455)
		Other long-term, net		810		(82)
		Net cash provided by operating activities		189,181		240,732
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Additions to property and equipment				(35,519)		(33,914)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment				-		10
Purchases of investments				-		(1,481)
Proceeds from investments				848		6,058
		Net cash used in investing activities		(34,671)		(29,327)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation				6,482		2,064
Issuance of common stock related to stock plans				15,004		19,689
Treasury stock purchased				(6,776)		(4,073)
Repurchase of common stock				(94,298)		(77,171)
Dividends paid				(19,613)		(13,967)
		Net cash used in financing activities		(99,201)		(73,458)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents				55,309		137,947
Cash and cash equivalents:
		Beginning of period		768,343		321,355
		End of period		$ 823,652		$459,302
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Interest paid				$             -		$            -
Income taxes paid				$   47,250		$    9,866
Non-Cash Investing Activities
Increase in fair value of investment securities				$          44		$       209

SOURCE Ross Stores, Inc.

For further information: John G. 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.