Ross Stores, Inc., a Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the nation's second largest off- price company with fiscal 2006 revenues of $5.6 billion. As of March 3, 2007, the Company operated 771 Ross Dress for Less(R) ("Ross") stores and 26 dd's DISCOUNTS(R) locations, compared to 714 Ross and 20 dd's DISCOUNTS(R) 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(R) 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

URL :  http://www.rossstores.com

Ross Stores Reports First Quarter 2008 Results, Provides Second Quarter 2008 Guidance 
PLEASANTON, Calif., May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported that earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2008 rose 25% to $.60, from $.48 for the 13 weeks ended May 5, 2007. First quarter 2008 results include a real estate settlement that added income equivalent to about $.02 per share during the period. Net earnings for the first quarter of 2008 were $79.5 million, compared to $67.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. Sales for the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2008 grew 10% to $1.556 billion, with comparable store sales up 3% over the prior year.
Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with our solid, better-than-expected sales and earnings performance in the first quarter, especially considering the difficult retail climate. Business benefited as customers responded favorably to the fresh and exciting assortments of name brand bargains we offered. Dresses and Shoes were the top performing merchandise categories during the period, while the Mid-Atlantic and Texas were the strongest geographic regions."
Mr. Balmuth continued, "Strong execution of our merchandising strategies, combined with strict inventory and expense management, were the primary drivers of our ahead-of-plan earnings during the quarter. As a result, we were able to realize healthy increases in operating margin, which grew about 45 basis points to 8.2%. Profit margins benefited mainly from better-than-expected improvement in merchandise margins, lower distribution and corporate expenses as a percent of sales and income from a real estate settlement." 

Ross Stores Reports April Same Store Sales Gain of 8% 
PLEASANTON, Calif., May 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported that sales for the four weeks ended May 3, 2008 increased 15% to $480 million from $417 million for the four weeks ended May 5, 2007. Same store sales for the month increased 8%. 
For the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, sales totaled $1.556 billion, a 10% increase over the $1.411 billion in sales for the thirteen weeks ended May 5, 2007. Comparable store sales for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 increased 3% over the prior year period. 

Ross Stores Reports March Sales, Raises First Quarter EPS Guidance
PLEASANTON, Calif., April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported that sales increased 6% to $633 million for the five weeks ended April 5, 2008, from $599 million for the five weeks ended April 7, 2007. Comparable store sales for the month declined 2% on top of a 6% gain in March 2007.
For the nine weeks ended April 5, 2008, sales totaled $1.077 billion, an 8% increase over the $994 million in sales for the nine weeks ended April 7, 2007. Comparable store sales for the nine weeks ended April 5, 2008 grew 1% over the prior year period.
Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "March same store sales were ahead of our expectation for a 4% to 5% decline, with the month benefiting from broad-based merchandise and geographic trends. Dresses, Shoes and Home were the best performing merchandise categories, and Texas and the Mid-Atlantic were the strongest markets."
Looking ahead, Mr. Balmuth said, "We are pleased with our better-than-expected performance in both February and March and continue to project a 7% to 8% increase in same store sales for April, which benefits from the Easter calendar shift. Assuming that April sales perform in line with our forecast, and with favorable margin and expense trends for the first two months of the quarter, we now project that earnings per share for the 13 weeks ending May 3, 2008 will be $.56 to $.58, above our prior $.52 to $.54 range, and compared to $.48 for the quarter ended May 5, 2007."

Ross Stores Reports November Sales
PLEASANTON, Calif., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported sales of $547 million for the four weeks ended December 1, 2007, a 10% increase over the $496 million in sales for the four weeks ended December 2, 2006. Same store sales for the four weeks ended December 1, 2007 increased 3% from the four weeks ended December 2, 2006.
For the ten months ended December 1, 2007, sales were $4.870 billion, a 9% increase over the $4.487 billion in sales for the ten months ended December 2, 2006. Comparable store sales for the ten months ended December 1, 2007 rose 1% over the ten months ended December 2, 2006.
Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our November comparable store sales results were in line with our forecast for a 2% to 4% increase. The strongest region during the month was the Mid-Atlantic, while Dresses, Accessories and Shoes were the top performing businesses."
Looking ahead, Mr. Balmuth said, "We believe we are competitively positioned for the important holiday period with a wide array of name brand bargains throughout our stores, and continue to forecast same store sales to be flat to up 2% for December and up 1% to 3% for January."
Additional recorded information concerning today's press release and the Company's future outlook can be accessed by calling 706-645-9291, ID #8092597, from 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on December 6, 2007 through 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on December 7, 2007. A transcript of these comments is available on the Company's website at http://www.rossstores.com. The Company expects to report December 2007 sales results on Thursday, January 10th.

Ross Stores Reports Third Quarter Earnings And Reiterates Fourth Quarter Guidance
PLEASANTON, Calif., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported that earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended November 3, 2007 grew 16% to $.36, compared to $.31 for the 13 weeks ended October 28, 2006. Net earnings for the fiscal 2007 third quarter totaled $48.7 million, compared to $43.9 million in the comparable prior year period. Fiscal 2007 third quarter sales increased 8% to $1.468 billion, with same store sales for the period up 1% on top of a 4% gain in the prior year.
For the nine months ended November 3, 2007, earnings per share increased 16% to $1.21, compared to $1.04 for the nine months ended October 28, 2006. Net earnings for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 totaled $166.6 million, compared to $148.5 million for the same period in the prior year. Sales for the first nine months of 2007 increased 9% to $4.324 billion, with comparable store sales up 1% on top of a 5% gain in the prior year.
Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Comparable store sales for the third quarter were within our forecasted range, despite the challenging macroeconomic climate and unseasonably warm weather across the country in September and October. The strongest regions during the period were the Northwest and Texas, while Dresses, Home and Shoes were the best-performing merchandise categories."

Ross Stores Reports August Same Store Sales Gain Of 4%
PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported sales of $461 million for the four weeks ended September 1, 2007, a 12% increase over the $410 million in sales for the four weeks ended September 2, 2006. Same store sales for the four weeks ended September 1, 2007 grew 4% compared to the four weeks ended September 2, 2006. Comparable store sales rose 3% for the four weeks ended August 26, 2006.
For the seven months ended September 1, 2007, sales were $3.316 billion, a 9% increase over the $3.037 billion in sales for the seven months ended September 2, 2006. Comparable store sales for the seven months ended September 1, 2007 rose 2% over the seven months ended September 2, 2006. Comparable store sales rose 5% for the seven months ended August 26, 2006

Ross Stores Reports June Comparable Sales Gain of 4 Percent
PLEASANTON, Calif., July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported sales of $545 million for the five weeks ended July 7, 2007, an 11% increase over the $490 million in sales for the five weeks ended July 8, 2006. Same store sales for the five weeks ended July 7, 2007 grew 4% compared to the five weeks ended July 8, 2006. Comparable store sales rose 5% for the five weeks ended July 1, 2006.
For the five months ended July 7, 2007, sales were $2.405 billion, a 9% increase over the $2.213 billion in sales for the five months ended July 8, 2006. Same store sales for the five months ended July 7, 2007 grew 1% over the five months ended July 8, 2006. Comparable store sales rose 6% for the five months ended July 1, 2006.
Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Comparable store sales in June were ahead of our expectations, benefiting from solid sell-through of seasonal merchandise. The Northwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic were the best performing regions, while Dresses and Home continued to be the strongest merchandise categories. Looking ahead, we continue to project comparable store sales gains of 3% to 4% in July 2007. Based on current sales and margin trends, earnings per share for the 13 weeks ending August 4, 2007 are now forecast to be $.36 to $.37, up 13% to 16% over second quarter 2006 earnings per share of $.32."
The Company expects to report July 2007 sales results on Thursday, August 9th and second quarter 2007 earnings results on Wednesday, August 22nd. Additional recorded information concerning today's press release and the Company's future outlook can be accessed by calling 402-220-5900, PIN #2363, from 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on July 12, 2007 through 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on July 13, 2007. A transcript of these comments is available on the Company's website at http://www.rossstores.com.

Ross Stores Announces Quarterly Dividend 
PLEASANTON, Calif., May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) announced today that the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.075 per common share, payable on or about July 2, 2007 to stockholders of record as of June 18, 2007.

Ross Stores Reports First Quarter 2007 Results, Provides Second Quarter 2007 Guidance, and Reiterates Fiscal 2007 EPS Targets 
PLEASANTON, Calif., May 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended May 5, 2007 of $.48, compared to $.41 for the 13 weeks ended April 29, 2006. Net earnings for the first quarter of 2007 were $67.0 million, compared to $59.2 million in the first quarter of 2006. Sales for the 13 weeks ended May 5, 2007 were $1.4 billion, up 9% versus the first quarter in fiscal 2006. Comparable store sales for the 13 weeks ended May 5, 2007 were flat compared to the 13 weeks ended May 6, 2006. For the 13 weeks ended April 29, 2006, comparable store sales rose 6%.
Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "First quarter earnings were driven by a combination of top line growth and expansion in operating margin. Same store sales for the quarter were slightly below our projection of a 1% to 2% increase, due to our sales shortfall in April. We believe April was affected by a larger-than-expected impact from the Easter calendar shift and unseasonable weather during the first two weeks. Geographic and merchandise trends during the quarter were relatively broadbased. The best performing markets were on the west coast, while Home and Dresses were the strongest merchandise departments."
Mr. Balmuth continued, "Operating margin for the period grew about 30 basis points to 7.7%, benefiting from a 60 basis point gain in gross margin that was partially offset by a 30 basis point increase in selling, general and administrative costs as a percent of sales. These results were mainly due to higher merchandise gross margin and reductions as a percent of sales in distribution and buying costs. These improvements were partially offset by higher freight and the deleveraging effect of flat comparable store sales on store and occupancy expenses."
Mr. Balmuth also noted, "Our balance sheet and cash flows remain strong. We continued to return capital to stockholders during the quarter through our stock repurchase and dividend programs. During the first three months of fiscal 2007, we repurchased 1.5 million shares of common stock for an aggregate of $51 million. We are on track to repurchase the remaining $149 million of our two-year $400 million program authorized by our Board of Directors in the fourth quarter of 2005."
Looking ahead, Mr. Balmuth said, "For the second quarter ending August 4, 2007, we are forecasting same store sales gains of 1% to 2% and earnings per share in the range of $.35 to $.37. For the second half of 2007, same store sales are forecasted to grow 3% to 4%, based on merchandising opportunities we have identified for the fall season as well as easier prior year sales comparisons. We also continue to project earnings per share for fiscal 2007 that are within the range of our original guidance of $1.85 to $1.95 for the 52 weeks ending February 2, 2008."