Ross Stores Reports February Same Store Sales Gain of 11%

PLEASANTON, Calif., March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported that sales increased 16% to $554 million for the four weeks ended February 27, 2010, up from $476 million for the four weeks ended February 28, 2009. Comparable store sales for the month grew 11%.

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to report February sales that were well above our expectations.  While we are encouraged by this healthy start to the year, the important March/April holiday selling period is still ahead.  In addition, the impact of an earlier Easter is always very difficult to predict.  As a result, our original forecast for same store sales to be up 3% to 4% in March and flat to up 1% in April remains unchanged."

Additional recorded information concerning today's press release and the Company's future outlook can be accessed by calling 706-645-9291, ID# 53158521, from 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on March 4, 2010 through 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 5, 2010.   A transcript of these comments is available in the Investors section of the Company's website at www.rossstores.com.  The Company will report fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 earnings results on Thursday, March 18th and March 2010 sales results on Thursday, April 8th.  

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 2008, Form 10-Qs for fiscal 2009 and Form 8-Ks for fiscal 2009 and 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 February 27, 2010 the Company operated 953 Ross Dress for Less® ("Ross") stores and 54 dd's DISCOUNTS® locations, compared to 904 Ross and 53 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.