Ross Stores (ROST)

Forecasted Earnings per Share for the 2007 First Quarter and Fiscal Year

     Looking ahead, Mr. Balmuth said, “For the 52 weeks ending February 2, 2008, we are forecasting same store sales gains of 2% to 3% and projecting earnings per share in the range of $1.85 to $1.95. For the 13 weeks ending May 5, 2007, we are targeting same store sales growth of 1% to 2% on top of a 6% gain in the prior year, and projecting that earnings per share will be in the range of $.46 to $.48, compared to $.41 in the prior year.”

     Mr. Balmuth continued, “We are planning about 90 net new store locations in 2007, for 11% to 12% unit growth, consisting of approximately 63 Ross stores and 27 dd’s DISCOUNTS^® locations. Our targeted expansion in 2007 includes about 40 former Albertsons sites located across many of our top performing, established Sunbelt markets in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Colorado and Oklahoma. About half of these former Albertsons locations will reopen as Ross Dress for Less locations and half as dd’s DISCOUNTS stores. We are pleased to report that average sales and operating profitability across our existing 26 dd’s DISCOUNTS locations outperformed our expectations in 2006. These stronger-than-planned results give us the confidence to accelerate the growth of this promising concept into additional new Sunbelt markets that, like California, feature a range of demographics that we believe are favorable for both Ross and dd’s DISCOUNTS.”