Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,215,128us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 2,137,396us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 1,906,687us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	588,975	548,823	508,929
Loss on property disposals and impairment charges	3,897	7,914	11,876
Deferred income tax provision	102,070us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	52,233us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	13,265us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Share-based compensation	88,014us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	76,080us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	64,416us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Early extinguishment of debt	16,830
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(95,063)	(82,546)	(62,472)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	(9,052)	11,979	(18,418)
(Increase) decrease in merchandise inventories	(332,271)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	35,233us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	27,186us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
(Increase) in taxes recoverable	(12,475)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,719	(3,354)	(53,705)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	285,223	(152,271)	211,689
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities	20,800	(29,590)	268,901
Increase in income taxes payable	144,977	10,994	176,076
Other	(12,403)	(12,425)	1,290
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,008,369	2,600,466	3,055,720
Cash flows from investing activities:
Property additions	(911,522)	(946,678)	(978,228)
Purchases of investments	(431,152)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	(496,657)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	(371,670)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
Sales and maturities of investments	388,037	394,914	218,828
Cash paid for acquisition of Sierra Trading Post, net of cash received		2,653	(190,374)
Other			34,490
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(954,637)	(1,045,768)	(1,286,954)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	749,475	499,555
Cash payments for extinguishment of debt	(416,357)
Cash payments for debt issuance expenses	(6,185)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	(4,297)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	(1,370)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Cash payments for rate lock agreement	(7,937)	(3,251)
Cash payments on capital lease obligation			(1,456)
Cash payments for repurchase of common stock	(1,650,704)	(1,471,096)	(1,345,082)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	143,005	146,495	133,771
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	95,063	82,546	62,472
Cash dividends paid	(465,902)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(393,755)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(323,922)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Net cash (used in) financing activities	(1,559,542)	(1,143,803)	(1,475,587)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(150,161)	(73,106)	11,666
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	344,029	337,789	304,845
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,149,746	1,811,957	1,507,112
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 2,493,775	$ 2,149,746	$ 1,811,957

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.