Exhibit 99.1

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC.

REPORTS SECOND QUARTER NET EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE OF $0.25

 

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – August 24, 2005 – Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR), the nation’s leading operator of single-price point dollar stores, reported net earnings per diluted share of $0.25, for the fiscal second quarter ended July 30, 2005. Sales for the quarter were $769.0 million, a 9.2% increase compared to $704.2 million, for the same period, one year ago. Comparable store sales declined 1.5% for the quarter.

 

“An increase in our average ticket was more than offset by reduced store traffic,” said President and CEO Bob Sasser. “While we achieved sales within our most recent guidance, it is evident that our customers continue to feel the strain of rising fuel costs, and they are responding with fewer shopping trips. We remain focused on our sales initiatives as we manage all aspects of our business.”

 

For the second quarter, gross margin was 34.0%, compared to the 35.6% in last year’s second quarter. Loss of leverage on occupancy costs, coupled with higher merchandise costs resulting from mix and higher freight costs attributed to most of the decline. The 2004 second quarter results also included a favorable shrink true-up which accounted for the balance of the rate decline in the year-on-year comparison.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 27.9% in the second quarter of 2005, compared to 28.6% in the same quarter last year. The reduction in rate reflects the Company’s continual dedication to expense control as well as meaningful savings in health care costs and workers compensation expenses.

 

It is also noteworthy that depreciation expense, as a percent of sales, was flat for the quarter, when compared to last year.

 

Operating margin in this year’s second quarter was 6.1%, versus 7.0% for the same period, one year ago.

 

The Company estimates sales for the third quarter of 2005 to be in the range of $775 -$800 million. Based upon this sales forecast, diluted earnings per share is estimated to be in the range of $0.28 to $0.31.

 

Full year sales are now forecasted to be in the range of $3.33 billion - $3.38 billion. Full year diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $1.57 - $1.66.

 

On Wednesday, August 24, 2005, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its earnings results at 9:00 a.m EDT. The telephone number for the call is 703-639-1163. A recorded version of the call will be available until midnight Tuesday, August 30, and may be accessed by dialing 703-925-2533, and the access code is 750327. A webcast of the call is accessible through Dollar Tree’s website, www.DollarTree.com, as well as at Vcall’s website, www.Vcall.com, and will remain on-line until midnight Tuesday, August 30. Any financial and statistical information related to the call can be accessed through the “Investor Relations / SEC Filings / Non-GAAP Measures” section of Dollar Tree’s website.

 

The Company’s regular, pre-recorded business update will be available Thursday, October 6, 2005, by 5:00 p.m. EDT, and will remain on-line through Monday, October 10, 2005. Interested parties can access the Company’s update by dialing (757) 321-5873.


As of July 30, 2005, Dollar Tree operated 2,856 stores in 48 states. During the second quarter, Dollar Tree opened 74 stores, closed 9 stores, and expanded or relocated 27 stores. The Company’s retail selling square footage totaled approximately 22.2 million at July 30, 2005, an 18.7% increase compared to a year ago.

 

A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements address future events, developments or results and typically use words such as believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, forecast, or estimate. For example, our forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations for sales initiatives, third-quarter sales and earnings per share, as well as full year sales and earnings per share. For a discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our future events, developments or results, you should carefully review the “Risk Factors,” “Business,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 14, 2005 and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed June 9, 2005. Also, carefully review “Risk Factors” in our most recent prospectuses filed November 15, 2000 and August 3, 2000. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the future events, developments or results described by our forward-looking statements in this document could turn out to be materially and adversely different from those we discuss or imply. We are not obligated to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report and you should not expect us to do so.

 

CONTACT:   Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., Chesapeake
    Kent Kleeberger, 757-321-5000
    www.DollarTree.com


DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Income Statements

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Second Quarter ended

    Year-to-Date

 
     July 30,
2005


   

July 31,

2004


   

July 30,

2005


   

July 31,

2004


 

Net sales

   $ 769,027     $ 704,234     $ 1,518,120     $ 1,414,564  

Cost of sales

     507,541       453,861       1,002,390       911,155  

Gross profit

     261,486       250,373       515,730       503,409  
       34.0 %     35.6 %     34.0 %     35.6 %

Selling, general & administrative expenses

     214,902       201,289       421,072       395,666  
       27.9 %     28.6 %     27.7 %     28.0 %

Operating income

     46,584       49,084       94,658       107,743  
       6.1 %     7.0 %     6.2 %     7.6 %

Interest expense, net

     (3,071 )     (1,235 )     (4,607 )     (3,313 )

Other income

     216       301       471       911  

Income before income taxes

     43,729       48,150       90,522       105,341  
       5.7 %     6.8 %     6.0 %     7.4 %

Income tax expense

     16,419       18,558       34,200       40,599  

Net income

     27,310       29,592       56,322       64,742  
       3.6 %     4.2 %     3.7 %     4.6 %

Net earnings per share:

                                

Basic

   $ 0.25     $ 0.26     $ 0.51     $ 0.57  

Weighted average number of shares

     108,386       113,527       109,823       113,671  

Diluted

   $ 0.25     $ 0.26     $ 0.51     $ 0.57  

Weighted average number of shares

     108,823       114,149       110,310       114,442  


DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)

 

    

July 30,

2005


  

Jan. 29,

2005


  

July 31,

2004


Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 14,533    $ 106,532    $ 59,513

Short-term investments

     151,015      211,275      122,305

Merchandise inventories

     629,833      615,483      648,680

Other current assets

     33,821      36,597      32,136
    

  

  

Total current assets

     829,202      969,887      862,634
    

  

  

Property and equipment, net

     691,628      685,386      664,320

Intangibles, net

     130,935      129,032      123,265

Other assets, net

     28,047      8,367      21,763
    

  

  

Total assets

   $ 1,679,812    $ 1,792,672    $ 1,671,982
    

  

  

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 19,000      19,000    $ 19,000

Accounts payable

     120,374      124,195      158,065

Other current liabilities

     103,123      117,491      97,495

Income taxes payable

     5,308      33,669      5,450
    

  

  

Total current liabilities

     247,805      294,355      280,010
    

  

  

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

     250,000      250,000      250,000

Other liabilities

     84,812      84,105      83,440
    

  

  

Total liabilities

     582,617      628,460      613,450
    

  

  

Shareholders’ equity

     1,097,195      1,164,212      1,058,532
    

  

  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,679,812    $ 1,792,672    $ 1,671,982
    

  

  

STORE DATA:

                    

Number of stores open at end of period

     2,856      2,735      2,612

Total selling square footage (in thousands)

     22,160      20,444      18,665


DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Year-to-Date

 
     July 31,
2005


    July 31,
2004


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 56,322     $ 64,742  
    


 


Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by

                

operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     68,105       62,818  

Other non-cash adjustments

     (8,411 )     11,774  

Changes in merchandise inventories

     (14,349 )     (123,037 )

Other changes in working capital

     (32,629 )     13,450  
    


 


Total adjustments

     12,716       (34,995 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     69,038       29,747  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Capital expenditures

     (74,477 )     (93,243 )

Purchase of short-term investments

     (497,745 )     (112,500 )

Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments

     558,005       74,690  

Restricted investments

     (15,147 )     —    

Acquisition of favorable lease rights

     (3,331 )     (251 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (32,695 )     (131,304 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Proceeds from long-term debt, net of facility fees of $1,094

     —         248,906  

Repayment of long-term debt and facility fees

     —         (148,568 )

Principal payments under capital lease obligations

     (3,521 )     (2,313 )

Proceeds from stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans

     5,549       9,184  

Payments for share repurchases

     (130,370 )     (30,329 )
    


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (128,342 )     76,880  
    


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (91,999 )     (24,677 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     106,532       84,190  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 14,533     $ 59,513