v2.4.0.6

Stockholders' Equity (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
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Apr. 28, 2012
Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income Disclosure [Abstract] |
Schedule of Stockholders' Equity | The following table reflects the changes in stockholders’ equity attributed to Staples, Inc. and its noncontrolling interests for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
| Attributable to Staples, Inc. |  | Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  | Total
Stockholders' equity at January 28, 2012 | $ | 7,015,151 |  |  | $ | 7,062 |  |  | $ | 7,022,213 |
Net income | 187,059 |  |  | (46 | ) |  | 187,013 |
Other comprehensive income | 21,795 |  |  | 147 |  |  | 21,942 |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised | 4,501 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,501 |
Stock-based compensation | 31,088 |  |  | — |  |  | 31,088 |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | (688 | ) |  | — |  |  | (688 | )
Cash dividends paid | (74,749 | ) |  | — |  |  | (74,749 | )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements | 179 |  |  | — |  |  | 179 |
Purchase of treasury stock, net | (95,925 | ) |  | — |  |  | (95,925 | )
Other | (302 | ) |  | (1 | ) |  | (303 | )
Stockholders' equity at April 28, 2012 | $ | 7,088,109 |  |  | $ | 7,162 |  |  | $ | 7,095,271 |
| Attributable to Staples, Inc. |  | Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  | Total
Stockholders' equity at January 29, 2011 | $ | 6,943,710 |  |  | $ | 7,471 |  |  | $ | 6,951,181 |
Net income | 198,245 |  |  | (563 | ) |  | 197,682 |
Other comprehensive income | 304,255 |  |  | 116 |  |  | 304,371 |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised | 4,836 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,836 |
Stock-based compensation | 35,396 |  |  | — |  |  | 35,396 |
Cash dividends paid | (70,936 | ) |  | — |  |  | (70,936 | )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements | 387 |  |  | — |  |  | 387 |
Purchase of treasury stock, net | (148,477 | ) |  | — |  |  | (148,477 | )
Other | (401 | ) |  | — |  |  | (401 | )
Stockholders' equity at April 30, 2011 | $ | 7,267,015 |  |  | $ | 7,024 |  |  | $ | 7,274,039 |

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