Family Dollar Reports Record Second Quarter Results

Family Dollar Reports Record Second Quarter Results

• Second Quarter Net Sales Increased 17.7%

• Comparable Store Sales Increased 2.9%

• Earnings Per Diluted Share Increased to $1.21

• Management Updates Guidance for FY13

MATTHEWS, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYS: FDO) today reported that for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 ended March 2, 2013, net sales increased 17.7% to $2.89billion and net income per diluted share for the quarter increased 5.2% to $1.21.

"Our continued market share gains reflect the successful execution of our strategy to become more relevant to customers," said Howard R. Levine, Chairman and CEO. "This quarter we delivered positive results despite financial pressures that continue to challenge our customers. Following a difficult December, we were pleased with our sales results in early January. Unfortunately, the unanticipated delay of the 2012 tax refunds impacted our results at the end of January and the beginning of February. We were happy to see sales trends improve towards the end of the quarter as our customers began to receive their tax refunds."

"As we move into the second half of fiscal 2013, our discretionary sales continue to be challenged by both the financial pressures facing our customers as well as unseasonably cold spring weather," continued Levine. "Given this uncertainty, we have adjusted our plans to reflect lower than anticipated Home and Apparel sales as our customers' discretionary spend is expected to remain constrained."

Fiscal 2013 Second Quarter Results

Net sales for the second quarter ended March 2, 2013, increased 17.7% to $2.89 billion from $2.46 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 ended February 25, 2012. Consistent with the National Retail Federation Calendar, the second quarter of fiscal 2013 included 14 weeks as compared to 13 weeks in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. The Company estimates this extra week contributed approximately $189 million in sales and $0.07 of earnings per diluted share. Sales were strongest in the Consumables category, which increased 26.6% during the quarter, driven primarily by strong growth in tobacco, food, and health and beauty aids. During the quarter, the Company opened 126 new stores, closed 17 stores, and renovated, relocated or expanded 159 stores.

Comparable store sales for the 14-week period ended March 2, 2013, increased 2.9% when compared with sales for the similar 14-week period last year. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased as a result of higher customer traffic and an increase in the average customer transaction value.

Gross profit for the quarter increased 12.8% to $967.1 million, or 33.4% of net sales, compared to $857.4 million, or 34.9% of net sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. As a percentage of sales, the impact of stronger sales of lower-margin consumables and increased inventory shrinkage was partially offset by lower freight expense and higher purchase markups.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of net sales, were 25.9% in the quarter compared to 26.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. Most expenses were leveraged during the quarter. Additionally, as a percentage of net sales, lower incentive compensation expense was offset by higher marketing expense.

The effective income tax rate in the quarter was 35.6% as compared to 36.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. The decrease in the effective tax rate was due primarily to the legislative reinstatement of certain federal tax credits and foreign tax benefits associated with the Company's global sourcing efforts.

Net income for the quarter was $140.1 million compared to net income of $136.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012.

The Company's merchandise inventories at March 2, 2013, were $1.53 billion compared with $1.22 billion at February 25, 2012. Average inventory per store at the end of the quarter was 17.1% higher than the average inventory per store at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2012. The increase in inventories was the result of investments to expand the Company's Consumable categories, primarily health and beauty aids, tobacco and food.

In the first half of fiscal 2013, capital expenditures were $409.7 million compared with $236.3 million in the first half of fiscal 2012. The growth in capital expenditures was primarily due to increased investments in new stores. During the second quarter, the Company completed a sale-leaseback transaction for 126 stores with net proceeds, after transaction expenses, of $162.4 million.

During the first half of fiscal 2013, the Company repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $75.0 million. As of March 2, 2013, the Company had the authorization to purchase up to an additional $370.8 million of its common stock.

Outlook

The Company believes that sales in more discretionary categories will continue to be pressured in the second half of fiscal 2013 and that comparable store sales in the second half of the year will increase between 2% and 4%. The Company expects that comparable store sales in the third quarter will be in the lower end of this range and that comparable store sales in the fourth quarter will be in the upper end of this range.

The Company anticipates that many of the sales and margin trends that occurred in the first half of the year will continue in the third quarter and that earnings per diluted share will be between $0.98 and $1.08 per share compared with $1.06 per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. As the Company anniversaries many of the sales-driving initiatives launched in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company expects that operating margin will increase and that earnings per diluted share will be between $0.85 and $0.95 per share compared with $0.69 per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

The Company now expects that diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2013 will be between $3.73 and $3.93 compared to $3.58 in fiscal 2012. The Company's outlook for fiscal 2013 is based on the following assumptions which may or may not prove valid:

• An increase in comparable store sales of between 3% and 4%;

• Approximately 500 new store openings and 30-50 store closings;

• Gross margin pressure driven primarily by an expanding mix of lower-margin consumables;

• SG&A leverage driven by an increase in comparable store sales;

• An effective income tax rate between 36% and 37%;

• Weighted average diluted shares of approximately 116 million; and

• Capital expenditures of between $650 million and $700 million to support new store openings, store renovations, merchandising initiatives, and expansion of the Company's supply chain.

Cautionary Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements address certain plans, activities or events which the Company expects will or may occur in the future and relate to, among other things, the state of the economy, the Company's investment and financing plans, net sales, comparable store sales, cost of sales, SG&A expenses, earnings per diluted share, dividends and share repurchases. Various risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made by the Company in this and in other documents or statements are qualified by factors, risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those set forth under the headings titled "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission up to the date of this release.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized, except as may be required by law.

Earnings Conference Call Information

The Company plans to host a conference call with investors today, April 10, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. The Company will also provide an update on various business initiatives and discuss plans and expectations for the rest of fiscal 2013. After some prepared remarks by management, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions. The Company's responses to questions, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may include information that has not been disclosed previously.

If you wish to participate, please call (888) 329-8903 for domestic US calls and (719) 325-2320 for international calls at least 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. The passcode for the conference call is 7056645 or "FAMILY DOLLAR."

A live webcast of the conference call with accompanying slides can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.familydollar.com/investors.aspx?p=irhome.

A replay of the webcast will be available at the address noted above after 11:00 a.m. ET, April 10, 2013.

About Family Dollar

For more than 50 years, Family Dollar has been providing value and convenience to customers in easy-to-shop neighborhood locations. Family Dollar's mix of name brands and quality, private brand merchandise appeals to shoppers in more than 7,600 stores in rural and urban settings across 45 states. Helping families save on the items they need with everyday low prices creates a strong bond with customers, who often refer to their neighborhood store as "my Family Dollar." Headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte, Family Dollar is a Fortune 300, publicly held company with common stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDO. For more information, please visit www.familydollar.com.