January 5, 2006
KOHL'S CORPORATION REPORTS DECEMBER COMPARABLE STORE
SALES INCREASE OF 4.6%
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., January 5, 2006 Kohl's Corporation
(NYSE: KSS) reported today that sales for the five-week period ended
December 31, 2005 increased 16.2 percent over the five-week period
ended January 1, 2005. On a comparable store basis, sales increased
4.6 percent.
For the 48 weeks ended December 31, 2005 total sales increased
14.6 percent while comparable store sales increased 3.5 percent.
Larry Montgomery, Kohl's chairman and chief executive officer,
commented, "Although we were pleased with the overall level
of sales in December, especially in the last two weeks of the month,
sales for November and December combined were lower than our planned
mid-single digit increase. We now expect to achieve approximately
a 3 percent comparable sales increase and earnings of $1.06 to $1.07
per diluted share for the fourth quarter, which would result in
a net income increase of approximately 19 percent for the year."
Montgomery added, "Our customers continue to respond to our
new merchandise initiatives and our in-store presentation which
continues to give us confidence that we are moving in the right
direction. Our inventories are in excellent shape with clearance
levels below last year on a per store basis as we transition into
the spring season."
| Sales
Summary ($ in millions) |
|
|
Fiscal Period
Ended |
% Inc. -
This Year |
| |
December
31,
2005
|
January
1,
2005
|
All
Stores |
Comp
Stores |
| December |
$ 2,481.8 |
$ 2,135.3 |
16.2% |
4.6% |
| YTD |
$ 12,725.8 |
$ 11,103.7 |
14.6% |
3.5% |
On December 31, 2005, the Company operated 732 stores in 41 states,
compared with 637 stores in 40 states at the same time last year.
Comments regarding the Company's sales results will be provided
in a pre-recorded telephone message. This message is accessible
by calling (630) 652-3100 and will be available for 36 hours.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
This press release contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, including guidance on the Company's targeted
sales and earnings. Kohl's intends forward-looking terminology such
as "believes," "expects," "may," "will,"
"should," "anticipates," "plans,"
or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which
could cause Kohl's actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to those described on Exhibit 99.1
to Kohl's annual report on Form 10-K, which is expressly incorporated
herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described
in Kohl's filings with the SEC.
# # #
Investor Relations Contact:
Wes McDonald, Chief Financial Officer, (262) 703-1893
Public Relations Contact:
Vicki Shamion, Director of Public Relations, (262) 703-1464
|