Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYSE: FDO) reported that net sales for the
four weeks ended May 3, 2008, increased 7.2% to $516.0 million compared
with $481.3 million for the four-week period ended May 5, 2007. April
sales results were positively impacted by one more day of sales
resulting from the shift of Easter into the March period. Total sales
for the four-week period were strongest in the consumables category;
sales of apparel and home products were softer. Comparable store sales
increased 4.3%. The Company had 6,539 stores as of May 3, 2008,
including 12 new stores opened in the April period.
May Sales Outlook
The Company expects that comparable store sales in the May period will
increase 0% to 2%.
Cautionary Statements
Certain statements contained in this report are forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements address the Company’s plans,
activities or events which the Company expects will or may occur in the
future. Various risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any
forward-looking statement. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors
include, but are not limited to:
-
general economic conditions that could adversely impact consumer
spending;
-
economic conditions, including inflation and energy prices, that could
affect our profitability;
-
competitive factors that could limit our sales, growth or
profitability;
-
increases in comparable store sales and the success of our new store
opening program;
-
failure of existing or new technology to provide anticipated benefits;
-
unusual weather, natural disaster, pandemic outbreaks, political
events, war or acts of terrorism;
-
our ability to select, obtain and market merchandise attractive to our
customers at prices that allow us to profitably sell such merchandise;
-
operational difficulties;
-
our ability to operate distribution facilities;
-
changes in regulations;
-
changes in legal, regulatory or accounting guidance that could
adversely affect our financial performance;
-
higher costs or failure to achieve targeted results associated with
the implementation of new programs or initiatives;
-
adverse impacts associated with legal proceedings;
-
our ability to attract and retain employees; and
-
the impact of the economic stimulus package adopted by Congress and
currently being implemented.
Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made by the Company
in this and other documents or statements are qualified by these and
other factors, risks and uncertainties, including those set forth under “Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
or “Risk Factors” in
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed or to be filed. 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 publicly 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.
About Family Dollar
Operating small store locations, Family Dollar is one of the fastest
growing discount retail chains in the United States. Beginning with one
store in 1959 in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Company currently
operates more than 6,500 stores in 44 states. Family Dollar Stores,
Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is based in Matthews, North Carolina, and
is a 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.
