Ross Stores pleased with October sales

PLEASANTON, Calif. Ross Stores reported that sales for the four weeks ended Oct. 31 increased 14% to $557 million from $490 million for the four weeks ended Nov. 1 the year prior. Same-store sales for the month rose 9%.

For the thirteen weeks ended Oct. 31, sales were $1.74 billion, a 12% increase over the $1.56 billion in sales for the thirteen weeks ended Nov. 1 the year prior. Comparable-store sales for the quarter ended Oct. 31 were up 8% on top of flat same store sales in the prior year period.

For the nine months ended Oct. 31, sales totaled $5.2 billion, up 10% over the $4.76 billion in sales for the nine months ended Nov. 1 the year prior. Comparable-store sales for the nine months ended Oct. 31 increased 5% on top of a 3% gain in the same period last year.

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We now estimate that earnings per share for the thirteen weeks ended Oct. 31 will be in the range of 83 cents to 84 cents, up from our prior guidance of 75 cents to 77 cents and compared with 44 cents in third quarter 2008."