Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Department Stores / Dillard's

Dillard's

dds · NYSE Consumer Cyclical
Claim this profile
Ticker dds
Exchange NYSE
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Department Stores
Employees 10,000+
← All annual reports
FY2003 Annual Report · Dillard's
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
2 0 0 3   A n n u a l   R e p o r t

Dillard’s

Corporate Profile

Dillard’s, Inc. ranks among the nations largest fashion apparel and home furnishings 
retailers with annual revenues exceeding $7.8 billion. The Company focuses on delivering
maximum value to its shoppers, with fairly priced merchandise complemented by exceptional
customer service. Dillard’s stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, including products
sourced and marketed under Dillard’s exclusive brand names. The Company comprises 328
stores, spanning 29 states, all operating with one name – Dillard’s.

Financial Highlights

(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Income Statement Data:

Net sales
Income before cumulative effect

of accounting change

Cumulative effect of accounting 

change, net of taxes

Net income (loss)
Diluted earnings per common share:
Income before cumulative effect 

of accounting change

Cumulative effect of 
accounting change

Net income (loss)
Balance Sheet Data:
Current assets
Current liabilities
Long-term debt
Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial
Interests in the Company’s
Subordinated Debentures

Stockholders’ equity

Operational Data:

2003

2002

2001

2000*

1999

$ 7,598,934

$ 7,910,996

$ 8,154,911

$ 8,566,560

$ 8,676,711

9,344

—
9,344

0.11

—
0.11

131,926

71,798

124,141

163,729

(530,331)(1)
(398,405)

—
71,798

(129,991)(2)
(5,850)

—
163,729

1.55

(6.22)
(4.67)

0.85

—
.85

1.36

(1.42)
(.06)

1.55

—
1.55

$ 3,023,691
$ 1,336,087
1,855,065

3,130,251
886,441
2,193,006

2,814,510
928,071
2,124,577

2,842,948
876,697
2,374,124

3,423,725
810,594
2,894,616

200,000
2,237,097

531,579
2,264,196

531,579
2,668,397

531,579
2,629,820

531,579
2,832,834

Number of employees - average
Gross square footage (in thousands)
Number of stores

53,598
56,000
328

55,208
56,700
333

57,257
56,800
338

58,796
56,500
337

61,824
57,000
342

*53 Weeks

(1) During fiscal 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”.

See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

(2) During fiscal 2000, the Company changed its method of accounting for inventories under the retail method.

See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

To Our Shareholders

We were disappointed with our results for 2003. We reduced
our operating expenses by $66 million, our depreciation and
rental expense by almost $15 million and our interest expense
by $8.7 million. However, we also experienced a 4% sales
decline and a 160 basis point reduction in gross margin. This
resulted in a large profit decline in 2003.

To improve our sales and margins, we have introduced sev-

eral new brands that we believe will broaden Dillard’s appeal
to the customer seeking better and more upscale merchandise.
We plan to continue the review of our merchandise offering to
add other appropriate brands and to reduce or eliminate
brands that are not performing with satisfactory sales and
gross margins.

We remain committed to differentiating Dillard’s from our
competition. In 2003, we increased the storewide penetration
of our exclusive brands from 18.2% of sales to 20.9%. We
intend to continue to expand the exclusive brand merchandise
offering where appropriate.

Furthermore, we will fine-tune our merchandise mix by
store location to meet the differing needs of the local demo-
graphic in our ongoing effort to set ourselves apart as the
favorite hometown store with a national appeal.

We plan to continue our review of expenses and, where

possible, eliminate or reduce those that do not negatively
impact our customer service. We have continued to invest in

the development of our associates to better service the cus-
tomer and we believe this is another way to distinguish
Dillard’s from the competition.

We were pleased with the improvement in our balance
sheet. We strengthened our financial position in 2003 by com-
mitting available cash resources to paying $261 million in debt,
capping a five-year debt reduction of approximately $1.4 bil-
lion. We reinforced our liquidity by amending and extending
our revolving line of credit to $1 billion with a maturity of
December 2008. We remain financially flexible and firmly com-
mitted to further strengthening our overall financial position.
During the year, we further improved our base of store
locations. We entered the quad-city area of Iowa for the first
time with the opening of our Davenport store in July. We
opened new Dillard’s stores in the established markets of
Cleveland, Ohio, Richmond, Virginia (2) and Houston,
Texas. In Richmond and Houston, we repositioned the
Dillard’s franchise by opening new locations and closing less-
promising ones. During 2003, we closed nine under-perform-
ing locations in our continuing effort to prune our store base.
Our store ownership percentage is 78% - one of the highest
ownership percentages in our market sector.

This is an exciting time to be in fashion apparel and home
retailing and we continue to position ourselves to capitalize on
the needs of confident customers who are focused on fashion,
service and value. We will build on the strength of the
Dillard’s franchise and proudly continue our 65-year legacy of
distinctive merchandising and service. Our team remains com-
mitted to this plan and we thank you, our shareholders, for
your continued support.

William Dillard, II
Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer

Alex Dillard
President

Alex Dillard

William Dillard, II

1

ExclusivelyYours

When America goes shopping, brand names are one of the most important factors that affect buying prefer-
ences. And when it comes to nationally known brands, Dillard’s customers are beginning to realize that
Exclusively Yours really means Exclusively Ours. Dillard’s shoppers across the country are, more and more,
looking for the names that mean fashion, quality and superior value and associating those names with the
understanding that they are available only at Dillard’s. It’s a benefit to our customers and ultimitaly, a benefit 
to our shareholders.

Footwear

Thanks to the trend in prime-time 
television everybody seems to be talking
about shoe fashions and fashionable
shoes: Continuing our commitment to
the female shoe shopper, we launched
our Nurture comfort line in the Fall of
2003. Dillard’s customers are stepping
out front with exclusive styles from
Antonio Melani, Gianni Bini, Nurture 
and Michelle D.

Nurture

Women’s Apparel
& Accessories

Pick a category, Career Wear, Casual, Sportswear,
Hosiery or Accessories, women shop at our stores
because they already know what to expect. And their
expectations are rising. New fashions, new styles, and a
whole vocabulary of new, and exclusive, brand names
have become associated with Dillard’s…names such as
Preston & York, Antonio Melani, Q.U.E, Westbound,
Katherine Kelly, Allison Daley and Cabernet.

Preston & York Handbags

2

Antonio Melani Sportswear – Footwear – Handbags

For The Home

Starting out or starting over, furnishing the home is an
exciting undertaking and Dillard’s shoppers depend on us
to provide the latest fashions and top quality merchandise.
Kitchen, den, bedrooms, throughout the house, our exclu-
sive brands like Nobility, Main Ingredients, Signature
Home and Status Quo are becoming decorating standards.

Main Ingredients

Nobility

Menswear

Clothes really do make the
man and most men trust 
the brands they know. 
From business classic to 
contemporary sportswear,
the American male (and the
women who shop for them)
return to the trusted 
exclusive brands in Dillard’s
men’s department: including
Roundtree & Yorke, Daniel
Cremieux, Murano and
Turnbury. 

Roundtree & Yorke 

r
a
e
W

s
’
n
e
r
d

l
i

h
C

Copper Key

Class Club

Juniors

Moms all across the
country apply a common
criteria to the business of
clothing their children
and that criteria is based
on dependable quality,
fashion and value. They
depend on Class Club for
boys and Copper Key for
girls and juniors to deliver
time after time.

3

 
Corporate Organization

William Dillard, II
Chief Executive Officer

Alex Dillard
President

Mike Dillard
Executive Vice President

Drue Corbusier
Executive Vice President

James I. Freeman
Chief Financial Officer

Paul J. Schroeder, Jr.
General Counsel

Vice Presidents

W.R. Appleby, II
H. Gene Baker
Donald A. Bogart
Tom Bolin
Michael Bowen
Joseph P. Brennan
Kent Burnett
Larry Cailteux
Les Chandler
James W. Cherry, Jr.

Neil Christensen
William T. Dillard, III
Gianni Duarte
Karl G. Ederer
Christine A. Ferrari
Ann Franzke
John Grahek, Jr.
Walter C. Grammer
Marva Harrell
Gene D. Heil

William H. Hite
William L. Holder, Jr.
Dan W. Jensen
Mark Killingsworth
Colleen Kirk
Gaston Lemoine
Denise Mahaffy
Paul E. McLynch
Michael S. McNiff
Jeff Menn

Anthony Menzie
Richard Moore
Cindy Myers-Ray
Steven K. Nelson
Tom C. Patterson
Michael E. Price
Grizelda Reeder
Robin Sanderford
Sidney A. Sanders
Linda Sholtis-Tucker

Terry Smith
Burt Squires
Alan Steinberg
Sandra Steinberg
James D. Stockman
Ralph Stuart
Tom Sullivan
Julie A. Taylor
David Terry
Lloyd KeithTidmore

Phillip R. Watts
Kay White
Keith White
Ronald Wiggins
Kent Wiley
Richard B. Willey
Sherrill E. Wise

Merchandising Division Management

Ft. Worth Division

Little Rock Division

Phoenix Division

St. Louis Division

Tampa Division

Drue Corbusier
President

Jeff Menn
Vice President,
Merchandising

Anthony Menzie
Vice President,
Merchandising

Lloyd Tidmore
Director of
Sales Promotion

Mike Dillard
President

David Terry
Vice President,
Merchandising

Keith White
Vice President,
Merchandising

Ken Eaton
Director of
Sales Promotion

Kent Burnett
President

Tom Sullivan
Vice President,
Merchandising

Julie A. Taylor
Vice President,
Merchandising

James Benson
Director of
Sales Promotion

Joseph P. Brennan
President

Robin Sanderford
President

Mark Killingsworth
Vice President,
Merchandising

Sandra Steinberg
Vice President,
Merchandising

Ronald Wiggins
Vice President,
Merchandising

Mark Gastman
Director of
Sales Promotion

James D. Stockman
Vice President,
Merchandising

Louise Platt
Director of
Sales Promotion

Board of Directors

Robert C. Connor
Investments

Drue Corbusier
Executive Vice President of
Dillard’s, Inc.

Will D. Davis
Partner with Heath, Davis,
& McCalla, Attorneys
Austin, Texas

Alex Dillard
President
Dillard’s, Inc.

4

Mike Dillard
Executive Vice President of
Dillard’s, Inc.

John Paul Hammerschmidt
Retired Member of Congress
Harrison, Arkansas

William Dillard, II
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of
Dillard’s, Inc.

James I. Freeman
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of
Dillard’s, Inc.

Bob L. Martin
Independent Business
Executive
Former President and
Chief Executive Officer Wal-
Mart International
Rogers, Arkansas

Warren A. Stephens
President and Chief Executive
Officer of Stephens Group
and Stephens, Inc.
Little Rock, Arkansas

William H. Sutton
Managing Partner of Friday,
Eldredge and Clark,
Attorneys
Little Rock, Arkansas

J.C. Watts, Jr.
Former Member of Congress 
and Chairman of
J.C. Watts Companies
Arlington, Virginia

CA 

(Mark One) 

UNITED STATES 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549 
FORM 10-K 

[x]    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 

ACT OF 1934 

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 

OR 

[  ]  

TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13  OR  15(d)  OF  THE  SECURITES 
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the transition period from __________ to __________. 

Commission file number 1-6140 

DILLARD’S, INC. 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

DELAWARE 
(State or other jurisdiction 
of incorporation or organization) 

71-0388071 
(IRS Employer 
Identification Number) 

1600 CANTRELL ROAD, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS  72201 
(Address of principal executive office) 
(Zip Code) 

(501) 376-5200 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 

Title of each Class 
Class A Common Stock  

Name of each exchange on which registered 
New York Stock Exchange 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: 

None 

Indicate by checkmark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that 
the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the 
past 90 days.  Yes x No_ 

Indicated by checkmark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-
2).  Yes X No _ 

Indicate  by  checkmark  if  disclosure  of  delinquent  filers  pursuant  to  Item  405  of  Regulation  S-K  is  not 
contained  herein,  and  will  not  be  contained,  to  the  best  of  Registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or 
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 
10-K.  [X] 

State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of February 28, 
2004:  $1,357,737,216. 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's classes of common stock as of February 
28, 2004: 

CLASS A COMMON STOCK, $.01 par value  79,480,069 
CLASS B COMMON STOCK, $.01 par value     4,010,929 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 15, 2004 (the "Proxy 
Statement") are incorporated by reference into Part III. 

2

 
Item No. 

1. 

1A. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

7A. 

8. 

9. 

9A. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

Table of Contents 

PART I 

Page No. 

Business. 

Executive Officers of the Registrant. 

Properties. 

Legal Proceedings. 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. 

PART II 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters. 

Selected Financial Data. 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accounts on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. 

Controls and Procedures. 

PART III 

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant. 

Executive Compensation. 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder 
Matters. 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions. 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services. 

PART IV 

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K. 

Certifications. 

4 

4 

5 

6 

6 

6 

7 

9 

21 

22 

22 

22 

22 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

25 

3

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART I 

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS. 

General 

Dillard's,  Inc.  (the  "Company"  or  "Registrant")  is  an  outgrowth  of  a  department  store  originally  founded  in  1938  by 
William Dillard.  The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1964.  The Company operates retail department stores 
located primarily in the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest. 

We  conduct  our  retail  merchandise  business  under  highly  competitive  conditions.    Although  we  are  a  large  regional 
department store, we have numerous competitors at the national and local level that compete with our individual stores, 
including specialty, off-price, discount, internet, and mail-order retailers. Competition is characterized by many factors 
including location, reputation, assortment, advertising, price, quality, service and credit availability. We believe that our 
stores  are  in  a  strong  competitive  position  with  regard  to  each  of  these  factors.  The  Company's  earnings  depend  to  a 
significant extent on the results of operations for the last quarter of its fiscal year.  Due to holiday buying patterns, sales 
for that period average approximately one-third of annual sales. 

For additional information with respect to the Registrant's business, reference is made to information contained under the 
headings “Net sales,” “Net income,” “Total assets” and “Number of employees-average,” under item 6 hereof. 

The  Company’s  annual  report  on  Form  10-K,  quarterly  reports  on  Form  10-Q  and  current  reports  on  Form  8-K  are 
available free of charge on the Dillard’s, Inc. Web site: 

www.dillards.com 

The information contained on the Company’s web site is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K and should 
not be considered to be a part of this Form 10-K.  These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after such 
material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

ITEM 1A.  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT. 

The  following  table  lists  the  names  and  ages  of  all  Executive  Officers  of  the  registrant,  the  nature  of  any  family 
relationship between them and all positions and offices with the Registrant presently held by each person named.  All of 
the Executive Officers listed below have been in managerial positions with the registrant for more than five years.  

4

 
 
The following is a listing of executive officers of the Company, their age, position and office, and family relationship, if 
any. 

Name 

Age 

Position & Office 

Family Relationship 

William Dillard, II 

59 

Director; Chief Executive Officer 

None 

Alex Dillard 

54 

Director; President 

Brother of William Dillard, II 

Mike Dillard 

52 

Director; Executive Vice President 

Brother of William Dillard, II 

H. Gene Baker 

65 

Vice President 

Joseph P. Brennan 

59 

Vice President 

G. Kent Burnett 

59 

Vice President 

None 

None 

None 

Drue Corbusier 

57 

Director; Executive Vice President 

Sister of William Dillard, II 

James I. Freeman 

54 

Director;  Senior  Vice  President;  Chief 
Financial Officer 

None 

Randal L. Hankins 

53 

President of Dillard National Bank 

Gaston Lemoine 

60 

Vice President 

Steven K. Nelson 

46 

Vice President 

Robin Sanderford 

57 

Vice President 

Paul J. Schroeder 

55 

Vice President 

Burt Squires  

54 

Vice President 

Charles Unfried 

57 

Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Dillard 
National Bank 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES. 

All of the Registrant's stores are owned or leased from wholly owned subsidiaries or from third parties.  The Registrant's 
third-party  store  leases  typically  provide  for  rental  payments  based  on  a  percentage  of  net  sales  with  a  guaranteed 
minimum  annual  rent.  Lease  terms  between  the  Registrant  and  its  wholly  owned  subsidiaries  vary.    In  general,  the 
Company pays the cost of insurance, maintenance and any increase in real estate taxes related to the leases.  At January 
31, 2004 there were 328 stores in operation with gross square footage approximating 56.0 million feet.  The Company 
owned  or  leased,  from  wholly  owned  subsidiaries,  a  total  of  257  stores  with  43.9  million  square  feet.    The  Company 
leased 71 stores from third parties, which totaled 12.1 million square feet.  Additional information is contained in Notes 
1, 2, 12 and 13 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” in Item 8 hereof and reference is made to information 
contained under the heading “Number of stores,” under item 6 hereof. 

5

 
 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. 

From time to time, we are involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of 
business.    Such  issues  may  relate  to  litigation  with  customers,  employment  related  lawsuits,  class  action  lawsuits, 
purported class action lawsuits and actions brought by governmental authorities.  As of April 3, 2004, we are not a party 
to any legal proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect 
on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.  However, the results of these matters cannot be 
predicted  with  certainty, and an unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse 
effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. 

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. 

No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the year ended January 31, 2004. 

PART II 

ITEM  5.  MARKET  FOR  REGISTRANT'S  COMMON  EQUITY  AND  RELATED 
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS. 

The Company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the Ticker Symbol “DDS”. 

Stock Prices and Dividends by Quarter 

2003 

2002 

First 
Second 
Third 
Fourth 

High 

Low 
$15.10  $12.49 
12.77 
15.08 
13.98 
16.92 
14.46 
17.86 

High 

Low 
$25.87  $12.94 
21.70 
15.59 
15.00 

30.47 
27.98 
19.32 

Dividends 
per Share 

2003 
$0.04 
0.04 
0.04 
0.04 

2002 
$0.04 
0.04 
0.04 
0.04 

Equity Compensation Plan Information 

Number of securities to be 
issued upon exercise of 
outstanding options 
(a) 

Equity compensation plans 
approved by shareholders 

Total 

7,870,739 
7,870,739 

Weighted average 
exercise prices of 
outstanding options 

(b) 

$22.45 
$22.45 

Number of securities 
available for future 
issuance under equity 
compensation 
plans(excluding securities 
reflected in column (a)) 
(c) 

9,773,141 
9,773,141 

As of February 28, 2004, there were 4,827 record holders of the Company's Class A Common Stock and 8 record holders 
of the Company's Class B Common Stock. 

6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA. 

Table of Selected Financial Data 

(In thousands of dollars, except per share data) 

Net sales 
  Percent change 
Cost of sales 
  Percent of sales 
Interest and debt expense 
Income before taxes 
Income taxes 
Income before cumulative effect of  
  accounting change 
Cumulative effect of accounting change 
Net income (loss) 
Pro forma inventory change  
Pro forma net income (loss) 
Per Diluted Common Share 
  Income before cumulative effect of  
    accounting change 
  Cumulative effect of accounting change 
  Net income (loss) 
  Pro forma inventory change  
  Pro forma net income (loss) 
  Dividends 
  Book value 
Average number of shares 
  outstanding   
Accounts receivable (4) 
Merchandise inventories 
Property and equipment 
Total assets 
Long-term debt (4) 
Capitalized lease obligations 
Deferred income taxes 
Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests 
  in the Company's Subordinated Debentures 
Stockholders' equity 
Number of employees - average 
Gross square footage (in thousands) 
Number of stores 
  Opened 
  Acquired 
  Closed 
Total - end of year 

2003  
$7,598,934 
-4%
5,170,173 
68.0%
181,065
15,994
6,650

2002  
$7,910,996 
-3%
5,254,134 
66.4%
189,779
204,261
72,335

2001  
$8,154,911 
-5% 
5,507,702 
67.5% 
192,344 
120,963 
49,165 

2000* 
$8,566,560 
-1%
5,802,147 
67.8%
169,609 
183,531 
59,390 

1999 
$8,676,711 
12%
5,762,431 
66.4%
249,514 
283,949 
120,220 

131,926
(530,331) (1)
(398,405) 
-
(398,405)

1.55 
(6.22)
(4.67) 
-
(4.67)
0.16 
26.71 

85,316,200 
1,387,835 
1,594,308
3,370,502
6,675,932
2,193,006 
18,600 
645,020

531,579 
2,264,196
55,208 
56,700 

4 
0 
9 
333 

71,798 
- 
71,798 
- 
71,798 

0.85 
- 
0.85 
- 
0.85 
0.16 
31.81 

84,486,747 
1,112,325 
1,561,863 
3,455,715 
7,074,559 
2,124,577 
20,459 
643,965 

531,579 
2,668,397 
57,257 
56,800 

6 
4 
9 
338 

124,141 
(129,991) (2)
(5,850)
-
(5,850)

163,729 
-
163,729 
(8,963) (3)
154,766

1.36 
(1.42)
(0.06)
-
(0.06)
0.16 
30.94 

91,199,184 
1,011,481 
1,616,186 
3,508,331 
7,199,309 
2,374,124 
22,453 
638,648 

531,579 
2,629,820 
58,796 
56,500 

4 
0 
9 
337 

1.55 
-
1.55 
(0.08)
1.47
0.16 
28.68 

105,617,503 
1,137,458 
2,047,830 
3,619,191 
7,918,204 
2,894,616 
24,659 
702,467 

531,579 
2,832,834 
61,824 
57,000 

8 
0 
1 
342 

9,344
-
9,344
-
9,344

0.11 
-
0.11 
-
0.11
0.16 
26.79

83,899,974
1,232,456 
1,632,377
3,197,469
6,411,097
1,855,065 
17,711
617,236

200,000 
2,237,097
53,598
56,000 

5 
0 
10 
328 

7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* 53 Weeks 

(1)  During fiscal 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other  
        Intangible Assets”.  See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

(2)  During fiscal 2000, the Company changed its method of accounting for inventories under the retail method 

(3)  Pro forma effect of applying  the cumulative effect of accounting change for inventories in fiscal 2000. 

(4)  The  Company  had  $300  million  in  off-balance-sheet  debt  and  accounts  receivable  for the  fiscal  years  ending 

2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.  See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

The items below are included in the Selected Financial Data. 

2003 

The items below amount to a net $18.6 million pretax charge ($12.8 million after tax or $0.15 per diluted share). 

a $43.7 million pretax charge ($28.9 million after tax or $0.34 per diluted share) for asset impairment and store 
closing charges related to certain stores (see Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 

a call premium resulting in additional interest expense of $15.6 million ($10.0 million after tax or $0.12 per 
diluted share) associated with a $125.9 million call of debt. 

a pretax gain of $15.6 million  ($10.0 million after tax or $0.12 per diluted share) pertaining to the Company’s 
sale of its interest in Sunrise Mall and its associated center in Brownsville, Texas (see Note 1 of the Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements). 

a pretax gain of $12.3 million ($7.9 million after tax or $0.09 per diluted share) recorded due to the resolution of 
certain liabilities originally recorded in conjunction with the purchase of Mercantile Stores Company, Inc. 

an $8.7 million pretax gain ($5.6 million after tax or $0.07 per diluted share) related to the sale of certain store 
properties.  

$4.1 million ($2.6 million after tax or $0.03 per diluted share) received from the Internal Revenue Service as a 
result of the Company’s filing of an interest-netting claim related to previously settled tax years.  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

2002 

The items below amount to a net $3.0 million pretax gain ($1.8 million after tax or $0.02 per diluted share). 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

a pretax gain of $64.3 million ($41.1 million after tax or $0.48 per diluted share) pertaining to the Company’s 
sale of its interest in FlatIron Crossing, a Broomfield, Colorado shopping center  (see Note 1 of the Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements). 

a pretax asset impairment and store closing charge of $52.2 million ($33.4 million after tax or $0.39 per diluted 
share) related to certain stores (see Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 

a call premium resulting in additional interest expense of $11.6 million ($7.4 million after tax or $0.09 per 
diluted share) associated with a $143.0 million call of debt. 

a pretax charge of $5.4 million ($3.5 million after tax or $0.04 per diluted share) on the  amortization of  off-
balance-sheet accounts receivable securitization (see Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements). 

a pretax gain of $4.8 million ($3.0 million after tax or $0.04 per diluted share)  on the early extinguishment of 
debt. 

8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• 

a pretax gain of $3.1 million ($2.0 million after tax or $0.02 per diluted share) from an investee partnership of 
the Company who received an unusual distribution in the settlement of a receivable.  

2001 

The items below amount to a net $5.6 million pretax charge ($3.6 million after tax or $0.04 per diluted share).  

a pretax asset impairment and store closing charge of $3.8 million ($2.4 million after tax or $0.03 per diluted 
share) related to certain stores (see Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 

a pretax gain of $9.4 million ($6.0 million after tax or $0.07 per diluted share)  on the early extinguishment of 
debt. 

• 

• 

2000 

The items below amount to a net $38.2 million pretax charge ($21.3 million after tax or $0.23 per diluted share).  

a pretax asset impairment and store closing charge of $51.4 million ($36.0 million after tax or $0.40 per diluted 
share) related to certain stores. 

a pretax gain of $42.7 million ($27.3 million after tax or $0.30 per diluted share)  on the early extinguishment of 
debt. 

a pretax gain of $46.9 million ($30.0 million after tax or $0.33 per diluted share) on the Company’s change in 
its method of accounting for inventories under the retail inventory method. 

• 

• 

• 

1999 

The items below amount to a net $83.5 million pretax charge ($64.3 million after tax or $0.63 per diluted share).   

• 

• 

a pretax asset impairment and store closing charge of $69.7 million ($55.5 million after tax or $0.55 per diluted 
share) related to certain stores. 

a pretax loss of $13.8 million ($8.8 million after tax or $0.08 per diluted share) on the Company’s change in its 
method of accounting for inventories under the retail inventory method. 

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL 

    CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW 

Dillard’s,  Inc.  (“the  Company”  or  “we”)  operates  328  retail  department  stores  in  29  states.    Our  stores  are  located  in 
suburban shopping malls and offer a broad selection of fashion apparel and home furnishings.  We offer an appealing and 
attractive assortment of merchandise to our customers at a fair price.  We seek to enhance our income by maximizing the 
sale of this merchandise to our customers.  We do this by promoting and advertising our merchandise and by making our 
stores an attractive and convenient place for our customers to shop. 

Fundamentally, the Company’s business model is to offer the customer a compelling price/value relationship through the 
combination of high quality products and services at a competitive price. The Company seeks to deliver a high level of 
profitability and cash flow by:  

•  maximizing the effectiveness of  our pricing  and brand awareness; 

•  minimizing costs through leveraging our centralized overhead expense structure; 

•  Sourcing; 

•  Credit operations;  

9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• 

reinvesting operating cash flows into store growth, distribution initiatives, improving product quality in our 
proprietary brands; and 

• 

returning profits to shareholders through dividends, share repurchases and increased share price. 

The consumer retail sector is extremely competitive.  Many different retail establishments compete for our customers’ 
business.  These include other department stores, specialty retailers, discounters, internet and mail order retailers.  We 
also attempt to enhance our income by managing our operating costs without sacrificing service to our customers. 

Trends and uncertainties   

The following key uncertainties have been identified by the Company whose fluctuations can have a material effect on 
the operating results. 

•  Cash flow from operating activities are a primary source of liquidity that is adversely affected when the industry 
faces  market  driven  challenges  and  new  and  existing  competitors  seek  areas  of  growth  to  expand  their 
businesses. If our customers do not purchase our merchandise offerings in sufficient quantities, we respond by 
taking  markdowns.    If  we  have  to  reduce  our  prices,  the  cost  of  goods  sold  on  our  income  statement  will 
correspondingly rise, thus reducing our income.  

•  Success  of  brand  –  The  success  of  our  exclusive  brand  merchandise  is  dependent  upon  customer  fashion 

preferences.  

•  Store growth – Our growth is dependent on a number of factors which could prevent the opening of new stores, 

such as identifying suitable markets and locations. 

2004 Guidance  

A summary of guidance on key financial measures for 2004, on a GAAP basis, is shown below. There have been no 
changes in the guidance for 2004 since the Company released its fourth quarter earnings on March 10, 2004.  

         (In millions of dollars)            

      2004      
 Estimated    

   2003 
Actual 

          Depreciation and amortization    
          Rental expense                      
          Interest and debt expense           
          Capital expenditures                

 $  291 
       $  290    
       64 
             64         
           155       
     181 
            240                        227 

General 
Net Sales.  Net sales include sales of comparable stores, non-comparable stores and lease income on leased departments.  
Comparable store sales include sales for those stores which were in operation for a full period in both the current month 
and the corresponding month for the prior year.  Non-comparable store sales include sales in the current fiscal year from 
stores opened during the previous fiscal year before they are considered comparable stores, sales from new stores opened 
in the current fiscal year and sales in the previous fiscal year for stores that were closed in the current fiscal year. 

Service Charges, Interest and Other Income.  Service Charges, Interest and Other Income include interest and service 
charges, net of service charge write-offs, related to the Company’s proprietary credit card sales.  Other income relates to 
joint ventures accounted for by the equity method, rental income, shipping and handling fees and gains (losses) on the 
sale of property and equipment and joint ventures. 

Cost  of  Sales.    Cost  of  sales  includes  the  cost  of  merchandise  sold,  bankcard  fees,  freight  to  the  distribution  centers, 
employee and promotional discounts and direct payroll for salon personnel.   

Advertising, selling, administrative and general expenses.  Advertising, selling, administrative and general expenses 
include buying and occupancy, selling, distribution, warehousing, store management and corporate expenses, including 
payroll and employee benefits, insurance, employment taxes, advertising, management information systems, legal, bad 
debt  costs  and  other  corporate  level  expenses.    Buying  expenses  consist  of  payroll,  employee  benefits  and  travel  for 
design, buying and merchandising personnel.   

10

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                              
                                         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation  and  amortization.    Depreciation  and  amortization  expenses  include  depreciation  on  property  and 
equipment and amortization of goodwill prior to February 3, 2002. 

Rentals.  Rentals include expenses for store leases and data processing equipment rentals. 

Interest  and  debt  expense.    Interest  and  debt  expense  includes  interest  relating  to  the  Company’s  unsecured  notes, 
mortgage  notes,  credit  card  receivables  financing,  the  Guaranteed  Beneficial  Interests  in  the  Company’s  subordinated 
debentures,  gains  and  losses  on  note  repurchases,  amortization  of  financing  intangibles  and  interest  on  capital  lease 
obligations. 

Asset impairment and store closing charges.  Asset impairment and store closing charges consist of write-downs to 
fair value of under-performing properties and exit costs associated with the closure of certain stores.   Exit costs include 
future rent, taxes and common area maintenance expenses from the time the stores are closed. 

Cumulative  effect  of  accounting  change.    Effective  February  3,  2002,  the  Company  adopted  Statement  of  Financial 
Accounting  Standards  (“SFAS”)  No.  142,  “Goodwill  and  Other  Intangible  Assets”.      SFAS  No.  142  changes  the 
accounting  for  goodwill  from  an  amortization  method  to  an  “impairment  only”  approach.    Under  SFAS  No.  142, 
goodwill is no longer amortized but reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if certain indicators arise.  The 
Company tested goodwill for impairment as of the adoption date using the two-step process prescribed in SFAS No. 142.  
The Company identified its reporting units under SFAS No. 142 at the store unit level.  The fair value of these reporting 
units  was  estimated  using  the  expected  discounted  future  cash  flows  and  market  values  of  related  businesses,  where 
appropriate. The cumulative effect of the accounting change as of February 3, 2002 was to decrease net income for fiscal 
year 2002 by $530 million or $6.22 per diluted share. 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates 
The Company’s accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  
As  disclosed  in  Note  1  of  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements,  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  in 
conformity  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  of  America  (“GAAP”)  requires 
management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated 
financial statements and accompanying notes. Since future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute 
certainty,  actual  results  will  differ  from  those  estimates.  The  Company  evaluates  its  estimates  and  judgments  on  an 
ongoing basis and predicates those estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are 
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.   Actual results will differ from these under different assumptions or 
conditions. 

Management  of  the  Company  believes  the  following  critical  accounting  policies,  among  others,  affect  its  more 
significant judgments and estimates used in preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Merchandise inventory. Approximately 97% of the inventories are valued at lower of cost or market using the retail 
last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) inventory method.  Under the retail inventory method (“RIM”), the valuation of inventories at 
cost  and  the  resulting  gross  margins  are  calculated  by  applying  a  calculated  cost  to  retail  ratio  to  the  retail  value  of 
inventories.    RIM  is  an  averaging  method  that  has  been  widely  used  in  the  retail  industry  due  to  its  practicality.  
Additionally,  it  is  recognized  that  the  use  of  RIM  will  result  in  valuing  inventories  at  the  lower  of  cost  or  market  if 
markdowns  are  currently  taken  as  a  reduction  of  the  retail  value  of  inventories.    Inherent  in  the  RIM  calculation  are 
certain  significant  management  judgments  including,  among  others,  merchandise  markon,  markups,  and  markdowns, 
which significantly impact the ending inventory valuation at cost as well as the resulting gross margins.  Management 
believes that the Company’s RIM provides an inventory valuation which results in a carrying value at the lower of cost 
or market. The remaining 3% of the inventories are valued at lower of cost or market using the specific identified cost 
method. 

Allowance  for  doubtful  accounts.   The  accounts  receivable  from  the  Company’s  proprietary  credit  card  sales  are 
subject  to  credit  losses.  The  Company  maintains  allowances  for  uncollectible  accounts  for  estimated  losses  resulting 
from  the  inability  of  its  customers  to  make  required  payments.  The  adequacy  of  the  allowance  is  based  on  historical 
experience  with  similar  customers  including  write-off  trends,  current  aging  information  and  year-end  balances.  
Bankruptcies and recoveries used in the allowance calculation are projected based on qualitative factors such as current 
and  expected  consumer  and  economic  trends.    Management  believes  that  the  allowance  for  uncollectible  accounts  is 
adequate to cover anticipated losses in the reported credit card receivable portfolio under current conditions; however, 
significant deterioration in any of the above-noted factors or in the overall health of the economy could materially change 
these expectations. 

11

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Vendor  allowances.    The  Company  receives  concessions  from  its  vendors  through  a  variety  of  programs  and 
arrangements, including co-operative advertising, payroll reimbursements and markdown reimbursement programs.  Co-
operative advertising allowances are reported as a reduction of advertising expense in the period in which the advertising 
occurred.    Payroll  reimbursements  are  reported  as  a  reduction  of  payroll  expense  in  the  period  in  which  the 
reimbursement occurred.  All other vendor allowances are recognized as a reduction of cost purchases.  Accordingly, a 
reduction  or  increase  in  vendor  concessions  has  an  inverse  impact  on  cost  of  sales  and/or  selling  and  administrative 
expenses. 

Insurance accruals. The Company’s consolidated balance sheets include liabilities with respect to self-insured workers’ 
compensation  and  general  liability  claims.  The  Company  estimates  the  required  liability  of  such  claims,  utilizing  an 
actuarial method, based upon various assumptions, which include, but are not limited to, our historical loss experience, 
projected loss development factors, actual payroll and other data. The required liability is also subject to adjustment in 
the future based upon the changes in claims experience, including changes in the number of incidents (frequency) and 
changes in the ultimate cost per incident (severity). 

Finite-lived assets. The Company evaluates the fair value and future benefits of finite-lived assets whenever events and 
changes in circumstances suggest.  The Company performs an analysis of the anticipated undiscounted future net cash 
flows of the related finite-lived assets. If the carrying value of the related asset exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, the 
carrying value is reduced to its fair value. Various factors including future sales growth and profit margins are included 
in  this  analysis.  To  the  extent  these  future  projections  or  the  Company’s  strategies  change,  the  conclusion  regarding 
impairment may differ from the current estimates.   

Goodwill. The Company evaluates goodwill annually and whenever events and changes in circumstances suggest that 
the carrying amount may not be recoverable from its estimated future cash flows. To the extent these future projections 
or our strategies change, the conclusion regarding impairment may differ from the current estimates. 

Accounts  receivable  securitizations.    As  part  of  the  credit  card  securitizations,  the  Company  transfers  credit  card 
receivable  balances  to  the  Trust  in  exchange  for certificates representing undivided interests in such receivables.  The 
Trust  securitizes  balances  by  issuing  certificates  representing  undivided  interests  in  the  Trust’s  receivables  to  outside 
investors.  In each securitization the Company retains certain subordinated interests that serve as a credit enhancement to 
outside  investors  and  expose  the  Trust  assets  to  possible  credit  losses  on  receivables  sold  to  outside  investors.    The 
investors and the Trust have no recourse against the Company beyond Trust assets.  In order to maintain the committed 
level  of  securitized  assets,  the  Trust  reinvests cash collections on securitized accounts in additional balances.  Interest 
paid to outside investors is recorded as interest expense.  

Currently all borrowings under our receivable financing conduit are recorded on balance sheet and included in “Long-
term Debt” on the consolidated balance sheet.  As of January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 we had $400 million of 
debt, respectively, outstanding under this agreement.  Prior to May 2002, we accounted for securitizations of credit card 
receivables as sales of receivables, thus off balance sheet.   

Income  taxes.    Temporary  differences  arising  from  differing  treatment  of  income  and  expense  items  for  tax  and 
financial  reporting  purposes  result  in  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  that  are  recorded  on  the  balance  sheet.    These 
balances, as well as income tax expense, are determined through management’s estimations, interpretation of tax law for 
multiple jurisdictions and tax planning. If the Company’s actual results differ from estimated results due to changes in 
tax laws, new store locations or tax planning, the Company’s effective tax rate and tax balances could be affected.  As 
such these estimates may require adjustment in the future as additional facts become known or as circumstances change. 

Discount rate.  The discount rate that the Company utilizes for determining future pension obligations is based on the 
Moody’s AA corporate bond index.  The indices selected reflect the weighted average remaining period of benefit 
payments. The discount rate determined on this basis had decreased to 6.0% as of January 31, 2004 from 6.75% as of 
February 1, 2003. 

12

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Results of Operations 

The following table sets forth the results of operations, expressed as a percentage of net sales, for the periods indicated: 

(in millions of dollars) 

                                        For the years ended 

Net sales  
Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Advertising, selling, administrative 
  and general expenses 
Depreciation and amortization 
Rentals 
Interest and debt expense 
Asset impairment and store closing 
  charges 
     Total operating expenses 
Service charges, interest and other  
   income 
Income  before income taxes 
Income taxes  
Income  before cumulative effect 
  of accounting change 
Cumulative effect of accounting change 

Net income (loss) 

    January 31, 2004 

% of  
  Amount  Net Sales

   February 1, 2003 
% of 

February 2, 2002 

% of 

  Amount  Net Sales  

Amount  Net Sales  

$7,598.9
5,170.2

2,428.7

2,097.9
290.7
64.1
181.1

43.7
2,677.5

264.8
16.0
6.7

9.3
-

100.0 %
68.0

$7,911.0
5,254.1

100.0 % 
66.4  

32.0

27.6
3.8
0.8
2.4

0.6
35.2

3.4
0.2
0.1

0.1
-

2,656.9

33.6  

2164.0
301.4
68.1
189.8

52.2
2,775.5

322.9
204.3
72.4

27.3  
3.8  
0.9  
2.4  

0.7  
35.1  

4.1  
2.6  
0.9  

131.9
(530.3)

1.7  
(6.7)  

$8,154.9
5,507.7

2,647.2

100.0 %
67.5  

32.5  

2,191.4
310.7
72.8
192.3

3.8
2,771.0

244.8
121.0
49.2

71.8
-

26.9  
3.8  
0.9  
2.4  

-
34.0  

3.0
1.5  
0.6  

0.9  
-  

$     9.3

0.1 %

$(398.4)

(5.0) % 

$    71.8

0.9 %

Sales 
The percent change by category in the Company’s sales for the past two years is as follows: 

Cosmetics 
Women’s and Juniors’ Clothing 
Children’s Clothing 
Men’s Clothing and Accessories 
Shoes, Accessories and Lingerie 
Home 

% Change 

03-02 

02-01 

-1.1 
-4.8 
-8.9 
-5.8 
-0.8 
-4.3 

-2.5 
-2.8 
-1.9 
-5.9 
-0.8 
-3.6 

Sales decreased 4% for the 52-week period ended January 31, 2004 compared to the 52-week period ended February 1, 
2003 on both a total and comparable store basis.  Sales declined in all merchandising categories with the largest declines 
in children’s, men’s clothing and accessories and women’s and juniors’ clothing.  Sales in the home categories were in 
line  with  the  average  sales  performance  while  sales  in  accessories,  shoes,  lingerie  and  cosmetics  were  strongest  and 
exceeded the Company’s average sales performance for the period. Dillard’s management reiterates their strong belief 
that  merchandise  differentiation  by  the  Company  is  crucial  to  its  future  success  in  the  marketplace.    The  Company 
continues  to  work  diligently  to  build  penetration  and  recognition  of  its  exclusive  brand  merchandise  as  a  means  to 
provide superior price and value choices to its customers.   During the fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, sales of private 
brand merchandise as a percent of total sales were 20.9%, 18.2% and 15.4%, respectively. 

Sales decreased 3% for the 52-week period ended February 1, 2003 compared to the 52-week period ended February 2, 
2002 on both a total and comparable store basis.  The sales decrease for 2002 is due to lower levels of comparable store 
sales particularly in the latter half of fiscal 2002 due to a notably weak retail environment.  Sales declined in all 
merchandising categories with the largest declines in men’s clothing and accessories and home, which decreased 6% and 
4%, respectively.   

13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of Sales 
Cost of sales as a percentage of sales increased to 68.0% during 2003 compared with 66.4% for 2002.  The decline of 
160 basis points in gross margin during fiscal 2003 was due to competitive pressures in the Company’s retail sector and 
the resulting effort to maintain a competitive position with increased markdown activity.  The higher level of markdown 
activity increased cost of sales by 3.7% of sales.  Improved levels of markups partially offset this promotional activity 
during fiscal 2003. The increased markup percentage was responsible for a decrease in cost of sales of 2.1% of sales.  All 
product  categories  had  decreased  gross  margins  during  2003  except  cosmetics,  which  increased  10  basis  points  from 
2002.  The Company has continued to build penetration and recognition of its private brand merchandise as a means for 
increased  control  over  merchandise  mix  and  better  gross  margin  performance  with  the  goal  of  replacing  under-
performing branded vendors with Dillard’s private brands. 

Inventory  in  comparable  stores  at  January  31,  2004  increased  140  basis  points  comparing  to  inventory  in  comparable 
stores at February 1, 2003.  This increase was due to lower than expected sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003.   

Cost of sales as a percentage of sales decreased to 66.4% during 2002 compared with 67.5% for 2001. The Company 
experienced  lower  than  expected  consumer  demand  in  its  fourth  quarter  of  2002  necessitating  increased  promotional 
efforts to clear slower moving merchandise.  This higher level of markdown activity increased the cost of sales by 1.5% 
of  sales  in  response  to  a  heavily  promotional  retail  environment  and  comparatively  weak  sales  trends  in  the  holiday 
merchandise  category  compared  to  the  prior  year.    Significantly  improved  levels  of  markups  offset  this  promotional 
activity during 2002 compared with 2001.  The increased markup percentage was responsible for a decrease in cost of 
sales of 2.6% of sales.  All product categories had improved gross margins during 2002 except cosmetics, which was 
unchanged from 2001.   

Expenses 

2003 Compared to 2002 

Advertising,  selling,  administrative  and  general  (“SG&A“)  expenses  increased  to  27.6%  of  sales  for  fiscal  2003 
compared  to  27.3%  for  fiscal  2002.    The  percentage  increase  is  primarily  due  to  a  lack  of  sales  leverage  as  SG&A 
expenses  decreased    $66.1  million  in  2003  compared  to  2002.    On  a  dollar  basis  significant  decreases  were  noted  in 
payroll,  advertising  and  bad  debt  expense.    Payroll,  advertising  and  bad  debt  expense  declined  $37.0  million,  $8.6 
million and $9.5 million, respectively.  The decrease in payroll was caused primarily by a reduction in incentive based 
sales  payroll  which  is  directly  tied  to  the  decrease  in  sales  during  2003.    The  decline  in  advertising  expense  resulted 
primarily from a reduction in newspaper advertising as the Company considers which media more appropriately matches 
its  customers’  lifestyles.    Improvement  in  the  quality  of  accounts  receivable  through  lower  delinquencies  as  well  as  a 
reduction in outstanding accounts receivable contributed to the lower bad debt expense.  SG&A expenses in fiscal 2003 
include a $12.3 million pretax credit recorded due to the resolution of certain liabilities originally recorded in conjunction 
with the purchase of Mercantile Stores Company, Inc.  that were deemed not necessary based upon current information. 

Depreciation and amortization as a percentage of sales remained flat during fiscal 2003 principally due to lower capital 
expenditures in fiscal 2003 combined with a lack of sales leverage from the 4% decline in comparable store sales during 
the year.   

Interest and debt expense as a percentage of sales was unchanged from fiscal 2002 as a result of the Company’s lack of 
sales  leverage.    Interest  expense  declined  $9.0  million  due  to  the  Company’s  continuing  focus  on  reducing  its  out-
standing debt levels.  Average debt outstanding declined approximately $226 million in fiscal 2003.  Interest expense for 
fiscal 2003 includes a credit of $4.1 million received from the Internal Revenue Service as a result of the Company’s 
filing of an interest netting claim related to previously settled tax years.  A call premium of $15.6 million related to the 
early  retirement  of  debt  is  included  in  interest  expense  for  fiscal  2003  compared  to  a  call  premium  of  $11.6  million 
related to the early retirement of debt for fiscal 2002.  The Company has retired all the remaining debt associated with 
the  call  premiums  in  fiscal  2003  and  2002  and  does  not  anticipate  any  similar  call  premiums  in  fiscal  2004.    Also 
included  in  interest  expense  for  the  fiscal  2002  is  a  pretax  gain  of  $4.8  million related  to  the  early  extinguishment  of 
debt.  The Company retired $272 million in long-term debt and issued $50 million in new short-term borrowings during 
2003.  

During fiscal 2003, the Company recorded a pre tax charge of $44 million for asset impairment and store closing costs. 
The charge includes a write down to fair value for certain under-performing properties.  The charge consists of a write 
down  for  a  joint  venture  in  the  amount  of  $5.5  million,  a  write  down  of  goodwill  on  two  stores  to  be  closed  of  $2.5 
million and a write down of property and equipment in the amount of $35.7 million.   The Company does not expect to 
incur significant additional exit costs upon the closing of these properties during fiscal 2004.  A breakdown of the asset 
impairment and store closing charges for fiscal 2003 is as follows: 

14

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of dollars) 

Stores closed during fiscal 2003 
Stores to close during fiscal 2004 
Store impaired based on cash flows 
Non-operating facilities 
Joint Venture 
   Total 

2002 Compared to 2001 

Number of 
Locations 

Impairment 
Amount 

3 
4 
1 
7 
1 
16 

$  3,809 
17,115 
1,293 
16,030 
5,480 
$43,727 

Advertising,  selling,  administrative  and  general  (“SG&A“)  expenses  increased  to  27.3%  of  sales  for  fiscal  2002 
compared  to  26.9%  for  fiscal  2001.    The  percentage  increase  is  primarily  due  to  a  lack  of  sales  leverage  as  SG&A 
expenses  decreased    $27.4  million  in  2002  compared  to  2001.    On  a  dollar  basis  significant  decreases  were  noted  in 
payroll, utilities and supplies partially offset by a $23.8 million increase in bad debt expenses, which includes an increase 
in the allowance for doubtful accounts of $12.4 million during 2002 compared to 2001.   

Depreciation  and  amortization  as  a  percentage  of  sales  remained  flat  during  fiscal  2002  principally  due  to  lower 
amortization expenses during 2002 compared to 2001 as a result of the non-amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142 
combined with a lack of sales leverage from the 3% decline in comparable store sales during the year.   

Interest  and  debt  expense  as  a  percentage  of  sales  remained  flat  during  fiscal  2002  as  a  result  of  the  Company’s 
continuing focus on reducing its outstanding debt levels and the reduction in variable short-term interest rates combined 
with  a  lack  of  sales  leverage.  The  Company  retired  $340  million  in  long-term  debt  and  issued  $40  million  in  new 
mortgage loans and $100 million in additional receivable financing during 2002. 

The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment 
of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections” (“SFAS No. 145”) as of February 1, 2003.  For the year ended 
February 1, 2003, as a result of adopting SFAS No. 145, the Company has reclassified $6.8 million to interest and debt 
expense from extraordinary loss.  This amount is comprised of a gain of $4.8 million on debt repurchased, offset by a call 
premium of $11.6 million.  For the year ended February 2, 2002, the Company has reclassified $9.4 million to interest 
and debt expense from extraordinary gain. 

The Company has reclassified $11.3 million in interest expense related to its receivable financing from other revenue to 
interest expense on its consolidated statements of operations for fiscal 2001. 

During fiscal 2002, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $52.2 million for asset impairment and store closing costs. 
The charge includes a write down to fair value for certain under-performing properties in the amount of $55.8 million 
and exit costs to close four such properties in the amount of $4.4 million, all of which were closed during fiscal 2003, 
partially offset by forgiveness of a lease obligation of $8.0 million in connection with the sale of a closed owned store in 
Memphis,  Tennessee  in  satisfaction  of  that  obligation.    During  fiscal  2001,  the  Company  recorded  a  pretax  charge  of 
$3.8 million for asset impairment and store closing costs. The charge includes a write down to fair value for one under-
performing store in the amount of $1.8 million and lease commitments of $2 million.  

15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Service Charges, Interest and Other Income 

(in millions of dollars) 

$ Change 

% Change 

2003 
$      8.1 

2002 
$    19.5 

2001 
$     11.6 

03-02 
$(11.4) 

02-01 
$   7.9 

02-01 
03-02 
-58.5% 68.1%

24.3 
207.9 
24.4 

65.4 
225.7 
12.3 
$   264.7  $   322.9 
$1,231.4  $1,330.9 

2.1 
210.4 
20.7 
$   244.8 
$1,260.8 

(41.1) 
(17.8) 
        12.1 
$(58.2) 
$(99.5) 

63.3 
15.3 
       (8.4) 
$ 78.1 
$ 70.1 

    -62.8 
      -7.9 
     98.4 

*
   7.3 
-40.6 
-18.0% 31.9%
-7.5% 5.6%

Joint venture income 
Gain on sale of joint venture and 
property and equipment 
Service charge income 
Other 
  Total 
Average accounts receivable  

* percent change greater than 100% 

2003 Compared to 2002 

Included in other income in fiscal 2003 is a gain of $15.6 million relating the sale of the Company’s interest in Sunrise 
Mall and its associated center in Brownsville, Texas.  Included in other income in fiscal 2002 is a $64.3 million gain 
pertaining to the Company’s sale of its interest in the FlatIron Crossing joint venture located in Broomfield, Colorado.  
Service charge income decreased due to a $99 million decrease in the average amount of outstanding accounts receivable 
during  2003  compared  to  2002.    The  decrease  in  accounts  receivable  was  due  to  a  140  basis  point  decline  in  sales 
penetration on the Company’s proprietary credit card coupled with a 4% decline in overall retail sales during fiscal 2003 
compared  to  the  prior  year.    Sales  on  the  Company’s  proprietary  credit  cards  as  a  percent  of  total  sales  were  26.8%, 
28.2% and 28.8% for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.  Also included in other income are realized gains on the 
sale of property and equipment of $8.7 million and $1.1 million for fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002, respectively.  Earnings 
from joint ventures declined due to the Company’s sale of FlatIron Crossing in fiscal 2002 and the sale of Sunrise Mall 
in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. 

2002 Compared to 2001 

Service  charge  income  was  $226  million  in  2002  compared  to  $210  million  in  2001.    This  increase  is  due  to  a  $70 
million  increase  in  the  average  amount  of  outstanding  accounts  receivable  during  2002  compared  to  2001.    Earnings 
from FlatIron Crossing for fiscal 2002 were $13.6 million. 

Income Taxes 
The Company’s actual federal and state income tax rate (exclusive of the effect of nondeductible goodwill amortization) 
was 36% in fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.  

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Financial Position Summary 

(in thousands of dollars) 

2003 

2002 

$ Change  % Change 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Short-term debt 
Current portion of long-term debt 
Current portion of Guaranteed Beneficial Interests 
Long-term debt 
Guaranteed Beneficial Interests 
Stockholders’ equity 

$   160,873 
50,000 
166,041 
331,579 
1,855,065 
200,000 
2,237,097 

$   142,356 
- 
138,814 
- 
2,193,006 
531,579 
2,264,196 

    18,517 
50,000 
27,227 
331,579 
(337,941) 
(331,579) 
(27,099) 

13.0 
- 
19.6 
- 
-15.4 
-62.4 
-1.2 

Current ratio 
Debt to capitalization 

2.26% 
53.8% 

3.53% 
55.8% 

The Company's current priorities for its use of cash are:  

• 

Investment in high-return capital projects, in particular investments in technology to improve merchandising 
and distribution, reduce costs, improve efficiencies or help the Company better serve its customers; 

•  Strategic investments to enhance the value of existing properties; 

16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  Construction of new stores;  
•  Dividend payments to shareholders;  
•  Debt reduction; and 
•  Stock repurchase plan. 

 Cash flows for the three fiscal years ended were as follows: 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Operating Activities 
Investing Activities 
Financing Activities 
  Total Cash Provided (Used) 

Operating Activities 

2003 
$ 432,106 
(161,076) 
(252,513) 
$   18,517 

2002 
$ 356,942 
(164,973) 
(202,573) 
$ (10,604) 

2001 
$ 616,981 

(270,595)  
(387,406) 
$ (41,020) 

% Change 

03-02 
        21.1 
          2.4 
  (24.7) 

02-01 

(42.1) 
          39.0 
          47.7 

The primary source of the Company’s liquidity is cash flows from operations.  Retail sales are the key operating cash 
component providing 96.6% and 96.1% of total revenues over the past two years.  Operating cash inflows also include 
finance  charges  paid  on  Company  receivables  and  cash  distributions  from  joint  ventures.    Operating  cash  outflows 
include payments to vendors for inventory, services and supplies, payments to employees, and payments of interest and 
taxes. 

Net cash flows from operations were $432 million for 2003 and were adequate to fund the Company’s operations for the 
year.  Cash  flows  from  operations  increased  from  2002  levels  due  primarily  to  a  $111  million  decrease  in  accounts 
receivable  in  the  current  year.    The  decrease  in  accounts  receivable  was  due  to  a  140  basis  point  decline  in  sales 
penetration on the Company’s proprietary credit card coupled with a 4% decline in overall retail sales during fiscal 2003 
compared to the prior year.  Accounts payable and accrued expenses increased $5 million in fiscal 2003 compared to a 
$104 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the prior year.  Net cash flow from operations was 
negatively impacted by lower income before accounting change during fiscal 2003. 

Investing Activities 

Cash  inflows  from  investing  activities  generally  include  proceeds  from  sales  of  property  and  equipment  and  joint 
ventures.  Investment cash outflows generally include payments for capital expenditures such as property and equipment. 

Capital expenditures were $227 million for 2003. These expenditures consist primarily of the construction of new stores, 
remodeling of existing stores and investments in technology.  During 2003, the Company opened four new stores, Great 
Northern Mall in Olmstead, Ohio; NorthPark Mall in Davenport, Iowa; Stoney Point Fashion Park and Short Pump Town 
Center  in  Richmond,  Virginia  and  one  replacement  store,  Memorial  City  Mall  in  Houston,  Texas.    These  five  stores 
totaled approximately 996,000 square feet of retail space.  In addition, the Company completed major expansions on two 
stores totaling 56,000 square feet of retail space.  The Company closed ten store locations, including the one replacement 
store, during the year totaling approximately 1.6 million square feet of retail space.  Capital expenditures for 2004 are 
expected to be approximately $240 million.  The Company plans to open eight new stores in fiscal 2004 totaling 821,000 
square feet, net of replaced square footage. Historically, the Company has financed such capital expenditures with cash 
flow from operations. The Company believes that it will continue to finance capital expenditures in this manner during 
fiscal 2004. 

During 2003, the Company recorded a gain of $15.6 million and received proceeds of $34.6 million from the sale of its 
interest in  Sunrise Mall and its associated center in Brownsville, Texas. During 2003, the company recorded a gain on 
the sale of property and equipment of $8.7 million and received proceeds of $31.8 million.  During 2002, the Company 
recorded a gain of $64.3 million and received proceeds of $68.3 million from the sale of its interest in FlatIron Crossing, 
a regional mall in Broomfield, Colorado.   

Financing Activities 

Cash  inflows  from  financing  activities  generally  include  borrowing  under  the  Company’s  accounts  receivable  conduit 
facilities, the issuance of new mortgage notes or long-term debt and funds from stock option exercises.   Financing cash 
outflows generally include the repayment of borrowings under the Company’s accounts receivable conduit facilities, the 
repayment of mortgage notes or long-term debt, the payment of dividends and the purchase of treasury stock. 

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At January 31, 2004, the Company has $50 million of variable rate (currently 1.08%) short-term borrowings under its 
accounts receivable conduit facilities.  The Company repurchased $6.0 million of its outstanding unsecured notes prior to 
their related maturity dates.  The Company also retired the remaining $125.9 million of its 6.39% Reset Put Securities 
(“REPS”)  due  August  1,  2013  prior  to  their  maturity  dates.    Interest  rates  on  the  repurchased  securities  ranged  from 
6.39% to 6.88%.  Maturity dates ranged from 2004 to 2013. 

During  2003,  the  Company  reduced  its  net  level  of  outstanding  debt  and  capital  leases  by  $221  million  through 
scheduled debt maturities and repurchases of notes prior to their related maturity dates.   Maturities of long-term debt 
over the next five years are $166 million, $292 million, $298 million, $201 million and $201 million, respectively.  

Third-Party Financing 

The Company has the following financing sources available to supplement cash flows from operations:   

•  Accounts receivable conduit,  
•  Revolving credit agreement, and   
•  Shelf registration statement.  

Accounts Receivable Conduit 
The Company utilizes credit card securitizations as part of its overall funding strategy.  The Company had $400 million 
of  long-term  debt  outstanding  under  this  agreement  on  the  consolidated  balance  sheet  as  of  January  31,  2004  and 
February 1, 2003.   

At January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003, the Company had $50.0 million and $0 outstanding, respectively, in short-
term borrowings under its accounts receivable conduit facilities related to seasonal financing needs.  Remaining available 
short-term  borrowings  under  these  conduit  facilities  at  January  31,  2004  were  $450.0  million.    These  facilities  were 
subsequently reduced to an availability of $400 million and extended to a maturity date of September 30, 2004. 

Revolving Credit Agreement 
During fiscal 2003, the Company amended and extended its revolving credit agreement (“credit agreement”) to increase 
the amount available under this facility from $400 million to $1 billion ($835 million of the facility was available upon 
closing  on  December  12,  2003,  with  an  additional  $165  million  becoming  available  immediately  upon  the  Preferred 
Security redemption discussed below).  Borrowings under the credit agreement accrue interest at JPMorgan’s Base Rate 
or  LIBOR  plus  1.50%  (currently  2.60%)  subject  to  certain  availability  thresholds  as  defined  in  the  credit  agreement.  
Availability for borrowings and letter of credit obligations under the credit agreement is limited to 75% of the inventory 
of  certain  Company  subsidiaries  (approximately  $1.2  billion  at  January  31,  2004).    There  are  no  financial  covenant 
requirements under the credit agreement provided availability exceeds $100 million.  The credit agreement expires on 
December 12, 2008. At January 31, 2004, letters of credit totaling $75.5 million were issued under this facility.  There 
was no funded debt outstanding under the revolving credit agreement at January 31, 2004.  

Shelf Registration Statement 
At the end of fiscal 2003, the Company had an outstanding shelf registration statement for securities in the amount of 
$750 million. 

Long-term Debt 
At January 31, 2004, the Company had $1.6 billion of unsecured notes and mortgage notes outstanding.  The unsecured 
notes bear interest at rates ranging from 6.30% to 9.50% with due dates from 2003 through 2028.  The mortgage notes 
bear interest at rates ranging from 7.25% to 13.25% with due dates through 2013. 

Stock Repurchase 
In May 2000, the Company announced that the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of its 
Class  A  Common  Stock.  During  fiscal  2003,  the  Company  repurchased  approximately  $18.9  million  of  Class  A 
Common Stock, representing 1.5 million shares at an average price of $12.99 per share. Approximately $56 million in 
share repurchase authorization remained under this open-ended plan at January 31, 2004. 

Guaranteed Beneficial Interests In the Company’s Subordinated Debentures 
The  Company  entered  into  an  agreement  to  redeem  the  $331.6  million  liquidation  amount  of  Preferred  Securities  of 
Horatio  Finance  V.O.F.,  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  the  Company,  effective  February  2,  2004.    The  Company 
redeemed the $331.6 million Preferred Securities on February 2, 2004 as planned, with $100 million borrowed under its 
amended revolving credit agreement and the balance borrowed under the Company’s accounts receivable securtization 
conduit  facilities.    Short-term  borrowings  under  both  the  credit  facility  and  accounts  receivable  securitization  conduit 

18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
facilities were $376.5 million at February 2, 2004.  Subsequently, the Company has paid down substantially all of these 
borrowings from cash from operations during the first quarter of fiscal 2004.   

Fiscal 2004 
During  fiscal  2004,  the  Company  expects  to  finance  its  capital  expenditures  and  its  working  capital  requirements 
including required debt repayments and stock repurchases, if any, from cash flows generated from operations. As part of 
its overall funding strategy and for peak working capital requirements, the Company expects to obtain funds through its 
credit  card  receivable  financing  facilities  and  its  revolving  credit  agreement.  The  Company’s  available  receivable 
financing  facilities  provide  for  borrowings  of  up  to  $400  million  and  mature  on  September  30,  2004.    The  Company 
intends to renew maturing receivable financing facilities as they become due.  The peak borrowings incurred under the 
facilities  were  $381.5  million  during  2003.    The  Company  expects  peak  funding  requirements  of  approximately  $600 
million during fiscal 2004. This peak demand will be met through a combination of accounts receivable financing and 
the $1 billion credit agreement.  At January 31, 2004, letters of credit totaling $75.5 million were issued under this line of 
credit facility.  Other than peak working capital requirements, management believes that cash generated from operations 
will be sufficient to cover its reasonably foreseeable working capital, capital expenditure, debt service requirements and 
stock repurchase.  Depending on conditions in the capital markets and other factors, the Company will from time to time 
consider  the  issuance  of  debt  or  other  securities,  or  other  possible  capital  market  transactions,  the  proceeds  of  which 
could be used to refinance current indebtedness or other corporate purposes. 

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments 
To facilitate an understanding of the Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments, the following 
data is provided: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Contractual obligations 
Long-term debt 
Guaranteed beneficial interests in 
  the Company’s subordinated    
  debentures 
Receivable financing facility 
Short-term receivable financing   
  facility 
Capital lease obligations 
Operating leases 
Total contractual cash   
  obligations 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Other commercial commitments 
$760 million line of credit, none  
  outstanding (1) 
$450 million receivables  
  financing facility, none  
  outstanding 
Standby letters of credit 
Import letters of credit 
Total commercial commitments 

PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD 

Total 

Within 1 year 

2-3 years 

4-5 years 

After 5 years 

$1,621,106 

$166,041 

$190,116 

$401,341 

$863,608 

531,579 
400,000 

50,000 
19,837 
266,073 

331,579 
- 

- 
400,000 

50,000 
2,126 
51,309 

- 
3,849 
80,535 

- 
- 

- 
2,370 
53,339 

200,000 
- 

- 
11,492 
80,890 

$2,888,595 

$601,055 

$674,500 

$457,050 

$1,155,990 

AMOUNT OF COMMITMENT EXPIRATION PER PERIOD 

Total 
Amounts 
Committed  Within 1 year 

2-3 years 

4-5 years 

After 5 years 

$- 

$- 

- 
59,325 
16,153 
$75,478 

- 
59,325 
16,153 
$75,478 

$- 

- 
- 
- 
$- 

$- 

- 
- 
- 
$- 

$- 

- 
- 
- 
$- 

(1) Available amount of $835 million has been reduced by outstanding letters of credit of $75 million. 

Other long-term commitments consist of liabilities incurred relating to the Company’s defined benefit plans.  The 
Company expects pension expense to be approximately $8.5 million in fiscal 2004 with a liability of $83 million.  The 
Company expects to make a contribution to the pension plan of approximately $3.4 million in fiscal 2004. 

19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Accounting Pronouncements 

In April 2002, SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 
13,  and  Technical  Corrections”  (“SFAS  No.  145”)  was  issued.    SFAS  No.  145  rescinds  SFAS  No.  4  and  64,  which 
required  gains  and  losses  from  extinguishments  of  debt  to  be  classified  as  extraordinary  items.    SFAS  No.  145  also 
amends  SFAS  No.  13,  eliminating  inconsistencies  in  certain  sale-leaseback  transactions.    The  Company  adopted  the 
provisions of SFAS No. 145 as of February 2, 2003.  For the year ended February 1, 2003, as a result of adopting SFAS 
No.  145,  the  Company  has  reclassified  $6.8  million  ($4.4  million  after  tax)  to  interest  and  debt  expense  from 
extraordinary  loss  and  for  the  year  ended  February  2,  2002,  the  Company  has  reclassified  $9.4  million  ($6.0  million 
after-tax), respectively, to interest and debt expense from extraordinary gain. 

In  December  2003,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  132  (Revised)  (“SFAS  No.  132-R”),  Employer’s  Disclosure  about 
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.  SFAS No. 132-R retains disclosure requirements of the original SFAS No. 
132 and requires additional disclosures relating to assets, obligations, cash flows, and net periodic benefit cost.  SFAS 
No. 132-R is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003, except that certain disclosures are effective for 
fiscal  years  ending  after  June  15,  2004.    Interim  period  disclosures  are  effective  for  interim  periods  beginning  after 
December 15, 2003.  The adoption of the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 132-R did not have a material effect on the 
Company’s financial position or results of operations.  

In  March  2003,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board’s  (“FASB”)  Emerging  Issues  Task  Force  (“EITF”)  issued 
final transition guidance regarding accounting for vendor allowances in its Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Customer 
(Including a Reseller) for Cash Consideration Received from a Vendor”. EITF Issue No. 02-16 addresses the accounting 
treatment for vendor allowances and stipulates that cash consideration received from a vendor should be presumed to be 
a reduction of the prices of the vendors’ product and should therefore be shown as a reduction in the purchase price of 
the merchandise. Further, these allowances should be recognized as a reduction in cost of sales when the related product 
is sold. To the extent that the cash consideration represents a reimbursement of a specific, incremental and identifiable 
cost, then those vendor allowances should offset such costs. The Company receives concessions from its vendors through 
a  variety  of  programs  and  arrangements,  including  co-operative  advertising  and  markdown  reimbursement  programs.  
Co-operative  advertising  allowances  are  reported  as  a  reduction  of  advertising  expense  in  the  period  in  which  the 
advertising  occurred.    All  other  vendor  allowances  are  recognized  as  a  reduction  of  cost  purchases.    Accordingly,  a 
reduction  or  increase  in  vendor  concessions  has  an  inverse  impact  on  cost  of  sales  and/or  selling  and  administrative 
expenses.    Payroll  reimbursements  are  reported  as  a  reduction  of  payroll  expense  in  the  period  in  which  the 
reimbursement occurred.   

The adoption of EITF Issue No. 02-16 in 2003 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or 
results of operations. 

In  May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of 
Both Liabilities and Equity” (“SFAS No. 150”).  This statement establishes standards for how a company classifies and 
measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. The FASB Staff Position defers 
the effective date of SFAS No. 150 for certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests.  We do not expect SFAS 
No. 150 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. 

FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of APB No. 50” (“FIN 46”), 
was issued in January 2003, as amended by FIN 46-R. FIN 46 requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated 
by the primary beneficiary of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling 
financial  interest  or  do  not  have  sufficient  equity  at  risk  for  the  entity  to  finance  its  activities  without  additional 
subordinated  financial  support  from  other  parties.  FIN  46  is  effective  for  all  new  variable  interest  entities  created  or 
acquired  after  January  31,  2003.  For  variable  interest  entities  created  or  acquired  prior  to  February  1,  2003,  the 
provisions of FIN 46 must be applied for the first interim or annual period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company 
does not currently participate in any variable interest entities. 

Forward-Looking Information 
The foregoing contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the definition of federal securities laws.  Statements 
in  the  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  include  certain 
“forward-looking statements,” including (without limitation) statements with respect to anticipated future operating and 
financial  performance,  growth  and  acquisition  opportunities,  financing  requirements  and  other  similar  forecasts  and 
statements of expectation. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans” and “believes,” and variations of these words 
and  similar  expressions,  are  intended  to  identify  these  forward-looking  statements.    Statements  made  regarding  the 
Company’s merchandise strategies, funding of cyclical working capital needs, store opening schedule and estimates of 
depreciation and amortization, rental expense, interest and debt expense and capital expenditures for fiscal year 2004 are 
20

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
forward-looking  statements.    The  Company  cautions  that  forward-looking  statements,  as  such  term  is  defined  in  the 
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, contained in this report are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and 
assumptions of management at the time of such statements and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company 
disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the 
receipt  of  new  information,  or  otherwise.  Forward-looking  statements  of  the  Company  involve  risks  and  uncertainties 
and are subject to change based on various important factors. Actual future performance, outcomes and results may differ 
materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company and its management as a result of a 
number  of  risks,  uncertainties  and  assumptions.  Representative  examples  of  those  factors  (without  limitation)  include 
general retail industry conditions and macro-economic conditions; economic and weather conditions for regions in which 
the Company’s stores are located and the effect of these factors on the buying patterns of the Company’s customers; the 
impact of competitive pressures in the department store industry and other retail channels including specialty, off-price, 
discount,  internet,  and  mail-order  retailers;  trends  in  personal  bankruptcies  and  charge-off  trends  in  the  credit  card 
receivables  portfolio;  changes  in  consumer  spending  patterns  and  debt  levels;  adequate  and  stable  availability  of 
materials  and  production  facilities  from  which  the  Company  sources  its  merchandise;  changes  in  operating  expenses, 
including  employee  wages,  commission  structures  and  related  benefits;  possible  future  acquisitions  of  store  properties 
from other department store operators and the continued availability of financing in amounts and at the terms necessary 
to support the Company’s future business; fluctuations in LIBOR and other base borrowing rates; potential disruption 
from  terrorist  activity  and  the  effect  on  ongoing  consumer  confidence;  potential  disruption  of  international  trade  and 
supply chain efficiencies; world conflict and the possible impact on consumer spending patterns and other economic and 
demographic changes of similar or dissimilar  nature. 

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET 

       RISK. 

The table below provides information about the Company’s obligations that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The 
table presents maturities of the Company’s long-term debt and Guaranteed Beneficial Interests in the Company’s 
Subordinated Debentures along with the related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates. 

 (in thousands of dollars)  

Expected Maturity Date 
(fiscal year)  
Long-term debt (including  
  receivables financing  
  facilities) 
Average interest rate 
Guaranteed Beneficial 
Interests in the Company’s 
Subordinated Debentures 
Average interest rate 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008  Thereafter 

Total 

Fair Value 

$166,041  $291,633  $298,483  $200,640  $200,701
6.5% 

5.0% 

6.9% 

3.1% 

6.5% 

$863,608 
7.5% 

$2,021,106 
6.3% 

$2,059,118 

$331,579 
2.7% 

$- 
-% 

$- 
-% 

$- 
-% 

$- 
-% 

$200,000 
7.5% 

 $  531,579 
4.5% 

$   525,579 

During the year ended January 31, 2004, the Company repurchased $6.0 million of its outstanding unsecured notes prior 
to their related maturity dates.  During the year ended January 31, 2004, the Company also retired $125.9 million of its 
6.39% Reset Put Securities (“REPS”) due August 1, 2013 prior to their maturity dates.  Interest rates on the repurchased 
securities ranged from 6.39% to 6.88%.  Maturity dates ranged from 2004 to 2013. 

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in the interest rates on certain receivable financing facilities and 
$331.6 million of the Guaranteed Beneficial Interests in the Company’s Subordinated Debentures. Outstanding balances 
under these facilities bear interest at a variable rate based on a spread over LIBOR. Based on the amount outstanding as 
of January 31, 2004, a 100 basis point change in interest rates would result in an approximate $5.8 million annual change 
to interest expense. 

In  fiscal  2003,  the  Company  announced  its  intention  to  redeem  its  $331.6  million  Preferred  Securities  included  in 
Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company’s Subordinated Debentures anticipating that such redemption 
would  occur  on  February  2,  2004.    Accordingly,  $331.6  million  of  Guaranteed  Preferred  Beneficial  Interests  in 
Company’s  Subordinated  Debentures  is  included  in  current  liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at 
January 31, 2004.  The Company redeemed the $331.6 million Preferred Securities on February 2, 2004 as planned. 

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA. 

The consolidated financial statements of the Company and notes thereto are included in this report beginning on page F-
1. 

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON  

    ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. 

None.  

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. 

The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the 
Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the  “Exchange  Act”),  that  are  designed  to  ensure  that  information 
required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports, pursuant to the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized 
and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated 
and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as 
appropriate,  to  allow  timely  decisions  regarding  the  required  disclosures.    In  designing  and  evaluating  the  disclosure 
controls  and  procedures,  management  recognized  that  any  controls  and  procedures,  no  matter  how  well-designed  and 
operated,  can  provide  only  reasonable  assurances  of  achieving  the  desired  control  objectives,  and  management 
necessarily  was  required  to  apply  its  judgment  in  evaluating  the  cost-benefit  relationship  of  possible  controls  and 
procedures.   

The  Company’s  management,  including  William  Dillard,  II,  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  Chief  Executive 
Officer (principal executive officer), and James I. Freeman, Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer (principal 
financial officer), have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as of January 
31,  2004.    Based  on  their  evaluation,  the  principal  executive  officer  and  principal  financial  officer  concluded  that  the 
Company’s  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  are  effective  to  ensure  that  the  material  information  required  to  be 
disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, 
processed, summarized and reported with the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC.  There were no 
changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting  during the period covered by this report that have 
materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

PART III 

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT. 

A. 

Directors of the Registrant 

Information  regarding  directors  of  the  Registrant  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  under  the  heading 
“Nominees  for  Election  as  Directors”  and  under  the  heading  “Section  16(a)  Beneficial  Ownership  Reporting 
Compliance” in the Proxy Statement. 

B. 

Executive Officers of the Registrant 

Information regarding executive officers of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Item 1 of this 
report  under  the  heading  “Executive  Officers  of  the  Registrant.”    Reference  additionally  is  made  to  the 
information  under  the  heading  “Section  16(a)  Beneficial  Ownership  Reporting  Compliance”  in  the  Proxy 
Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference.  

The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a Company Code of Conduct that applies to all Company employees 
including the Company’s Directors, CEO and senior financial officers.  The current version of such Code of Conduct is 
available free of charge on Dillard’s, Inc. Web site, www.dillards.com , and are available in print to any shareholder who 
requests copies by contacting Julie J. Bull, Director of Investor Relations, at the Company's principal executive offices 
set forth above. 

22

 
 
 
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. 

Information regarding executive compensation and compensation of directors is incorporated herein by reference to the 
information beginning under the heading “Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers” and concluding under the 
heading “Compensation of Directors” in the Proxy Statement. 

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND 
      MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS. 

Information  regarding  security  ownership  of  certain  beneficial  owners  and  management  is  incorporated  herein  by 
reference  to  the  information  under  the  heading  “Principal  Holders  of  Voting  Securities”  and  under  the  heading 
“Nominees for Election as Directors” and continuing through footnote 12 in the Proxy Statement. 

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS. 

Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions is incorporated herein by reference to the information 
under the heading “Certain Relationships and Transactions” in the Proxy Statement. 

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. 

Information regarding principal accountant fees and services is incorporated herein by reference to the information on 
under the heading “Independent Accountant Fees” in the Proxy Statement. 

PART IV 

ITEM  15.    EXHIBITS,  FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  SCHEDULES,  AND  REPORTS  ON 

FORM 8-K. 

(a)(1) and (2) Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules 

An  “Index  to  Financial  Statements”  and  “Financial  Statement  Schedules”  has  been  filed  as  a  part  of  this  Report 
beginning on page F-1 hereof. 

(a)(3)  Exhibits and Management Compensatory Plans  

An “Exhibit Index” has been filed as a part of this Report beginning on page E-1 hereof and is herein incorporated by 
reference. 

(b) 

Reports on Form 8-K filed during the fourth quarter 

A  current  report  on  Form  8-K  dated  November  20,  2003  was  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on 
November  21,  2003  to  report,  under  Item  5,  that  the  registrant  issued  its  third  quarter  earnings  release  (attached  as 
Exhibit 99 thereto). 

SIGNATURES 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant 
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 

Date:   April 8, 2004 

Dillard’s, Inc. 
Registrant 

/s/ James I. Freeman 
James I. Freeman, Senior Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 

23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by 
the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacity and on the date indicated. 

/s/ Robert C. Connor 
Robert C. Connor 
Director 

/s/ Will D. Davis 
Will D. Davis 
Director 

/s/ Alex Dillard 
Alex Dillard 
President and Director 

/s/ James I. Freeman 
James I. Freeman 
Senior Vice President and Chief 
Financial Officer and Director 

/s/ Bob L. Martin 
Bob L. Martin 
Director 

/s/ William H. Sutton 
William H. Sutton 
Director 

Date:    April 8, 2004 

/s/ Drue Corbusier 
Drue Corbusier 
Executive Vice President and Director 

/s/ William Dillard, II 
William Dillard, II 
Chairman of the Board and 
Chief Executive Officer  
(Principal Executive Officer) 

/s/ Mike Dillard 
Mike Dillard 
Executive Vice President  
and Director 

/s/ John Paul Hammerschmidt 
John Paul Hammerschmidt 
Director 

/s/ Warren A. Stephens 
Warren A. Stephens 
Director 

/s/ J.C. Watts, Jr. 
J.C. Watts, Jr. 
Director 

24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATIONS 

I, William Dillard, II, certify that: 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Dillard’s, Inc.; 

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a 
material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were 
made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;  

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly 
present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and 
for, the periods presented in this annual report;  

4.  The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and 

procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:  

            (a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be 
designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its 
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period 
in which this annual report is being prepared;  

            (b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this 

annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of  the 
end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and  

             (c)     disclosed in this annual report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that 

occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of 
an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s 
internal control over financial reporting; and  

 5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control 
over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or 
persons performing the equivalent function):  

             (a)    all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are 

reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report 
financial information; and  

             (b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant 

role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.  

Date: April 8, 2004 

/s/ William Dillard, II 
William Dillard, II 
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 

25

 
 
I, James I. Freeman, certify that: 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Dillard’s, Inc.; 

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a 
material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were 
made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;  

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly 
present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and 
for, the periods presented in this annual report;  

4.  The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and 

procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:  

            (a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be 
designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its 
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period 
in which this annual report is being prepared;  

            (b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this 

annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of  the 
end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and  

             (c)     disclosed in this annual report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that 

occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of 
an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s 
internal control over financial reporting; and  

 5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control 
over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or 
persons performing the equivalent function):  

             (a)    all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are 

reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report 
financial information; and  

             (b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant 

role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.  

Date: April 8, 2004 

/s/ James I. Freeman 
James I. Freeman 
Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

26

 
 
INDEX OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 
DILLARD'S, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Year Ended January 31, 2004 

Independent Auditors' Report 

Consolidated Balance Sheets – January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003. 

Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations  -  Fiscal  years  ended  January  31,  2004, 
February 1, 2003 and February 2, 2002. 

Consolidated  Statements  of  Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Loss - Fiscal 
years ended January 31, 2004, February 1, 2003 and February 2, 2002. 

Consolidated  Statements  of  Cash  Flows  -  Fiscal  years  ended  January  31,  2004, 
February 1, 2003 and February 2, 2002. 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Fiscal years ended January 31, 2004, 
February 1, 2003 and February 2, 2002. 

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 

Page 

F-2 

F-3 

F-4 

F-5 

F-6 

F-7 

F-22 

F-1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditors' Report 

Independent Auditors’ Report 
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Dillard’s, Inc. 
Little Rock, Arkansas 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Dillard’s, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 31, 2004 and February 
1, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive loss and cash flows for each of 
the three fiscal years in the period ended January 31, 2004. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Dillard's, Inc. 
and  subsidiaries,  listed  in  item  15.    These  financial  statements  and  financial  statement  schedule  are  the  responsibility  of  the 
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule 
based on our audits. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards 
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material 
misstatement.  An  audit  includes  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial 
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as 
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.  

In  our  opinion,  such  consolidated  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the  consolidated  financial  position  of 
Dillard’s, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for 
each of the three fiscal years in the period ended January 31, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the 
United  States  of  America.  Also,  in  our  opinion,  such  financial  statement  schedule,  when  considered  in  relation  to  the  basic 
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. 

As discussed in Notes 1 and 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for goodwill 
and other intangible assets in 2002 to conform to Statement of Financial Standards No. 142.   

Deloitte & Touche LLP 

Dallas, Texas 
April 8, 2004 

F-2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets 
Dollars in Thousands  

Assets  
Current Assets: 
  Cash and cash equivalents 
  Accounts receivable (net of allowance for  

  doubtful accounts of $40,967 and $49,755)   

  Merchandise inventories 
  Other current assets 

  Total current assets 
Property and Equipment: 
  Land and land improvements 
  Buildings and leasehold improvements 
  Furniture, fixtures and equipment 
  Buildings under construction 
  Buildings under capital leases 
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 

Goodwill 
Other Assets 
Total Assets 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity 
Current Liabilities: 
  Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses 
  Other short-term borrowings 
  Current portion of long-term debt 
  Current portion of Guaranteed Beneficial Interest 
In the Company’s Subordinated Debentures 

Current portion of capital lease obligations 

  Federal and state income taxes 

  Total current liabilities 

Long-term Debt 
Capital Lease Obligations 
Other Liabilities 
Deferred Income Taxes 
Operating Leases and Commitments 
Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the 
  Company’s Subordinated Debentures 
Stockholders’ Equity:  
  Common stock, Class A – 112,866,918 and 112,677,505 shares issued;  

  79,480,069 and 80,746,732 shares outstanding 

  Common stock, Class B (convertible) — 4,010,929 shares issued 

  and outstanding 

  Additional paid-in capital 
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss 
  Retained earnings 
  Less treasury stock, at cost, Class A —33,386,849 and 31,930,773 shares  

  Total stockholders’ equity 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity 
See notes to consolidated financial statements. 

F-3 

January 31, 2004 

February 1, 2003 

$160,873   

$142,356 

1,191,489   
1,632,377   
38,952   
3,023,691   

100,726   
2,685,628   
2,192,029   
40,636   
51,493   
(1,873,043)  
3,197,469   
36,731   
153,206   
$6,411,097   

$679,854   
50,000   
166,041   

331,579   
2,126   
106,487   
1,336,087   
1,855,065   
17,711   
147,901   
617,236   

1,338,080 
1,594,308 
55,507 
3,130,251 

104,848 
2,748,225 
2,202,811 
28,602 
50,123 
(1,764,107) 
3,370,502 
39,214 
135,965 
$6,675,932 

$675,962 
- 
138,814 

- 
1,856 
69,829 
886,461 
2,193,006 
18,600 
137,070 
645,020 

200,000   

531,579 

1,129   

1,127 

40   
713,974   
(11,281)  
2,201,623   
(668,388)  
2,237,097   
$6,411,097   

40 
711,324 
(4,496) 
2,205,674 
(649,473) 
2,264,196 
$6,675,932 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations 
Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data 

Net Sales 
Service Charges, Interest and Other Income   

Costs and Expenses: 
  Cost of sales 
  Advertising, selling, administrative and general expenses 
  Depreciation and amortization 
  Rentals 
  Interest and debt expense 
  Asset impairment and store closing charges 

  Total costs and expenses 
Income Before Income Taxes  
Income Taxes 
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change 
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax benefit  
   of $0 
Net Income (Loss) 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share: 
  Income before cumulative effect of accounting change 
  Cumulative effect of accounting change 
  Net Income (Loss) 
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share: 
  Income before cumulative effect of accounting change 
  Cumulative effect of accounting change 
  Net Income (Loss) 
See notes to consolidated financial statements. 

January 31, 2004 

Years Ended 
February 1, 2003 

February 2, 2002 

$7,598,934 
264,734 
7,863,668 

5,170,173 
2,097,947 
290,661 
64,101 
181,065 
43,727 
7,847,674 
15,994 
6,650 
9,344 

— 
$9,344 

$0.11 
— 
$0.11 

$0.11 
— 
$0.11 

$7,910,996 
322,943 
8,233,939 

5,254,134 
2,164,033 
301,407 
68,101 
189,779 
52,224 
8,029,678 
204,261 
72,335 
131,926 

(530,331) 
$(398,405) 

$   1.56 
(6.27) 
$(4.71) 

$   1.55 
(6.22) 
$(4.67) 

$8,154,911 
244,776 
8,399,687 

5,507,702 
2,191,389 
310,754 
72,783 
192,344 
3,752 
8,278,724 
120,963 
49,165 
71,798 

— 
$71,798 

$0.85 
— 
$0.85 

$0.85 
— 
$0.85 

F-4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Loss 
Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data 

  Additional 

Accumulated 
Other 

  Common Stock 
Class A  Class B 
$40 
$  1,116 
__ 
__ 

Paid-in  Comprehen-  Retained 
  Earnings 
sive Loss 
Capital 
$2,558,933 
    $ — 
$696,879 
71,798 
__ 
__ 

Treasury 
Stock 
$(627,148) 
__ 

Total 
$2,629,820 
71,798 

Balance, February 3, 2001 
  Net income 
  Issuance of 221,635 shares   

  under stock option,  
  employee savings and  
  stock bonus plans 

  Purchase of 1,333,959 shares of 

treasury stock 

  Cash dividends declared: 

  Common stock, $.16 per share 

Balance, February 2, 2002 
  Net loss 
   Minimum pension liability adjustment, net  

   Total comprehensive loss  
  Issuance of 869,985 shares  

  under stock option,  
  employee savings and  
  stock bonus plans 

  Cash dividends declared: 

  Common stock, $.16 per share 

Balance, February 1, 2003 
   Net income 
   Minimum pension liability adjustment, net  

   Total comprehensive income 

  Issuance of 189,413 shares  

  under stock option,  
  employee savings and  
  stock bonus plans 

    Purchase of 1,456,076 shares of 

treasury stock 

    Cash dividends declared: 

  Common stock, $.16 per share 

Balance, January 31, 2004 
See notes to consolidated financial statements. 

2 

__ 

  — 
  1,118 
__ 
__ 

9 

  — 
  1,127 
__ 
__ 

2 

__ 

  — 
$1,129 

__ 

__ 

— 
40 
__ 
__ 

__ 

— 
40 
__ 
__ 

__ 

__ 

2,225 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

2,227 

(22,325) 

(22,325) 

— 
699,104 
__ 
__ 

— 
     — 
__ 
(4,496) 

(13,123) 
2,617,608 
(398,405) 
__ 

— 
(649,473) 
__ 
__ 

(13,123) 
2,668,397 
(398,405) 
(4,496) 
(402,901) 

12,220 

__ 

__ 

__ 

12,229 

— 

— 
711,324      (4,496) 

__ 
__ 

(6,785) 

(13,529) 
2,205,674 
9,344 
__ 

— 
(649,473) 
__ 
__ 

(13,529) 
2,264,196 
9,344 
(6,785) 
2,559 

2,650 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

2,652 

(18,915) 

(18,915) 

— 
$40 

— 

— 
$713,974  $(11,281) 

(13,395) 
$2,201,623 

— 
$(668,388) 

(13,395) 
$2,237,097 

F-5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows  
Dollars in Thousands  

Operating Activities: 
Net income (loss) 
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to 
  net cash provided by operating activities:  

  Depreciation and amortization 
  Deferred income taxes 
  Loss (gain) on early extinguishments of debt 

  Impairment charges 
  Gain on sale of joint venture 
  Gain on sale of property and equipment 
  Provision for loan losses  
  Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of taxes 
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:  

  Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable 
  (Increase) decrease in merchandise inventories 
  Decrease (increase) in other current assets 
  (Increase) decrease in other assets 
  (Decrease) increase in trade accounts payable 

  and accrued expenses, other liabilities and income taxes 

Net cash provided by operating activities 
Investing Activities: 
  Purchase of property and equipment 
  Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 
  Proceeds from sale of joint venture 
Net cash used in investing activities  
Financing Activities: 
  Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations 
  Increase in short-term borrowings and capital lease obligations 
  Cash dividends paid 
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock 
  Purchase of treasury stock  
  Proceeds from receivable financing, net 
  Proceeds from long-term borrowings 
Net cash used in financing activities 
Increase (decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year 
See notes to consolidated financial statements. 

January 31, 2004 

Years Ended 
February 1, 2003 

February 2, 2002 

$9,344 

$(398,405) 

$71,798 

297,201 
13,623 
- 
43,727 
(15,624) 
(8,699) 
35,244 
__ 

110,936 
(38,069) 
16,121 
(37,048) 

5,350 
432,106 

(227,421) 
31,766 
34,579 
(161,076) 

(272,702) 
51,369 
(13,395) 
1,130 
(18,915) 
— 
— 
(252,513) 
18,517 
142,356 
$160,873 

305,545 
24,878 
6,834 
52,224 
(64,295) 
  (1,103) 
36,574 
530,331 

286 
(32,445) 
(30,760) 
31,559 

(104,281) 
356,942 

(233,268) 
— 
68,295 
(164,973) 

(340,081) 
— 
(13,529) 
11,037 
— 
100,000 
40,000 
(202,573) 
(10,604) 
152,960 
$142,356 

313,711 
2,043 
(9,394) 
3,752 
__ 
(2,060) 
21,286 
__ 

(116,985) 
54,323 
28,794 
53,504 

196,209 
616,981 

(270,595) 
— 
— 
(270,595) 

(402,941) 
— 
(13,123) 
983 
(22,325) 
— 
50,000 
(387,406) 
(41,020) 
193,980 
$152,960 

F-6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 
Description  of  Business  –  Dillard’s,  Inc.  (the  “Company”)  operates  retail  department  stores  located  primarily  in  the  Southeastern, 
Southwestern and Midwestern areas of the United States. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each 
year.  Fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001 ended on January 31, 2004, February 1, 2003 and February 2, 2002, respectively.  Fiscal years 
2003, 2002 and 2001 included 52 weeks. 

Consolidation  –  The  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements include the accounts of Dillard’s, Inc. and its wholly owned 
subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in and advances to joint ventures in 
which the Company has a 50% ownership interest are accounted for by the equity method. 

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United 
States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities 
and  disclosure  of  contingent  assets  and  liabilities  at  the  date  of  the  financial  statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and 
expenses  during  the  reporting  period.  Significant  estimates  include  inventories,  sales  return,  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts,  self-
insured accruals and lives of long-lived assets.  Actual results could differ from those estimates. 

Cash  Equivalents  –  The  Company  considers  all  highly  liquid  investments  with  an  original  maturity  of  three  months  or  less  when 
purchased to be cash equivalents. 

Accounts Receivable – Customer accounts receivable are classified as current assets and include some which are due after one year, 
consistent  with  industry  practice.  Credit  card  receivables  are  shown  net  of  an  allowance  for  uncollectible  accounts.  The  Company 
calculates the allowance for uncollectible accounts using a model that analyzes factors such as bankruptcy filings, delinquency rates, 
historical  charge-off  patterns,  recovery  rates  and  other  portfolio  data.  The  calculation  is  then  reviewed  by  management  to  assess 
whether, based on recent economic events, additional analyses are required to appropriately estimate losses inherent in the portfolio. 
The Company's current credit processing system charges off an account automatically when a customer has failed to make a required 
payment in each of the six billing cycles following a missed payment.  The Company also provides for the estimated uncollectible 
portion of the finance charge revenue based upon our historical collection experience as part of the allowance for doubtful accounts.  
This  allowance  represents  amounts  of  credit  card  receivable  balances  (including  billed  but  uncollected  finance  charges)  which 
management estimates will ultimately not be collected. Finance charge revenue is recorded until an account is charged off, at which 
time uncollected finance charge revenue is recorded as a reduction of credit revenues.  

The  Company  utilizes  credit  card  securitizations  as  part  of  its  overall  funding  strategy.    The  transfers  were  subject  to  the 
grandfathering provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 140, “Accounting for Transfer and Servicing 
of Financial Assets and Liabilities” until May 2002 and thus continued to be accounted for under the previous accounting standards 
that existed under FAS 125.  In May 2002, the Company amended its conduit financing agreement in a manner that prevented future 
transfers of accounts receivable to its master trust from qualifying as a sale and thus receiving off-balance-sheet treatment. As a result 
of this decision, the Company does not have any off-balance-sheet financing as it relates to new transfers to the Trust.  All financing 
through this facility is recorded on the balance sheet. (see Note 15). 

Significant Group Concentrations of Credit Risk –The Company grants credit to customers throughout North America.  There were 
no  Metropolitan  Statistical  Areas  that  comprised  10%  of  the  Company’s  managed  credit  card  receivables  at  January  31,  2004  and 
February 1, 2003. 

Merchandise  Inventories  –  The  retail  last-in,  first-out  (“LIFO”)  inventory  method  is  used  to  value  merchandise  inventories.  At 
January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003, the LIFO cost of merchandise was approximately equal to the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost 
of merchandise. 

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment owned by the Company is stated at cost, which includes related interest costs 
incurred during periods of construction, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Capitalized interest was $2.6 million, $2.5 
million  and  $5.4  million  in  fiscal  2003,  2002  and  2001,  respectively.  For  tax  reporting  purposes,  accelerated  depreciation  or  cost 
recovery methods are used and the related deferred income taxes are included in noncurrent deferred income taxes in the Consolidated 
Balance Sheets. For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives: 

F-7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Buildings and leasehold improvements  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment 

20 - 40 years 
3 - 10 years 

Properties leased by the Company under lease agreements which are determined to be capital leases are stated at an amount equal to 
the present value of the minimum lease payments during the lease term, less accumulated amortization. The properties under capital 
leases and leasehold improvements under operating leases are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of their useful 
lives  or  the  related  lease  terms.  The  provision  for  amortization  of  leased  properties  is  included  in  depreciation  and  amortization 
expense. 

Included in property and equipment as of January 31, 2004 are assets held for sale in the amount of $31.9 million.  During fiscal 2003, 
2002  and  2001,  the  Company  realized  gains  on  the  sale  of  property  and  equipment  of  $8.7  million,  $1.1  million  and  $2.1  million, 
respectively. 

Depreciation expense on property and equipment was $291 million, $301 million and $295 million for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, 
respectively. 

Long-Lived Assets Excluding Goodwill – The Company follows SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of 
Long-Lived  Assets,”  which  requires  impairment  losses  to  be  recorded  on  long-lived  assets  used  in  operations when indicators of 
impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying 
amount.    In  the  evaluation  of  the  fair  value  and  future  benefits  of  long-lived  assets,  the  Company  performs  an  analysis  of  the 
anticipated undiscounted future net cash flows of the related long-lived assets. This analysis is performed at the store unit level.  If 
the carrying value of the related asset exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, the carrying value is reduced to its fair value. Various 
factors  including  future  sales  growth  and  profit  margins  are  included  in  this  analysis.    Management  believes  at  this  time  that the 
carrying value and useful lives continue to be appropriate, after recognizing the impairment charge recorded in 2003 and 2002, as 
disclosed in Note 13. 

Goodwill – The Company adopted SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” effective February 3, 2002.  It changes 
the accounting for goodwill from an amortization method to an “impairment only” approach.  Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill is no 
longer amortized but reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if certain indicators arise.  The Company tested goodwill 
for impairment as of the adoption date using the two-step process prescribed in SFAS No. 142.  The Company identified its reporting 
units under SFAS No. 142 at the store unit level.  The fair value of these reporting units was estimated using the expected discounted 
future cash flows and market values of related businesses, where appropriate.  Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 142, goodwill, which 
represents the cost in excess of fair value of net assets acquired, was amortized on the straight-line basis over 40 years.  Accumulated 
goodwill amortization was $55.6 million at February 2, 2002.  Management believes at this time that the carrying value continues to 
be appropriate, recognizing the impairment charge recorded in fiscal 2003 and 2002, as disclosed in Note 2.   

Other Assets –  Other assets include investments in joint ventures accounted for by the equity method.    These joint ventures, which 
consist  of  malls  and  a  general  contracting  company  that  constructs  Dillard’s  stores  and  other  commercial  buildings,  had  carrying 
values of $97 million and $97 million at January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003, respectively.  The malls are located in Crestview 
Hills, Kentucky; Toledo, Ohio; Denver, Colorado and two currently under construction in Bonita Springs, Florida and Yuma, Arizona.  
Earnings from joint ventures were $8.1 million, $19.5 million and $11.6 million for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.  The 
Company also recorded a $15.6 million pretax gain for the year ended January 31, 2004 from the sale of its interest in Sunrise Mall 
and its associated center in Brownsville, Texas for $80.7 million including the assumption of the $40.0 million mortgage note.  The 
Company recorded a pretax gain of $64.3 million pertaining to the Company’s sale of its interest in FlatIron Crossing, a Broomfield, 
Colorado shopping center, for the year ended February 1, 2003. The gains on the sale were recorded in Service Charges, Interest and 
Other Income. 

Vendor  Allowances  –  The  Company  receives  concessions  from  its  vendors  through  a  variety  of  programs  and  arrangements, 
including co-operative advertising and markdown reimbursement programs.  Co-operative advertising allowances are reported as a 
reduction of advertising expense in the period in which the advertising occurred.  Payroll reimbursements are reported as a reduction 
of payroll expense in the period in which the reimbursement occurred.  All other vendor allowances are recognized as a reduction of 
cost purchases.  Accordingly, a reduction or increase in vendor concessions has an inverse impact on cost of sales and/or selling and 
administrative expenses. 

F-8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance  accruals.  The  Company’s  consolidated  balance  sheets  include  liabilities  with  respect  to  self-insured  workers’ 
compensation and general liability claims. The Company estimates the required liability of such claims on a discounted basis, utilizing 
an actuarial method, based upon various assumptions, which include, but are not limited to, our historical loss experience, projected 
loss development factors, actual payroll and other data. The required liability is also subject to adjustment in the future based upon the 
changes in claims experience, including changes in the number of incidents (frequency) and changes in the ultimate cost per incident 
(severity). 

Revenue  Recognition  –  The  Company  recognizes  revenue  at  the  “point  of  sale.”  Finance  charge  revenue  earned  on  customer 
accounts,  serviced  by  the  Company  under  its  proprietary  credit  card  program,  is  recognized  in  the  period  in  which  it  is  earned.  
Allowance for sales returns are recorded as a component of net sales in the period in which the related sales are recorded.  

Advertising  –  Advertising  and  promotional  costs,  which  include  newspaper,  television,  radio  and  other  media  advertising,  are 
expensed as incurred and were $245 million, $253 million and $245 million for fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.  

Income  Taxes  –  In  accordance  with  SFAS  No.  109,  “Accounting  for  Income  Taxes,”  deferred  income  taxes  reflect  the  future  tax 
consequences of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at year-end. 

Shipping and Handling – In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 00-10, “Accounting for Shipping and Handling 
Fees and Costs,” the Company records shipping and handling reimbursements in Other Income.  The Company records shipping and 
handling costs in Advertising, Selling, Administrative and General Expenses. 

Comprehensive Income – Comprehensive income is equivalent to the Company’s net income for fiscal year 2001.  

Stock-Based  Compensation  –  The  Company  periodically  grants  stock  options  to  employees.  Pursuant  to  Accounting  Principles 
Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” the Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation 
arrangements using the intrinsic value method.  No compensation expense has been recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements 
with  respect  to  option  grants.    The  Company  has  adopted  the  disclosure  only  provisions  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board 
Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation,” as amended by Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 
No. 148, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123”.  See 
Note 11 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.  If compensation cost for the Company’s stock option plans had been 
determined in accordance with the fair value method prescribed by SFAS No. 123, the Company’s income before extraordinary item 
and accounting change would have been: 

(in thousands of dollars, except per share data) 
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change 
  As reported 
  Deduct:  Total stock based employee compensation expense   

determined under fair value based method, net of taxes 

  Pro forma  
Basic earnings per share: 
  As reported 
  Pro forma 
Diluted earnings per share: 
  As reported 
  Pro forma 

Fiscal 2003 

Fiscal 2002 

Fiscal 2001 

$9,344 

$131,926 

$71,798 

(2,732) 
$6,612 

$0.11 
0.08 

$0.11 
0.08 

(9,261) 
$122,665 

(5,667) 
$66,131 

$1.56 
1.45 

$1.55 
1.44 

$0.85 
0.78 

$0.85 
0.79 

Segment Reporting – The Company operates in a single operating segment — the operation of retail department stores. Revenues 
from  external  customers  are  derived  from  merchandise  sales  and  service  charges  and  interest  on  the  Company’s  proprietary  credit 
card.  

The Company does not rely on any major customers as a source of revenue.  

F-9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Accounting Pronouncements 

In  April  2002,  SFAS  No.  145,  “Rescission  of  FASB  Statements  No.  4,  44  and  64,  Amendment  of  FASB  Statement  No.  13,  and 
Technical Corrections” (“SFAS No. 145”) was issued.  SFAS No. 145 rescinds SFAS No. 4 and 64, which required gains and losses 
from  extinguishments  of  debt  to  be  classified  as  extraordinary  items.    SFAS  No.  145  also  amends  SFAS  No.  13,  eliminating 
inconsistencies in certain sale-leaseback transactions.  The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 145 as of February 2, 2003.  
For the year ended February 1, 2003, as a result of adopting SFAS No. 145, the Company has reclassified $6.8 million ($4.4 million 
after tax) to interest and debt expense from extraordinary loss and for the year ended February 2, 2002, the Company has reclassified 
$9.4 million ($6.0 million after-tax), respectively, to interest and debt expense from extraordinary gain.  

In December 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 132 (Revised) (“SFAS No. 132-R”), “Employer’s Disclosure about Pensions and 
Other  Postretirement  Benefits.”    SFAS  No.  132-R  retains  disclosure  requirements  of  the  original  SFAS  No.  132  and  requires 
additional disclosures relating to assets, obligations, cash flows, and net periodic benefit cost.  SFAS No. 132-R is effective for fiscal 
years  ending  after  December  15,  2003,  except  that  certain  disclosures  are  effective  for  fiscal  years  ending  after  June  15,  2004.  
Interim  period  disclosures  are  effective  for  interim  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2003.    The  adoption  of  the  disclosure 
provisions of SFAS No. 132-R did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.  

In March 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issued final transition 
guidance regarding accounting for vendor allowances in its Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for 
Cash Consideration Received from a Vendor”. EITF Issue No. 02-16 addresses the accounting treatment for vendor allowances and 
stipulates that cash consideration received from a vendor should be presumed to be a reduction of the prices of the vendors’ product 
and  should  therefore  be  shown  as  a  reduction  in  the  purchase  price  of  the  merchandise.  Further,  these  allowances  should  be 
recognized as a reduction in cost of sales when the related product is sold. To the extent that the cash consideration represents a 
reimbursement of a specific, incremental and identifiable cost, then those vendor allowances should offset such costs. The Company 
receives  concessions  from  its  vendors  through  a  variety  of  programs  and  arrangements,  including  co-operative  advertising  and 
markdown reimbursement programs.  Co-operative advertising allowances are reported as a reduction of advertising expense in the 
period  in  which  the  advertising  occurred.    All  other  vendor  allowances  are  recognized  as  a  reduction  of  cost  purchases.  
Accordingly, a reduction or increase in vendor concessions has an inverse impact on cost of sales and/or selling and administrative 
expenses.  Payroll reimbursements are reported as a reduction of payroll expense in the period in which the reimbursement occurred.  
The  adoption  of  EITF  Issue  No.  02-16  in  2003  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Company’s  financial  position  or  results  of 
operations. 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities 
and  Equity”  (“SFAS  No.  150”).    This  statement  establishes  standards  for  how  a  company  classifies  and  measures  certain  financial 
instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. The FASB Staff Position defers the effective date of Statement No. 150 
for certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests.  We do not expect SFAS 150 to have a material impact on the Company’s 
financial position or results of operations. 

FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of APB No. 50” (“FIN 46”), was issued in 
January 2003, as amended by FIN 46-R. FIN 46 requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary 
of  the  entity  if  the  equity  investors  in  the  entity  do  not  have  the  characteristics  of  a  controlling  financial  interest  or  do  not  have 
sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 
46 is effective for all new variable interest entities created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or 
acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the provisions of FIN 46 must be applied for the first interim or annual period beginning after June 
15, 2003. The Company does not currently participate in any variable interest entities. 

Reclassifications  –  Certain  reclassifications  have  been  made  to  prior  year  financial  statements  to  conform  with  fiscal  2003 
presentations. 

2. Goodwill 
The Company adopted SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” effective February 3, 2002.  It changes the accounting 
for goodwill from an amortization method to an “impairment only” approach.  Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill is no longer amortized 
but reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if certain indicators arise.  The Company tested goodwill for impairment as 
of the adoption date using the two-step process prescribed in SFAS No. 142.  The Company identified its reporting units under SFAS 

F-10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
No. 142 at the store unit level.  The fair value of these reporting units was estimated using the expected discounted future cash flows 
and market values of related businesses, where appropriate. 

Related  to  the  1998  acquisition  of  Mercantile  Stores  Company  Inc.,  the  Company  had  $570  million  in  goodwill  recorded  in  its 
consolidated balance sheet at the beginning of 2002.  The Company completed the required impairment tests of goodwill in the second 
quarter of 2002 and determined that $530 million of goodwill was impaired under the fair value test.  This impairment was the result 
of sequential periods of declining profits in certain of these reporting units. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, the impairment loss for 
goodwill was reflected as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 2002. 

The  changes  in  the  carrying  amount  of  goodwill  for  the  years  ended  January  31,  2004  and  February  1,  2003  are  as  follows  (in 
thousands): 

Goodwill balance at February 2, 2002 
Cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 142 
Goodwill balance at February 1, 2003 
Goodwill written off in fiscal 2003 
Goodwill balance at January 31, 2004 

  $569,545  
  (530,331) 
      39,214 
      ( 2,483) 
   $  36,731 

The following pro forma financial information is presented as if the statement was adopted at January 30, 2000 (in thousands, except 
per share amounts): 

Reported net income (loss) 
Cumulative effect of accounting change 
Net income before the cumulative 
  effect of accounting change 
Add back: 
Goodwill amortization 
Pro forma  

Net income (loss) per share reported – basic 
Cumulative effect of accounting change 
Goodwill amortization 
Pro forma net income per share – basic 

Net income (loss) per share reported   – diluted 
Cumulative effect of accounting change 
Goodwill amortization 
Pro forma net income per share  – diluted 

       Fiscal 2003 

       Fiscal 2002 

       Fiscal 2001 

$ 9,344 
- 

$(398,405) 
530,331 

$71,798 
- 

9,344 

131,926 

71,798 

- 
$ 9,344 

- 
$  131,926 

15,604 
$87,402 

$0 .11 
- 
- 
$0.11 

$0.11 
- 
- 
$0.11 

$(4.71) 
6.27 
- 
$  1.56 

$(4.67) 
6.22 
- 
$  1.55 

$0.85 
- 
0.19 
$1.04 

$0.85 
- 
0.18 
$1.03 

3. Revolving Credit Agreement 
At January 31, 2004, the Company maintained an $835 million revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank (“JPMorgan”) 
with  an  additional  $165  million  becoming  available  immediately  upon  the  Preferred  Security  redemption  discussed  in  Note  7.  
Borrowings under the credit agreement accrue interest at JPMorgan’s Base Rate or LIBOR plus 1.50% (currently 2.60%) subject to 
certain availability thresholds as defined in the credit agreement.  Availability for borrowings and letter of credit obligations under the 
credit agreement is limited to 75% of the inventory of certain Company subsidiaries (approximately $1.2 billion at January 31, 2004).  
There  are  no  financial  covenant  requirements  under  the  credit  agreement  provided  availability  exceeds  $100  million.    The  credit 
agreement expires on December 12, 2008.   The Company pays an annual commitment fee of 0.375% of the committed amount to the 
banks.  There were no funds borrowed under the revolving credit facility during fiscal 2003. 

F-11 

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Long-term Debt 
Long-term debt consists of the following: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Unsecured notes  
  at rates ranging from  
  6.30% to 9.50%,  
  due 2003 through 2028 
Receivable financing facilities 
  at rates ranging from 1.4% to  
  3.8% due 2005 through 2006 
Mortgage notes, payable  
  monthly or quarterly  
  (some with balloon payments)  
through 2013 and bearing  
interest at rates ranging from  

  7.25% to 13.25% 

Current portion 

  January 31, 2004 

February 1, 2003 

$1,561,353 

$1,823,429   

400,000 

400,000 

59,753 
2,021,106 
(166,041) 
$1,855,065 

108,391 
2,331,820 
(138,814) 
$2,193,006 

Building, land, and land improvements with a carrying value of $39.6 million at January 31, 2004 were pledged as collateral on the 
mortgage notes.  Maturities of long-term debt over the next five years are $166 million, $292 million, $298 million, $201 million and 
$201 million.  Outstanding letters of credit aggregated $75.5 million at January 31, 2004. 

Interest and debt expense consists of the following: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Long-term debt: 
  Interest 
    (Gain) loss on early retirement 
     of long-term debt 
  Amortization of  
  debt expense 

Interest on capital  
lease obligations 

Interest on receivable financing 

Fiscal 
2003 

Fiscal 
2002 

Fiscal 
2001 

$159,844 

$166,093 

$180,918 

- 

6,985 
166,829 

2,202 
12,034 
$181,065 

6,839 

4,088 
177,020 

2,354 
10,405 
$189,779 

(9,392) 

4,204 
175,730 

2,560 
14,054 
$192,344 

Interest paid during fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001 was approximately $186.9 million, $158.6 million and $208.9 million, respectively.  
The interest paid during fiscal 2002 does not include a $28.4 million interest payment made on February 3, 2003 that would have been 
due on the last day of the Company’s fiscal year had the date fallen on a business day. 

The  Company  has  reclassified  $11.3  million  in  interest  expense  related  to  its  receivable  financing  from  other  revenue  to  interest 
expense on its consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2002.  

The Company has reclassified $6.8 million to interest and debt expense from extraordinary loss for the year ended February 1, 2003, 
and the Company has reclassified $9.4 million to interest and debt expense from extraordinary gain for the year ended February 2, 
2002. 

F-12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Trade Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses 
Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:  

 January 31, 2004 
$457,485 

February 1, 2003 
$431,752 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Trade accounts payable 
Accrued expenses: 

  Taxes, other than income 
  Salaries, wages,  

  and employee benefits 

  Liability to customers 
  Interest 
  Rent 
  Other 

76,263 

44,661 
47,340 
39,789 
9,949 
4,367 
$679,854 

6. Income Taxes 
The provision for federal and state income taxes is summarized as follows: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Current: 

  Federal 
  State 

Deferred: 

  Federal 
  State 

Fiscal 
2003 

$(5,293) 
(1,680) 
(6,973) 

12,046 
1,577 
13,623 
$6,650 

Fiscal 
2002 

$45,428 
2,029 
47,457 

23,570 
1,308 
24,878 
$72,335 

66,894 

53,560 
46,900 
46,138 
11,704 
19,014 
$675,962 

Fiscal 
2001 

$45,107 
2,015 
47,122 

1,692 
351 
2,043 
$49,165 

A  reconciliation  between  the  Company’s  income  tax  provision  and  income  taxes  using  the  federal  statutory  income  tax  rate  is 
presented below: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Income tax at the  
  statutory federal rate 
State income taxes,  
  net of federal benefit 
Nondeductible  
  goodwill amortization and write off 
Impact of reduced effective income 

tax rate on deferred taxes 

Other 

Fiscal 
2003 

Fiscal 
2002 

Fiscal 
2001 

$5,598 

$71,493 

$42,338 

122 

869 

- 
61 
$6,650 

2,008 

- 

- 
(1,166) 
$72,335 

1,320 

5,461 

- 
46 
$49,165 

At January 31, 2004, the Company incurred a net operating loss of approximately $18.9 million.  For federal income tax purposes, the 
loss  will  be  carried  back  to  the  year  ended February 1, 2003 to reduce the income tax liability for that year.  For state income tax 
purposes, the loss will be carried back to the extent allowed by each states’ law, otherwise the loss will be carried forward to reduce 
future years’ state income tax liability.  The Company also has a charitable contribution carryforward of approximately $1.3 million 
that will expire on January 31, 2009.  Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying 
amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  for  financial  reporting  purposes  and  the  amounts  used  for  income  tax  purposes.    The  Company’s 
actual federal and state income tax rate (exclusive of the effect of non-deductible goodwill amortization) was 36% in fiscal 2003, 2002 
and 2001.  Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 
are as follows: 

F-13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of dollars) 
Property and equipment  
  bases and depreciation  
  differences 
State income taxes 
Joint venture basis differences 
Differences between  
  book and tax bases of inventory 
Other 
  Total deferred tax liabilities 
Accruals not currently deductible 
State income taxes 
  Total deferred tax assets 
  Net deferred tax liabilities 

 January 31, 2004 

February 1, 2003 

$505,581 
25,787 
24,849 

49,095 
112,550 
717,862 
(45,813) 
(2,045) 
(47,858) 
$670,004 

$524,090 
25,612 
14,119 

36,872 
121,303 
721,996 
(59,156) 
(2,641) 
(61,797) 
$660,199 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented as follows in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Net deferred tax liabilities-noncurrent 
Net deferred tax liabilities-current 
    Net deferred tax liabilities 

January 31, 2004 
$617,236 
52,768 
$670,004 

February 1, 2003 
$645,020 
15,179 
$660,199 

Income taxes paid during fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001 were approximately $0, $0 and $22.9 million, respectively. 

7. Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company’s Subordinated Debentures 
Guaranteed  Preferred  Beneficial  Interests  in  the  Company’s  Subordinated  Debentures  are  comprised  of  $200  million  liquidation 
amount  of  7.5%  Capital  Securities,  due  August  1,  2038  (the  “Capital  Securities”)  representing  beneficial  ownership  interest  in  the 
assets of Dillard’s Capital Trust I, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and $331.6 million liquidation amount of LIBOR plus 
1.56% Preferred Securities, due January 29, 2009 (the “Preferred Securities”) by Horatio Finance V.O.F., a wholly owned subsidiary 
of the Company.   

Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions, payable quarterly, at the annual rate of 7.5% of 
the  liquidation  amount  of  $25  per  Capital  Security.  The  subordinated  debentures  are  the  sole  assets  of  the  Trust,  and  the  Capital 
Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment of the subordinated debentures. Holders of the Preferred Securities are 
entitled  to  receive  quarterly  dividends  at  LIBOR  plus  1.56%.  The  Company’s  obligations  under  the  debentures  and  related 
agreements, taken together, provide a full and unconditional guarantee of payments due on the Capital and Preferred Securities. The 
Company has entered into an agreement to redeem the $331.6 million liquidation amount of Preferred Securities of Horatio Finance 
V.O.F., effective February 2, 2004.  The Company redeemed the $331.6 million Preferred Securities on February 2, 2004 as planned. 

8. Benefit Plans 
The Company has a retirement plan with a 401(k)-salary deferral feature for eligible employees. Under the terms of the plan, eligible 
employees  may  contribute  up  to  20%  of  eligible  pay.    Eligible  employees  with  one  year  of  service  may  elect  to  make  a  Basic 
Contribution  of  up  to  5%  of  eligible  pay  which  will  be  matched  100%  only  if  invested  in  the  Company’s  common  stock.  The 
Company contributions are used to purchase Class A Common Stock of the Company for the account of the employee. The terms of 
the  plan  provide  a  six-year  graduated-vesting  schedule  for  the  Company  contribution  portion  of  the  plan.  The  Company  incurred 
expense of $18 million, $18 million and $19 million for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, for the plan. 

The Company has a nonqualified defined benefit plan for certain officers.  The plan is noncontributory and provides benefits based on 
years  of  service  and  compensation  during  employment.    Pension  expense  is  determined  using  various  actuarial  cost  methods  to 
estimate the total benefits ultimately payable to officers and allocates this cost to service periods.  The pension plan is unfunded.  The 
actuarial  assumptions  used  to  calculate  pension  costs  are  reviewed  annually.    The  Company  expects  to  make  a  contribution  to  the 
pension plan of approximately $3.4 million in fiscal 2004. 

F-14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The accumulated benefit obligations (“ABO”), change in projected benefit obligation (“PBO”), change in plan assets, funded status, 
and reconciliation to amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets are as follows: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Change in projected benefit obligation: 
  PBO at beginning of year 
    Service cost 
    Interest cost 
    Plan amendments 
    Actuarial loss (gain) 
    Benefits paid 
  PBO at end of year 
  ABO at end of year 

Change in plan assets: 
  Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 
    Employer contribution 
    Benefits paid 
  Fair value of plan assets at end of year 
Funded status (PBO less plan assets) 
  Unamortized prior service costs 
  Unrecognized net actuarial loss 
  Intangible asset 
  Unrecognized net loss 
Accrued benefit cost 
ABO in excess of plan assets 
Amounts recognized in the balance sheets: 
  Accrued benefit liability 
  Intangible asset 
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss 
Net amount recognized 

January 31, 2004 

February 1, 2003 

$64,360 
993 
4,235 
- 
14,244 
(3,279) 
$80,553 
$77,856 

$45,163 
1,416 
3,592 
6,360 
10,988 
(3,159) 
$64,360 
$64,126 

January 31, 2004 

February 1, 2003 

$          - 
 3,279 
(3,279) 
$          - 
$80,553 
(5,734) 
(19,829) 
5,734 
17,627 
$78,351 
$77,856 

$54,990 
5,734 
17,627 
$78,351 

$          - 
3,159 
(3,159) 
$         - 
$64,360 
(6,360) 
(5,715) 
6,360 
7,025 
$65,670 
$64,126 

$52,285 
6,360 
7,025 
$65,670 

Accrued benefit liability is included in other liabilities.  Intangible asset is included in other assets.  Accumulated other comprehensive 
loss, net of tax benefit, is included in stockholders’ equity.   

The discount rate that the Company utilizes for determining future pension obligations is based on the Moody’s AA corporate bond 
index.  The indices selected reflect the weighted average remaining period of benefit payments. The discount rate determined on this 
basis  had  decreased  to  6.0%  as  of  January  31,  2004  from  6.75%  as  of  February  1,  2003.    Weighted  average  assumptions  are  as 
follows: 

Discount rate-net periodic pension cost 
Discount rate-benefit obligations 
Rate of compensation increases 

Fiscal 2003 
6.75% 
6.00% 
2.50% 

Fiscal 2002 
7.25% 
6.75% 
2.50% 

Fiscal 2001 
7.25% 
7.25% 
2.50% 

F-15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The components of net periodic benefit costs are as follows: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Components of net periodic benefit costs: 
  Service cost 
  Interest cost 
  Net actuarial gain (loss) 
  Amortization of prior service cost 
  Amortization of transition obligation 
  Net periodic benefit costs 

9. Stockholders’ Equity  
Capital stock is comprised of the following: 

Fiscal 2003 

Fiscal 2002 

Fiscal 2001 

$   993 
4,235 
130 
627 
- 
$5,985 

$1,416 
3,592 
(156) 
- 
- 
$4,852 

$1,255 
3,287 
(103) 
- 
2,688 
$7,127 

Type   
Preferred (5% cumulative) 
Additional preferred 
Class A, common 
Class B, common 

Par 
Value 
$100 
$ .01 
$ .01 
$ .01 

Shares 
Authorized 
5,000 
10,000,000 
289,000,000 
11,000,000 

Holders of Class A are empowered as a class to elect one-third of the members of the Board of Directors and the holders of Class B 
are empowered as a class to elect two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors. Shares of Class B are convertible at the option 
of any holder thereof into shares of Class A at the rate of one share of Class B for one share of Class A. 

On March 2, 2002, the Company adopted a shareholder rights plan under which the Board of Directors declared a dividend of one 
preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock, which includes both the Company’s Class 
A  and  Class  B  Common  Stock,  payable  on  March  18,  2002  to  the  shareholders  of  record  on  that  date.    Each  right,  which  is  not 
presently exercisable, entitles the holder to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock for 
$70 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, subject to adjustment.  In the event that any person acquires 15% or more of 
the outstanding shares of common stock, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person or group) will be entitled to receive, 
upon  payment  of  the  exercise  price,  shares  of  Class  A  common  stock  having  a  market  value  of  two  times  the  exercise  price.    The 
rights will expire, unless extended, redeemed or exchanged by the Company, on March 2, 2012. 

In May 2000, the Company announced that the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of its Class A 
Common Stock. During fiscal 2003, the Company repurchased approximately $18.9 million of Class A Common Stock, representing 
1.5 million shares at an average price of $12.99 per share.  Approximately $56 million in share repurchase authorization remained 
under this open-ended plan at January 31, 2004. 

10. Earnings per Share 
In  accordance  with  SFAS  No.  128,  “Earnings  Per  Share,”  basic  earnings  per  share  has  been  computed  based  upon  the  weighted 
average of Class A and Class B common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share gives effect to outstanding stock options. 
Earnings per common share has been computed as follows: 

(in thousands of dollars, except per share data) 
Earnings before cumulative effect of 
  accounting change  
Cumulative effect of accounting change 
Net earnings (loss) available for 
  per-share calculation 
Average shares of common  
  stock outstanding 
Stock options 
Total average equivalent shares 

Fiscal 2003 

Fiscal 2002 

Fiscal 2001 

Basic 

Diluted 

Basic 

Diluted 

Basic 

Diluted 

$9,344 
- 

$9,344 
- 

$  131,926 
(530,331) 

$  131,926 
(530,331) 

$71,798 
- 

$71,798 
- 

$9,344 

$9,344 

$(398,405) 

$(398,405) 

$71,798 

$71,798 

83,643 
- 
83,643 

83,643 
257 
83,900 

84,513 
- 
84,513 

84,513 
803 
85,316 

84,020 
- 
84,020 

84,020 
467 
84,487 

F-16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Per Share of Common Stock: 
Earnings before cumulative effect of 
  accounting change 
Cumulative effect of accounting change 
Net income (loss) 

$0.11 
- 
$0.11 

$0.11 
- 
$0.11 

$   1.56 
(6.27) 
$(4.71) 

$   1.55 
(6.22) 
$(4.67) 

$0.85 
- 
$0.85 

$0.85 
- 
$0.85 

Total  stock  options outstanding were 7,870,739, 9,669,755 and 10,708,646 at January 31, 2004, February 1, 2003 and February 2, 
2002,  respectively.    Of  these,  options  to  purchase  7,343,073,  8,974,174  and  9,298,695  shares  of  Class  A  Common  Stock  at  prices 
ranging  from  $18.13  to  $40.22,  $18.13  to  $40.22,  $15.74  to  $40.22  per  share  were  outstanding  in  fiscal  2003,  2002  and  2001, 
respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price of the options exceeds 
the average market price and would have been antidilutive. 

11. Stock Options 
The Company has various stock option plans that provide for the granting of options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock to 
certain key employees of the Company. Exercise and vesting terms for options granted under the plans are determined at each grant 
date. All options were granted at not less than fair market value at dates of grant. At the end of fiscal 2003, 9,773,141 shares were 
available for grant under the plans and 17,643,880 shares of Class A Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the stock option 
plans.  Stock option transactions are summarized as follows: 

Fiscal 2003 

Fiscal 2002 

Fiscal 2001 

Fixed Options 
Outstanding, beginning of year 
Granted 
Exercised 
Forfeited  
Outstanding, end of year 
Options exercisable at year-end 
Weighted-average fair value of  
  options granted during the year 

  Shares 
  9,669,755 
- 
  (122,375) 
(1,676,641) 
  7,870,739 
  5,823,459 

$- 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price 

$24.72 
- 
10.44 
35.27 
$22.45 
$23.56 

Shares 
10,708,646 
2,312,375 
(2,150,111) 
(1,201,155) 
9,669,755 
6,793,960 

$6.91 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price 
$ 24.58 
24.02 
20.62 
 31.53 
$ 24.72 
$ 26.63 

Shares 
11,270,261 
654,000 
(345,675) 
(869,940) 
10,708,646 
7,834,601 

$3.91 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price 
$ 25.30 
15.74 
12.93 
31.98 
 $ 24.58 
$ 26.73 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at January 31, 2004: 

Range of 
Exercise Prices  
$10.44 - $15.74 
$18.13 - $25.13 
$28.19 - $40.22 

Options Outstanding 

Weighted-Average 
Remaining 
Contractual Life (Yrs.) 
3.68 
2.67 
0.85 
2.58 

Options 
Outstanding  
1,742,141 
4,767,598 
1,361,000 
7,870,739 

Weighted-Average 
Exercise Price  
$11.80 
22.31 
36.62 
$22.45 

Options Exercisable 

Options  Weighted-Average 
  Exercise Price 
$12.42  
22.18 
36.62 
$23.56  

Exercisable 
1,188,866 
3,273,593 
1,361,000 
5,823,459 

SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation,” permits compensation expense to be measured based on the fair value 
of the equity instrument awarded. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to 
Employees,”  the  Company  uses  the  intrinsic  value  method  of  accounting  for  stock  options.    No  compensation  cost  has  been 
recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for the Company’s stock option plans.  

F-17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  fair  value  of  each  option  grant  is  estimated  on  the  date  of  each  grant  using  the  Black-Scholes  option-pricing  model  with  the 
following weighted-average assumptions: 

Risk-free interest rate 
Expected option life (years) 
Expected volatility 
Expected dividend yield 

Fiscal 2003 
- 
   - 
- 
- 

Fiscal 2002 
1.96% 
3.1 
41.6% 
0.67% 

Fiscal 2001 
2.27% 
2.0 
44.0% 
1.02% 

The fair values generated by the Black-Scholes model may not be indicative of the future benefit, if any, that may be received by the 
option holder. 

12. Leases and Commitments 
Rental expense consists of the following: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Operating leases: 
  Buildings: 

  Minimum rentals   
  Contingent rentals  

  Equipment 

Contingent rentals  
  on capital leases 

Fiscal 
2003 

Fiscal 
2002 

Fiscal 
2001 

$38,087 
8,732 
17,282 
64,101 

- 
$64,101 

$40,862 
10,433 
16,806 
68,101 

- 
$68,101 

$45,066 
10,310 
16,757 
72,133 

650 
$72,783 

Contingent rentals on certain leases are based on a percentage of annual sales in excess of specified amounts. Other contingent rentals 
are based entirely on a percentage of sales. 

The  future  minimum  rental  commitments  as  of  January  31,  2004  for  all  noncancelable  leases  for  buildings  and  equipment  are  as 
follows: 

(in thousands of dollars)  
Fiscal Year  
2004 
2005 
2006 
2007 
2008 
After 2008 
Total minimum lease payments 
Less amount representing interest 
Present value of net minimum  
lease payments (of which  
  $2,126 is currently payable) 

Operating 
Leases 
$51,309 
41,948 
38,587 
29,904 
23,435 
80,890 
$266,073 

Capital 
Leases 

$4,095 
3,813 
3,429 
2,578 
2,342 
19,251 
35,508 
(15,671) 

$19,837 

Renewal options from three to 25 years exist on the majority of leased properties. At January 31, 2004, the Company is committed to 
incur costs of approximately $167 million to acquire, complete and furnish certain stores and equipment. 

Various legal proceedings, in the form of lawsuits and claims, which occur in the normal course of business are pending against the 
Company  and  its  subsidiaries.    In  the  opinion  of  management,  disposition  of  these  matters  is  not  expected  to  materially  affect  the 
Company's financial position, cash flows or results of operations. 

F-18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13. Asset Impairment and Store Closing Charges 
In  the  evaluation  of  the  fair  value  and  future  benefits  of  long-lived  assets,  the  Company  performs  an  analysis  of  the  anticipated 
undiscounted future net cash flows of the related long-lived assets.  If the carrying value of the related asset exceeds the undiscounted 
cash  flows,  the  Company  reduces  the  carrying  value  to  its  fair  value,  which  is  generally  calculated  using  discounted  cash  flows.  
During fiscal 2003, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $43.7 million for asset impairment and store closing costs. The charge 
includes a write-down to fair value for certain under-performing properties.  The charge consists of a write down to a joint venture  in 
the amount of $5.5 million, a write down of goodwill on two stores to be closed of $2.5 million and a write down of property and 
equipment in the amount of $35.7 million.  The Company does not expect to incur significant additional exit costs upon the closing of 
these properties during fiscal 2004.  During fiscal 2002, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $52.2 million for asset impairment 
and store closing costs. The charge includes a write down to fair value for certain under-performing properties in the amount of $55.8 
million and exit costs to close four such properties in the amount of $4.4 million, all of which were closed during fiscal 2003, partially 
offset  by  the  forgiveness  of  a  lease  obligation  of  $8.0  million  in  connection  with  the  sale  of  a  closed  owned  store  in  Memphis, 
Tennessee  in  satisfaction  of  that  obligation.    During fiscal 2001, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $3.8 million for asset 
impairment and store closing costs.  The charge includes a write down to fair value for one under-performing store in the amount of 
$1.8 million and lease commitments of $2 million.   

14. Fair Value Disclosures 
The estimated fair values of financial instruments which are presented herein have been determined by the Company using available 
market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data 
to develop estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of amounts the Company 
could realize in a current market exchange. 

The fair value of trade accounts receivable is determined by discounting the estimated future cash flows at current market rates, after 
consideration of credit risks and servicing costs using historical rates. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and Guaranteed 
Preferred  Beneficial  Interests  in  the  Company’s  Subordinated  Debentures  is  based  on  market  prices  or  dealer  quotes  (for  publicly 
traded  unsecured  notes)  and  on  discounted  future  cash  flows  using  current  interest  rates  for  financial  instruments  with  similar 
characteristics and maturity (for bank notes and mortgage notes). 

The  fair  value  of  the  Company’s  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  trade  accounts  receivable  approximates  their  carrying  values  at 
January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-
term  debt  at  January  31,  2004  and  February  1,  2003  was  $2.06  billion  and  $2.24  billion,  respectively.  The  carrying  value  of  the 
Company’s long-term debt at January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 was $2.02 billion and $2.33 billion, respectively.  The fair value 
of the Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company’s Subordinated Debentures at January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 
was  $526  million  and  $473  million,  respectively.      The  carrying  value  of  the  Guaranteed  Preferred  Beneficial  Interests  in  the 
Company’s Subordinated Debentures at January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 was $532 million. 

15.  Securitizations of Assets 
As part of its credit card securitizations, the Company transfers credit card receivable balances to a Trust in exchange for certificates 
representing  undivided  interests  in  such  receivables.    The  Trust  securitizes  balances  by  issuing  certificates  representing  undivided 
interests in the Trust’s receivables to outside investors.  In each securitization, the Company retains certain subordinated interests that 
serve as a credit enhancement to outside investors and expose the Trust assets to possible credit losses on receivables sold to outside 
investors.  The investors and the Trust have no recourse against the Company beyond Trust assets.  In order to maintain the committed 
level  of  securitized  assets,  the  Trust  reinvests  cash  collections  on  securitized  accounts  in  additional  balances.    The  Company  also 
receives annual servicing fees as compensation for servicing the outstanding balances. 

Currently, all borrowings under the Company’s receivable financing conduit are recorded on balance sheet. The Company had $400 
million of long-term debt outstanding under this agreement on the consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2004 and February 1, 
2003.    Prior  to  May  2002,  the  Company  accounted  for  securitizations  of  credit  card  receivables  as  sales  of  receivables,  thus  off 
balance sheet.    Since May 2002, future transfers no longer meet sale treatment, and interest paid to outside investors is recorded in 
interest expense instead of other revenue.  The Company reclassified $11.3 million for the twelve months ended February 2, 2002 to 
conform to current period classification.  Accordingly, as a result of this decision, the Company recorded an income statement charge 
of  $5.4  million  related to the amortization of the beneficial interests recognized up front on the off-balance-sheet financing for the 
twelve months ended February 1, 2003.  This charge was included in Service Charges, Interest and Other Income.   

F-19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003, the Company had $50.0 million and $0 outstanding, respectively, in short-term borrowings 
under its accounts receivable conduit facilities related to seasonal financing needs.  Remaining available short-term borrowings under 
these conduit facilities at January 31, 2004 were $450.0 million.   

16. Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited) 
During the second quarter of 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill 
and Other Intangible Assets.”  The cumulative effect of the accounting change as of February 3, 2002 was to decrease net income for 
fiscal year 2002 by $530 million or $6.22 per diluted share.   

(in thousands of dollars, except per share data) 
Net sales  
Gross profit 
Net income (loss) 
Diluted earnings per share: 
Net income (loss) 

Fiscal 2003, Three Months Ended 

May 3 
$1,813,911 
601,939 
24,349 

August 2 
$1,721,485 
535,067 
(50,346) 

November 1 
$1,764,484 
564,431 
(15,835) 

January 31 
$2,299,054 
  727,324 
51,176 

0.29 

(0.60) 

(0.19) 

0.61 

Fiscal 2002, Three Months Ended 

(in thousands of dollars, except per share data) 
Net sales  
Gross profit 
Income (loss) before cumulative  
  effect of accounting  change 
Net income (loss) 
Diluted earnings per share: 
Income  (loss) before cumulative 
  effect of accounting change 
Net income (loss) 

May 4 
  $1,910,879 
684,451 

58,112 
(472,219) 

0.68 
 (5.56) 

August 3 
$1,817,976 
620,677 

November 2 
$1,794,250 
602,813 

February 1 
$2,387,891 
  748,921 

6,666 
6,666 

0.08 
0.08 

(5,102) 
(5,102) 

(0.06) 
(0.06) 

72,250 
72,250 

0.85 
0.85 

Total of quarterly earnings per common share may not equal the annual amount because net income per common share is calculated 
independently for each quarter. 

Quarterly information for fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002 include the following items: 

First Quarter 
2003 

•    a pretax gain of $15.6 million  ($10.0 million after tax or $0.12 per diluted share) pertaining to the Company’s sale of its interest 

in Sunrise Mall and its associated center in Brownsville, Texas. 

•    a pretax gain of $12.3 million ($7.9 million after tax or $0.09 per diluted share) recorded due to the resolution of certain liabilities 

originally recorded in conjunction with the purchase of Mercantile Stores Company, Inc. 

Second Quarter 
2003 

•    a call premium resulting in additional interest expense of $15.6 million ($10.0 million after tax or $0.12 per diluted share) 

associated with a $125.9 million call of debt. 

•    a $17.1 million pretax charge ($10.9 million after tax, or $0.13 per diluted share) for asset impairment and store closing charges 

related to certain stores. 

F-20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2002 

•    a call premium resulting in additional interest expense of $11.6 million ($7.4 million after tax $0.09 per diluted share) associated 

with a $143.0 million call of debt. 

•    a charge of $3.2 million ($2.0 million after tax or $0.02 per diluted share) on the  amortization of  off-balance-sheet accounts 

receivable securitization. 

•    a pretax gain of $3.1 million ($2.0 million after tax or $0.02 per diluted share) from an investee partnership of the Company who 

received an unusual distribution in the settlement of a receivable. 

•    a pretax gain of $2.5 million ($1.6 million after tax or $0.02 per diluted share)  on the early extinguishment of debt. 

•   

 $862,000  in pre-tax net income ($552,000 after tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) for asset impairment and store closing charges 
related to certain stores. 

Third Quarter 
2003 

•    a $1.7 million charge ($1.1 million after tax or $0.01 per diluted share) for asset impairment and store closing charges related to 

certain stores. 

•    $4.1 million ($2.6 million after tax or $0.03 per diluted share) received from the Internal Revenue Service as a result of the 

Company’s filing of an interest-netting claim related to previously settled tax years. 

2002 

•    a charge of $2.2 million ($1.4 million after tax or $0.02 per diluted share) on the  amortization of  off-balance-sheet accounts 

receivable securitization. 

•    a pretax gain of $1.7 million ($1.1 million after tax or $0.01 per diluted share)  on the early extinguishment of debt. 

Fourth Quarter 
2003 

•    a pretax asset impairment and store closing charge of $25.0 million ($16.8 million after tax or $0.20 per diluted share) related to 

certain stores. 

•    an $8.5 million gain ($5.5 million after tax or $0.07 per diluted share) related to the sale of three store properties. 

2002 

•    a pretax gain of $64.3 million ($41.1 million after tax or $0.48 per diluted share) pertaining to the Company’s sale of its interest 

in FlatIron Crossing, a Broomfield, Colorado shopping center  (see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements). 

•    a pretax asset impairment and store closing charge of $53.1 million ($34.0 million after tax or $0.40 per fully diluted share) 

related to certain stores. 

F-21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS 
DILLARD'S, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS) 

Column A 

Column B 

Column C 

Column D 

Column E 

Column F 

Additions 

Balance at 
Beginning of 
Period 

Charged to 
Costs and 
Expenses 

Charged to 
Other 
Accounts  

Deductions (1) 

Balance at 
End of 
Period 

Description 

Allowance for losses on accounts receivable:  

Year Ended January 31, 2004 

$49,755 

$83,030 

$          - 

$91,818 

$40,967 

Year Ended February 1, 2003 

37,385 

98,787 

          - 

86,417 

49,755 

Year Ended February 2, 2002 

32,240 

78,121 

          - 

72,976 

37,385 

(1)  Accounts written off and charged to allowance for losses on accounts receivable (net of recoveries). 

F-22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number 

*3(a) 

Exhibit Index 

Description 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Exhibit 3 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 1992 in 1-
6140). 

*3(b) 

By-Laws as currently in effect (Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K dated as of March 2, 2002 in 1-6140). 

*4(a) 

*4(b) 

Indenture between the Registrant and Chemical Bank, Trustee, dated as of October 1, 1985 (Exhibit (4) 
in 2-85556). 

Indenture between the Registrant and Chemical Bank, Trustee, dated as of October 1, 1986 (Exhibit (4) 
in 33-8859). 

*4(c) 

Indenture between Registrant and Chemical bank, dated as of April 15, 1987 (Exhibit 4.3 in 33-13534). 

*4(d) 

Indenture between Registrant and Chemical bank, Trustee, dated as of May 15, 1988, as supplemented 
(Exhibit 4 in 33-21671, Exhibit 4.2 in 33-25114 and Exhibit 4(c) to Current Report on Form 8-K dated 
September 26, 1990 in 1-6140). 

*4(e) 

Rights  Agreement  between  Dillard’s,  Inc.  and  Registrar  and  Transfer  Company,  as  Rights  Agent 
(Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K dated as of March 2, 2002 in 1-6140). 

**10(a) 

Retirement Contract of William Dillard dated March 8, 1997 (Exhibit 10(a) to Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended February 1, 1997 in 1-6140). 

**10(b) 

1998  Incentive  and  Nonqualified  Stock  Option  Plan  (Exhibit  10  (b)  to  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year 
ended January 30, 1999 in 1-6140). 

**10(c) 

Amended and Restated Corporate Officers Non-Qualified Pension Plan (Exhibit 10 to Form 10-Q for the 
quarter ended May 2, 2003 in 1-6140). 

**10(d) 

Senior Management Cash Bonus Plan (Exhibit 10(d) to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 
1995 in 1-6140). 

**10(e) 

2000  Incentive  and  Nonqualified  Stock  Option  Plan  (Exhibit  10(e)  to  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year 
ended February 3, 2001 in 1-6140).  

*10(f) 

Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement  among  Dillard’s,  Inc.  and  JPMorgan  Chase Bank and Fleet 
Retail Group, Inc. (Exhibit 10 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 1, 2003 in 1-6140). 

12 

*18 

21 

23 

Statement re:  Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. 

Letter re:  Change in Accounting Principles (Exhibit 18 to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 
3, 2001 in 1-6140). 

Subsidiaries of Registrant. 

Consent of Independent Auditors. 

E-1 

 
 
 
31(a) 

31(b) 

32(a) 

32(b) 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 
240.13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) (17 CFR 240.15d-14(a)). 

Certification  of  Chief  Financial  Officer  Pursuant  to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 
240.13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) (17 CFR 240.15d-14(a)). 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002  
(18 U.S.C. 1350). 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002  
(18 U.S.C. 1350). 

*     Incorporated by reference as indicated. 
**  A management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this report pursuant  
      to Item 14(c) of Form 10-K. 

E-2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Meeting

Saturday, May 15, 2004, at 9:30 a.m.,
Dillard’s Corporate Office
1600 Cantrell Road, 
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Registered shareholders should address communications regard-
ing address changes, lost certificates and other administrative
matters to the Company’s 
Transfer Agent and Registrar.

Financial and Other Information

Copies of financial documents and other company infor-
mation such as Dillard’s, Inc. reports on Form 10-K and
10-Q and other reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are available by contacting:

Registrar and Transfer Company
10 Commerce Drive
Cranford, New Jersey 07016-3572
Telephone: 800-368-5948
E-Mail: info@rtco.com
Web page: www.rtco.com

Dillard’s, Inc.
Investor Relations 
1600 Cantrell Road, 
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501-376-5522

E-mail: investor.relations@dillards.com

Financial reports, press releases and other Company
information are available on the Dillard’s, Inc. Web site:
www.dillards.com

Individuals or securities analysts with questions
regarding Dillard’s, Inc. may contact:

Julie J. Bull
Director of Investor Relations 
1600 Cantrell Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Telephone: 501-376-5965
Fax: 501-376-5917
E-mail: julie.bull@dillards.com

Please refer to Dillard’s, Inc. on all correspondence and have
available your name as printed on your stock certificate, your
Social Security number, your address and phone number.

Corporate Headquarters

1600 Cantrell Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Mailing Address

Post Office Box 486
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
Telephone: 501-376-5200
Fax: 501-376-5917

Listing

New York Stock Exchange, Ticker Symbol “DDS”

Store Openings - 2003

Store Name

Location

Open Month Sq. Foot

Great Northern Mall
NorthPark Mall
Stony Point Fashion Park
Short Pump Town Center
Memorial City Mall**

Olmstead, Ohio
Davenport, Iowa
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Houston, Texas

March
July
September
September
October

220,000
126,000 
200,000
200,000
250,000 

**Replacing 223,000 sf

.
c
n
I

,

n
g
i
s
e
D
s
u
s
a
g
e
P
y
b

d
e
c
u
d
o
r
P
d
n
a

d
e
n
g
i
s
e
D

 
 
 
 
 
 
Dillard’s, Inc.

1600 Cantrell Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
www.dillards.com