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Dillard's

dds · NYSE Consumer Cyclical
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Industry Department Stores
Employees 10,000+
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FY2004 Annual Report · Dillard's
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Dillard’s

D I L L A R D ’ S ,   I N C .     2 0 0 4     A N N U A L   R E P O R T

       
T O   O U R   S H A R E H O L D E R S

Reflection on 2004 and our performance at Dillard’s

In 2004, we greatly strengthened our financial position.

brings to mind both exciting accomplishments and
disappointments. During the year, we dramatically improved
our merchandise mix and this progress was evident in a 140
basis point gross margin increase for the year (based upon
sales). This improvement combined with a gain on the sale
of our private label credit card business and declining
interest expense contributed to a substantial increase in net
income to $117.7 million from $9.3 million for the prior year.
However, we were disappointed with a 1% sales decline for
the year. We can do better. Merchandise differentiation with
special emphasis on becoming a more upscale retailer is
crucial to our success. Accordingly, we are driving change in
every area of the store in order to strengthen our competitive
position.

People buy fashion because they want to feel good

about themselves. In 2004, we gave them even more reasons
to choose Dillard's as their partner to make this desire a
reality. We increased our emphasis on nationally known
contemporary and better lines, reflective of America's
renewed excitement over trend-right better fashions.
Additionally, we expanded our better exclusive brand lines
like Antonio Melani, Gianni Bini, and Daniel Cremieux.

There is room in America’s marketplace for a national

retailer focused on more upscale and more fashion forward
assortments. We are well positioned to become the premier
retailer in this niche. We will continue on our path to offer
selections edited to our customers’ multi-faceted lifestyles,
and we recognize it’s not about age – it’s about attitude. In
this effort, we are de-emphasizing or replacing under-
performing lines of product, from both national and
exclusive brand sources, with more promising brands.
Furthermore, utilizing our existing information technology
capabilities, we are tailoring these assortments to the local
demographics, reflecting not only each specific market’s
culture and fashion attitude but also each store’s specific
sizing and style needs.

On November 1, 2004, we sold substantially all the

assets of our credit card business to G.E. Consumer Finance.
Our credit card portfolio was strong and we are tremendously
pleased with this transaction, not only from the proceeds
received but also by the ongoing possibilities and
opportunities it presents to Dillard’s. G.E. Consumer Finance
is a solid, established leader in consumer finance. Their
expertise in credit marketing is well known and we are
excited about the innovative products and services they will
bring to Dillard’s shoppers. They are a valued partner in our
continuing drive for excellence in customer service.

We reduced our debt to $1.64 billion from $2.62 billion
(including Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the
Company’s Subordinated Debentures). Proceeds from the
transaction with G.E. Consumer Finance and our strong
operating cash flow during the year made this
accomplishment possible. We reduced our interest expense
for the year by $42 million as a result of dramatically lower
debt levels. At year end, our cash and cash equivalents were
$498.2 million.

In 2004, we opened eight new Dillard’s stores in

excellent locations, five of which were replacement stores.
As we continued to focus on store productivity, we closed
four under-performing locations and redirected the
associated resources to more promising projects. As a result
of our store opening and closing activity in 2004, we increased
our percentage of store ownership to an industry leading 80%.

We are truly energized by the changes occurring in

retail development. We find the progressive ‘lifestyle centers’
particularly compelling and we believe they are an ideal
complement to our more upscale approach to retailing.
These centers feature not only great shopping, but also fine
dining and entertainment choices, often in beautiful open air
or village-themed settings. Our new Dillard’s locations at
Yuma Palms in Yuma, Arizona and The Shoppes at East
Chase in Montgomery, Alabama are located in these
remarkable new venues. In 2005, we will open nine new
Dillard’s stores in promising new locations. Of these, six will
be in innovative lifestyle venues such as St. Johns Town
Center in Jacksonville, Florida and The Shops at La Cantera
in Garland, Texas. The remaining three new stores will be in
exceptional centers including Perimeter Mall in Atlanta,
Georgia, one of Atlanta’s premier shopping destinations.

The landscape of fashion apparel retailing is rapidly

changing and commentary regarding the future of our sector
abounds. At Dillard’s, we are embracing change and we are
excited about our future. In the midst of all that changes,
one thing remains constant – the customer’s desire to feel
good about themselves. With the continued support of our
associates and our shareholders, Dillard’s will be their
preferred destination retailer for fashions to meet their
desires time and time again.

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

Alex Dillard
President

C O R P O R A T E   O R G A N I Z A T I O N

William Dillard, II
Chief Executive Officer

Drue Corbusier
Executive Vice President

V I C E   P R E S I D E N T S

Michael Bowen
James W. Cherry, Jr.
Karl G. Ederer
Randal L. Hankins

Alex Dillard
President

James I. Freeman
Chief Financial Officer

Mike Dillard
Executive Vice President

Paul J. Schroeder, Jr. 
General Counsel

William L. Holder, Jr.
Gaston Lemoine
Denise Mahaffy
Steven K. Nelson

Michael E. Price
Sidney A. Sanders
Burt Squires
Ralph Stuart

Phillip R. Watts
Kent Wiley
Richard B. Willey
Sherrill E. Wise

R E G I O N A L   M E R C H A N D I S I N G   D I V I S I O N S

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

Christine Rowell
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

Mark Killingsworth
Vice President,
Merchandising

Ronald Wiggins
Vice President,
Merchandising

Paul E. McLynch
Director of Sales
Promotion

Robin Sanderford
President

Sandra Steinberg
Vice President,
Merchandising

James D. Stockman
Vice President,
Merchandising

Louise Platt
Director of Sales
Promotion

C O R P O R A T E   M E R C H A N D I S I N G   D I V I S I O N S

B O A R D   O F   D I R E C T O R S

Cosmetic Merchandising

Ann Franzke
Vice President, Merchandising

Home Merchandising 

Richard Moore
Vice President, Merchandising

Corporate Merchandising /
Product Development

Denise Mahaffy
Vice President, Merchandising

Mike McNiff
Vice President, Merchandising

Vice Presidents:
Les Chandler
Neil Christensen
William T. Dillard, III
Gianni Duarte
Christine A. Ferrari
Colleen Kirk
Terry Smith
Kay White

R E G I O N A L   V I C E   P R E S I D E N T S   -   S T O R E S

W.R. Appleby, II
Donald A. Bogart
Tom Bolin
Larry Cailteux
Mark Gastman
Walter C. Grammer

Marva Harrell
Gene D. Heil
William H. Hite
Dan W. Jensen
Cindy Myers-Ray
Tom C. Patterson

Grizelda Reeder
Linda Sholtis-Tucker
Alan Steinberg
Lloyd Keith Tidmore

Robert C. Connor
Investments
Dallas, Texas

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

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

Alex Dillard
President
of Dillard’s, Inc.

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

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.

John Paul Hammerschmidt
Retired Member of Congress
Harrison, Arkansas

Peter R. Johnson
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of PRJ Holdings, Inc.
San Francisco, CA

Warren A. Stephens
President and Chief Executive
Officer of Stephens Group, Inc. 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
Washington, D.C.

Dillard’s

Dillard's, Inc. ranks among the nation's largest fashion apparel and home furnishings retailers with annual revenues
exceeding $7.8 billion. The Company focuses on delivering maximum fashion and value to its shoppers by offering
compelling apparel and home selections complemented by exceptional customer care. Dillard's stores offer a broad
selection of merchandise and feature products from both national and exclusive brand sources. The Company
operates 329 Dillard’s locations spanning 29 states, all with one nameplate – Dillard’s. 

Annual Meeting

Saturday, May 21, 2005, at 9:30 a.m.
Dillard’s Corporate Office
1600 Cantrell Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Financial and Other Information

Copies of financial documents and other company
information 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:

Dillard’s, Inc.
Investor Relations
1600 Cantrell Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501-376-5544

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

Transfer Agent and Registrar

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

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

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”

S T O R E   O P E N I N G S   -   2 0 0 4

Dillard’s at:

City

Open Month

Sq. Feet

The Shoppes at East Chase** Montgomery, Alabama

March

Coastal Grand

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina March

Colonial University Village**

Auburn, Alabama

Greenbrier Mall**

Chesapeake, Virgina

Jordan Creek Town Center

West Des Moines, Iowa

Yuma, Arizona

Moline, Illinois

Spanish Fort, Alabama

Yuma Palms**

South Park Mall

Eastern Shore**

**Replacement Store

On the cover:

April

April

August

October

October

October

155,000

155,000 

126,000

160,000

200,000 

98,000 

127,000 

126,000 

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

Exclusively at Dillard’s, Antonio Melani reflects the elements of European
styling and design. This signature line is tailored to meet every woman’s
lifestyle – taking her from dress to casual and classic to fashion forward.

CA 

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

(Mark One) 
⌧ 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 
ACT OF 1934 

For the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 

OR 

(cid:134) 

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  ⌧  No (cid:134) 
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.  (cid:134) 
Indicated by checkmark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-
2).  Yes ⌧  No (cid:134) 
State the aggregate market value of the voting and  non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the 
Registrant as of July 31, 2004:  $1,771,477,069. 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's classes of common stock as of February 
26, 2005: 

CLASS A COMMON STOCK, $.01 par value 79,194,675
  4,010,929
CLASS B COMMON STOCK, $.01 par value 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 21, 2005 (the "Proxy 
Statement") are incorporated by reference into Part III. 

2 

 
 
 
 
Table of Contents 
PART I 

Page No. 

Business. 

Properties. 

Legal Proceedings. 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. 

PART II 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, and Related Matters and Issuer Purchases of 
Equity Securities. 

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 Accountants on Accounting and Financial 
Disclosure. 

Controls and Procedures. 

Other Information. 

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 and Financial Statement Schedule. 

4 

4 

4 

5 

6 

7 

10 

24 

24 

24 

24 

25 

26 

26 

26 

26 

27 

27 

Item No. 
1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

7A. 

8. 

9. 

9A. 

9B. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

3 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS. 

General 

PART I 

Dillard's,  Inc.  (the  "Company",  “we”,  “us”,  “our”  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. 

The  Company’s  fiscal  year  ends  on  the  Saturday  nearest  January  31  of  each year.  Fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002 
ended  on  January  29,  2005,  January  31,  2004  and  February  1,  2003,  respectively.    Fiscal  years  2004, 2003 and 2002 
included 52 weeks. 

For additional information with respect to our 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,  current  reports  on  Form  8-K  and 
amendments to those reports 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 on the Company’s web site as soon as 
reasonably  practicable  after  such  material  is  electronically  filed  with  or  furnished  to  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission. 

The Company’s corporate offices are located at 1600 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, telephone:501-376-
5200. 

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES. 

All  of  our  stores  are  owned  or  leased  from  third  parties.    Our  third-party  store  leases  typically  provide  for  rental 
payments based on a percentage of net sales with a guaranteed minimum annual rent.  In general, the Company pays the 
cost of insurance, maintenance and any increase in real estate taxes related to the leases.  At January 29, 2005, there were 
329 stores in operation with gross square footage approximating 56.3 million feet.  The Company owned a total of 264 
stores with 45.0 million square feet.  The Company leased 65 stores from third parties, which totaled 11.3 million square 
feet.  In addition, we have seven regional distribution facilities of which we own six and lease one from a third party.  
Our  principal  executive  offices  are  approximately  300,000  square  feet  located  in  Little  Rock,  Arkansas.    Additional 
information is contained in Notes 1, 3, 13 and 14 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. 

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. 

On  July  29,  2002,  a  Class  Action  Complaint  (followed  on  December  13,  2004  by  a  Second  Amended  Class  Action 
Complaint)  was  filed  in  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  Ohio  against  the  Company,  the 
Mercantile Stores Pension Plan (the “Plan”) and the Mercantile Stores Pension Committee (the “Committee”) on behalf 
of a putative class of former Plan participants. The complaint alleges that certain actions by the Plan and the Committee 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
violated  the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act  of  1974,  as  amended  (“ERISA”),  as  a  result  of  amendments 
made  to  the  Plan  that  allegedly  were  either  improper  and/or  ineffective  and  as  a  result  of  certain  payments  made  to 
certain beneficiaries of the Plan that allegedly were improperly calculated and/or discriminatory on account of age. The 
Second  Amended  Complaint  does  not  specify  any  liquidated  amount  of  damages  sought  and  seeks  recalculation  of 
certain benefits paid to putative class members.  No trial date has been set.  

From time to time, we are involved in other 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 2, 2005, 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 29, 2005. 

Executive Officers of the Company 

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.  

Name 

Age 

Position & Office 

Family Relationship 

William Dillard, II 

60 

Director; Chief Executive Officer 

None 

Alex Dillard 

55 

Director; President 

Brother of William Dillard, II 

Mike Dillard 

53 

Director; Executive Vice President 

Brother of William Dillard, II 

Joseph P. Brennan 

60 

Vice President 

G. Kent Burnett 

60 

Vice President 

None 

None 

Drue Corbusier 

58 

Director; Executive Vice President 

Sister of William Dillard, II 

James I. Freeman 

55 

Director;  Senior  Vice  President;  Chief 
Financial Officer 

None 

Gaston Lemoine 

61 

Vice President 

Steven K. Nelson 

47 

Vice President 

Robin Sanderford 

58 

Vice President 

Paul J. Schroeder 

56 

Vice President 

Burt Squires  

55 

Vice President 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART II 

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

MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES. 

The Company’s Class A Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the Ticker Symbol “DDS”.  No 
public market currently exists for the Class B Common Stock. 

The high and low sales prices of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, and dividends declared on each class of 
common stock, for each quarter of fiscal 2004 and 2003 are presented in the table below: 

First 
Second 
Third 
Fourth 

High 
    $19.16 
23.76 
23.14 
27.54 

2004 

Low 
      $16.57 
15.54 
18.64 
20.13 

High 
    $15.10 
15.08 
16.92 
17.86 

2003 

Low 
      $12.49 
12.77 
13.98 
14.46 

Dividends 
per Share 

2004 
     $0.04 
0.04 
0.04 
0.04 

2003 
      $0.04 
0.04 
0.04 
0.04 

While  the  Company  expects  to  continue  its  cash  dividend  policy  during  fiscal  2005,  all  subsequent  dividends  will  be 
reviewed quarterly and declared by the board of directors. 

As of February 26, 2005, there were 4,567 record holders of the Company's Class A Common Stock and 8 record holders 
of the Company's Class B Common Stock. 

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.  The plan has no expiration date and remaining availability pursuant to our share repurchase 
program is $16.1 million as of January 29, 2005.  There were no issuer purchases of equity securities during the fourth 
quarter of 2004. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA. 

The selected financial data set forth should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated audited financial 
statements and notes thereto and the other information contained elsewhere in this report. 

(Dollars 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) 
Per Diluted Common Share 
Income before cumulative effect of  

accounting change 

Cumulative effect of accounting change 
Net income (loss) 
Dividends 
Book value 
Average number of shares 
outstanding   
Accounts receivable (3) (4) 
Merchandise inventories 
Property and equipment 
Total assets 
Long-term debt (3) (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 
* 53 Weeks 

2004  
$7,528,572 
-1%
5,017,765 
66.6%
139,056
184,551
66,885

117,666
-
117,666

1.41 
-
1.41 
0.16 
27.94

83,739,431
9,651 
1,733,033
3,180,756
5,691,581
1,322,824 
20,182
509,589

200,000 
2,324,697
53,035
56,300 

8
0 
7 
329

7 

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 

9,344
-
9,344

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 

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

71,798 
-
71,798 

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

1.55 
(6.22)
(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 

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 

1.36 
(1.42)
(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)  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 and 
Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

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

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

2001, and 2000, respectively.  See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

(4)  During fiscal 2004, the Company sold its private label credit card business to GE Consumer Finance for $1.1 

billion, which includes the assumption of $400 million of long-term securitization liabilities. 

The items below are included in the Selected Financial Data. 

2004 

The items below amount to a net $64.5 million pretax gain ($42.1 million after tax or $0.50 per diluted share). 

a  pretax gain of $83.9 million ($53.7 million after tax or $0.64 per diluted share) pertaining to the Company’s 
sale of it private label credit card business to GE Consumer Finance (see Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated 
Financial Statements). 

a $19.4 million pretax charge ($11.6 million after tax or $0.14 per diluted share) for asset impairment and store 
closing charges related to certain stores (see Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 

• 

• 

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 14 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.  

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 14 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  16  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. 

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 gain ($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. 

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 gain ($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. 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL 

CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW 

Dillard’s, Inc. operates 329 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  offer  national  brand  merchandise  as  well  as  our  exclusive  brand 
merchandise.  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,  our  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. We seek 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; 

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

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

continuing to offer access to credit services and financial products to our customers through our long-term 
marketing and servicing alliance with GE Consumer Finance (“GE”). 

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. 

Items of note for the year ended January 29, 2005 include the following: 

•  The  sale  of  substantially  all  of  the  assets  of  our  private  label  credit  card  business  and  the  establishment  of  a 
long-term  marketing  and  servicing  alliance  with  GE.    The  sale  generated  total  proceeds  of  $1.1  billion, 
consisting of the assumption by GE of $400 million of securitized debt and net cash proceeds of approximately 
$688 million and resulted in significantly strengthened financial position and liquidity. The financial impact of 
the transaction on Dillard’s ongoing financial results will be determined by the effects of the Company’s use of 
proceeds  as  well  as  the  effect  of  income  generated  under  the  long-term  marketing  and  servicing  alliance.  
Dillard’s expects to use net proceeds to reduce debt outstanding, to repurchase its common stock and for general 
corporate purposes. 

•  The elimination of debt of $988 million, partially in conjunction with the sale of the credit card business. 

•  Gross profit improvement of 140 basis points of sales compared to the year ended January 31, 2004.  

•  Decrease in interest and debt expense of $42 million compared to the year ended January 31, 2004. 

•  Cash and cash equivalents of $498 million as of January 29, 2005. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trends and uncertainties   

We have identified the following key uncertainties whose fluctuations may have a material effect on our operating 
results. 

•  Cash flow – Cash from operating activities is 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. 

•  Sourcing – Store merchandise is dependent upon adequate and stable availability of materials and production 

facilities from which the Company sources its merchandise. 

Legal Proceedings 

On  July  29,  2002,  a  Class  Action  Complaint  (followed  on  December  13,  2004  by  a  Second  Amended  Class  Action 
Complaint)  was  filed  in  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  Ohio  against  the  Company,  the 
Mercantile Stores Pension Plan (the “Plan”) and the Mercantile Stores Pension Committee (the “Committee”) on behalf 
of a putative class of former Plan participants. The complaint alleges that certain actions by the Plan and the Committee 
violated  the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act  of  1974,  as  amended,  (“ERISA”)  as  a  result  of  amendments 
made  to  the  Plan  that  allegedly  were  either  improper  and/or  ineffective  and  as  a  result  of  certain  payments  made  to 
certain beneficiaries of the Plan that allegedly were improperly calculated and/or discriminatory on account of age. The 
Second  Amended  Complaint  does  not  specify  any  liquidated  amount  of  damages  sought  and  seeks  recalculation  of 
certain benefits paid to putative class members. No trial date has been set.  

The Company is defending the litigation vigorously and has named the Plan’s actuarial firm as a cross defendant. While 
it  is  not  feasible  to  predict  or  determine  the  ultimate  outcome  of  the  pending  litigation,  management  believes  after 
consultation with counsel, that its outcome, after consideration of the provisions recorded in the Company’s consolidated 
financial  statements,  would  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  upon  its  consolidated  cash  flow  or  financial  position. 
However, it is possible that an adverse outcome could have an adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated net income 
in a particular quarterly or annual period. 

2005 Estimates  

A  summary  of  estimates  on  key  financial  measures  for  fiscal  2005,  on  a  generally  accepted  accounting  principles 
(“GAAP”) basis, is shown below. There have been no changes in the estimates for 2005 since the Company released its 
fourth quarter earnings on March 10, 2005.  

         (In millions of dollars)            

          Depreciation and amortization  
          Rental expense                      
          Interest and debt expense          
          Capital expenditures               

General 

      2005 
 Estimated 

       $  310  
55   
           103   
335   

   2004 
Actual 

 $  302 
       55 
139 
              285 

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 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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.  Other income also includes income generated through the long-term 
marketing  and  servicing  alliance  between  the  Company  and  GE  and  the  resulting  gain  on  the  sale  of  its  credit  card 
business to GE. 

Cost of Sales.  Cost of sales includes the cost of merchandise sold net of purchase discounts, bankcard fees, freight to the 
distribution  centers,  employee and promotional discounts, non-specific vendor allowances and direct payroll for salon 
personnel.   

Advertising, selling, administrative and general expenses.  Advertising, selling, administrative and general expenses 
include  buying,  occupancy,  selling,  distribution,  warehousing,  store  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.   

Depreciation  and  amortization.    Depreciation  and  amortization  expenses  include  depreciation  and  amortization  on 
property and equipment. 

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 costs, call premiums 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 1 of 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. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
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 is 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.   In 2004, the Company sold substantially all of its accounts receivable to GE and no 
longer maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. 

Prior to the sale, the accounts receivable from the Company’s private label credit card sales were subject to credit losses. 
The  Company  maintained  allowances for uncollectible accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its 
customers to make required payments. The adequacy of the allowance was 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 were projected based on qualitative factors such as current and expected consumer and 
economic trends.   

Merchandise vendor allowances.  The Company receives concessions from its merchandise vendors through a variety 
including  co-operative  advertising,  payroll  reimbursements  and  markdown 
of  programs  and  arrangements, 
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 merchandise vendor allowances are recognized as a reduction of 
cost purchases when received.  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. 

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, 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 

The  Company’s income tax returns are periodically audited by various state and local jurisdictions.  Additionally, the 
Internal  Revenue  Service  audits  the  Company’s  federal  income  tax  return  annually.    The  Company  reserves  for  tax 
contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the contingent amount is reasonably estimable.  
These reserves are based upon the Company's best estimation of the potential exposures associated with the timing and 
amount  of  deductions  as  well  as  various  tax  filing  positions.    Due  to  the  complexity  of  these  examination  issues,  for 
which reserves have been recorded, it may be several years before the final resolution is achieved.   

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 had decreased to 5.5% as of January 29, 2005 from 6.00% as of January 31, 2004.  A further 
50 basis point change in the discount rate would generate an experience gain or loss of approximately $9 million. 

Results of Operations 

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

(in millions of dollars) 

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 29, 2005 
% of  
  Amount  Net Sales

For the years ended 
 January 31, 2004 
% of  

February 1, 2003 
% of 

  Amount  Net Sales  

Amount  Net Sales  

$7,528.6
5,017.8

2,510.8

2,098.8
301.9
54.8
139.1

19.4
2,614.0

287.7
184.5
66.9

117.6
-

100.0 %
66.6

$7,598.9
5,170.2

100.0 % $7,911.0 
5,254.1 

68.0  

100.0 %
66.4  

33.4

27.9
4.0
0.7
1.8

0.3
34.7

3.8
2.5
0.9

1.6
-

2,428.7

32.0  

2,656.9 

33.6  

2,097.9
290.7
64.1
181.1

43.7
2,677.5

264.8
16.0
6.7

9.3
-

27.6  
3.8  
0.8  
2.4  

0.6  
35.2  

3.4  
0.2  
0.1  

0.1  
-  

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)  

$     117.6

1.6 %

$     9.3

0.1 % $(398.4) 

(5.0) %

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 

Percent Change 

Fiscal 
2004-2003 
              1.3 
(2.4) 
(2.7) 
(3.2) 
              4.0 
(2.0) 

Fiscal 
2003-2002 
(1.1) 
(4.8) 
(8.9) 
(5.8) 
(0.8) 
(4.3) 

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

Southeastern 
Midwestern 
Southwestern 

Percent Change 

Fiscal 
2004-2003 
              0.2 
(2.1) 
              1.5 

Fiscal 
2003-2002 
(4.2) 
(4.6) 
(0.7) 

Sales decreased 1% for the 52-week period ended January 29, 2005 compared to the 52-week period ended January 31, 
2004 on both a total and comparable store basis.  Sales were strongest and increased in cosmetics and shoes, accessories 
and lingerie while sales declined in the remaining merchandising categories.  Sales in the Western and Eastern regions 
increased in fiscal 2004 while sales declined in the Central region.  Dillard’s continues to focus on improvement in its 
merchandise mix.  The Company’s efforts to drive differentiation by offering more upscale, more fashion-forward and 
younger-focused product choices are key strategies in this process.  The Company seeks to provide such merchandise 
from both national and exclusive brand sources.  Under-performing lines of product from both national and exclusive 
sources will continue to be eliminated and replaced with more promising brands in the Company’s ongoing efforts to 
improve  its  merchandise  mix.  In  addition,  utilizing  the  Company’s  existing  information  technology  capabilities,  the 
Company will continue to tailor these assortments to the local demographics.  During the fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 
2002, sales of exclusive brand merchandise as a percent of total sales were 23.1%, 20.9% and 18.2%, respectively. 

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 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.  

Cost of Sales 
Cost of sales as a percentage of sales decreased to 66.6% during 2004 compared with 68.0% for 2003.  The increase of 
140  basis  points  in  gross  margin  during  fiscal  2004  was  due  to  the  Company’s  successful  efforts  to  improve  its 
merchandise mix and reduce markdown activity.  The lower level of markdown activity decreased cost of sales by 50 
basis points of sales.  Improved levels of markups were responsible for a decrease in cost of sales of 90 basis points of 
sales.  All product categories had increased gross margins during 2004 except for the home category.  Gross margins 
were  notably  higher  in  men’s  and  children’s  categories  with  margin  improvement  well  above  the  average  margin 
improvement for the year. 

Inventory  in  comparable  stores  at  January  29,  2005  increased  1%  compared  to  January  31,  2004.    Overall  inventory 
increased 6% due primarily  to an increase of $86 million relating to inventory in-transit. 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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.   

Expenses 

2004 Compared to 2003 

Advertising,  selling,  administrative  and  general  (“SG&A”)  expenses  increased  to  27.9%  of  sales  for  fiscal  2004 
compared to 27.6% for fiscal 2003.   On a dollar basis, SG&A expenses were up slightly over the prior year. 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.  For fiscal 2004, savings in bad debts of $25.9 million (as a result of the sale of the Company’s 
credit card business in November 2004 and decreased bad debt write-offs throughout the year), services purchased of 
$11.3  million  and  communications  of  $4.0  million  were  offset  by  increases  in  incentive  payroll  of  $8.6  million, 
insurance  of  $8.6  million  and  advertising  of  $16.9  million.   The reduction in services purchased and communications 
was  partially  due  to  the  sale  of  the  credit  card  business  in  November  2004  and  costs  reductions  throughout  the  year.  
Services  purchased  includes  marketing,  collection  fees  and  merchandise  handling  costs.      Communications  includes 
telephone, postage and data line expenses.  As a result of the Company’s improved performance, incentive compensation 
to  store  managers,  merchants  and  management  significantly  increased  during  the  year  ended  January  29,  2005.    Also 
during the year, Dillard’s increased its provision for workers’ compensation self-insurance to reflect an expected increase 
in future medical costs.  Dillard’s increased its advertising expenditures during the year as it continued to evaluate new 
media outlets better suited to meet its customers’ lifestyles than those outlets traditionally employed.  Due to the sale of 
the credit card business, bad debt expense will be non-recurring in fiscal 2005. 

Depreciation  and  amortization  as  a  percentage  of  sales  increased  to  4.0%  for fiscal 2004 compared to 3.8% for fiscal 
2003.  This increase is due to higher capital expenditures in 2004 and the addition of capital leases for data processing 
equipment in 2004 which have shorter useful lives.   

Rental expenses experienced a decline due to a lower number of leased stores in fiscal 2004 compared to the prior year 
and lower data processing equipment rent.   Leased stores declined from 71 stores at January 31, 2004 to 65 stores at 
January 29, 2005 resulting in lower rent expense of $6.6 million.  Lower data processing equipment rent of $2.7 million 
was due to a certain number of 2004 leases qualifying for capital lease treatment.   A review of the Company’s lease 
accounting policies resulted in a charge of $821,000 for straight-line rent during fiscal 2004. 

Interest and debt expense as a percentage of sales decreased to 1.8% for fiscal 2004 compared to 2.4% for fiscal 2003 
primarily  as  a  result  of  lower  debt  levels.    Interest  expense  declined  $42.0  million  in  fiscal  2004.    Average  debt 
outstanding declined approximately $602 million in fiscal 2004.  The debt reduction was due primarily to the assumption 
by GE of $400 million in accounts receivable securitization debt and the payoff of seasonal borrowings in conjunction 
with the sale of the Company’s private label credit card business to GE.  The Company also redeemed the $331.6 million 
Preferred Securities and had maturities of outstanding notes of $163.4 million during fiscal 2004.  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 also included in interest expense for fiscal 2003.    

During fiscal 2004, the Company recorded a pre tax charge of $19.4 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  $7.6  million,  a  write  down  of  goodwill  on  one  store  to  be  closed  of  $1.2 
million, an accrual for future rent, property tax and utility payments on three stores to be closed of $3.1 million and a 
write down of property and equipment in the amount of $7.5 million.   The Company does not expect to incur significant 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
additional exit costs upon the closing of these properties during fiscal 2005.  A breakdown of the asset impairment and 
store closing charges for fiscal 2004 is as follows: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Stores closed during fiscal 2004 
Stores to close during fiscal 2005 
Store impaired based on cash flows 
Non-operating facilities 
Joint Venture 
   Total 

2003 Compared to 2002 

Number of 
Locations 

Impairment 
Amount 

3 
4 
1 
2 
1 
9 

$  2,928 
4,052 
703 
4,170 
7,564 
$19,417 

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.  

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 did not have 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.  A  breakdown  of  the  asset 
impairment and store closing charges for fiscal 2003 is as follows: 

(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 

Number of 
Locations 

Impairment 
Amount 

3 
4 
1 
7 
1 
16 

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

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service Charges, Interest and Other Income 

(in millions of dollars) 

Dollar Change 

Percent Change 

Joint venture income 
Gain on sale of joint venture and 
  property and equipment 
Gain on sale of credit card business 
Service charge income 
Income from GE marketing and 
 servicing alliance 
Other 

Total 

Average accounts receivable (1) 

2004 
$      8.7 

2003 
$      8.1 

2002 
$    19.5 

2004-2003 
$      0.6 

2003-2002 
$(11.4) 

2004-2003 

2003-2002 

7.4%

-58.5%

2.9 
83.9 
141.2 

24.3 
- 
207.9 

65.4 
- 
225.7 

14.2 
36.8 

- 
24.4 
$   287.7  $   264.7 
$1,101.2  $1,231.4 

- 
12.3 
$   322.9 
$1,330.9 

 (21.4) 
    83.9 
(66.7) 

       14.2 
       12.4 
$     23.0 
$(130.2) 

(41.1) 
- 
(17.8) 

- 
     12.1 
$(58.2) 
$(99.5) 

    -88.1 
- 
   -32.1 

- 
50.8 
8.7%
-10.6%

 -62.8 
- 
  -7.9 

- 
   98.4 
-18.0%
-7.5%

(1) Average receivables for 2004 includes only the first nine months prior to the sale 

2004 Compared to 2003 

The Company completed its sale of its credit card business to GE and entered into a ten year marketing and servicing 
alliance.  GE  will  own  the  accounts  and  balances  generated  during  the  term  of  the  alliance  and  will  provide  all  key 
customer service functions supported by ongoing credit marketing efforts.  Included in other income in fiscal 2004 is a 
gain of $83.9 million relating to this sale.  Also included is the income from the marketing and servicing alliance since 
the  inception  of  the  agreement  of  $14.2  million  offset  by  a  reduction  in  service  charge  income  due  to  the  sale  of  the 
credit  card  business  during  the  fourth  quarter  of  2004.    Service  charge  income  decreased  $66.7  million  due  to  the 
decrease noted above and an average decrease of $135 million in the amount of outstanding accounts receivable during 
2004, prior to the sale, compared to 2003. Included in the gain on sale of joint ventures and property and equipment in 
fiscal 2003 is a gain of $15.6 million relating to the sale of the Company’s interest in Sunrise Mall and its associated 
center in Brownsville, Texas.  Due to the sale of the credit card business, service charge income will be non-recurring in 
fiscal 2005; however, income from the marketing and servicing alliance will be expected for the full fiscal year. 

2003 Compared to 2002 

Included in other income in fiscal 2003 is a gain of $15.6 million relating to 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. 

Income Taxes 
The Company’s actual federal and state income tax rate (exclusive of the effect of nondeductible goodwill write off) was 
36% in fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002.  

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Financial Position Summary 

(in thousands of dollars) 

2004 

2003 

Dollar 
Change 

Percent 
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 

$   498,248 
- 
91,629 
- 
1,322,824 
200,000 
2,324,697 

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

    337,375 
(50,000) 
(74,412) 
(331,579) 
(532,241) 
- 
87,600 

209.7 
- 
-44.8 
- 
-28.7 
- 
3.9 

Current ratio 
Debt to capitalization 

2.19% 
41.0% 

2.26% 
53.8% 

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

• 

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

•  Strategic investments to enhance the value of existing properties; 
•  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) 

2004 
$ 554,061 
414,212 
(630,898) 
$   337,375 

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

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

Percent Change 

2004-2003 
        28.2 
    * 
 149.8 

2003-2002 
        21.1 
       (2.4) 
  24.7 

* percent change calculation is not meaningful 

Operating Activities 

The primary source of the Company’s liquidity is cash flows from operations.  Retail sales are the key operating cash 
component providing 96.3% and 96.6% of total revenues over the past two years.  Operating cash inflows also include 
finance  charges  paid  on  Company  receivables  prior  to  the  sale,  revenue  and  reimbursements  from  the  long-term 
marketing and servicing alliance with GE subsequent to the sale 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 $554.1 million for 2004 and were adequate to fund the Company’s operations for 
the year. During 2004, the operating cash flows of the Company increased due to increased net income and a reduction in 
accounts receivable balances prior to the sale of the credit card business.  Adding to the increased cash flow, accounts 
payable  and  accrued  expenses  increased  $295  million  in  fiscal  2004  compared  to  a  $5  million  increase  in  accounts 
payable  and  accrued  expenses  in  the  prior  year.  Partially  offsetting  this  increase  were  increases  in  inventory,  other 
current assets, decreases in deferred income taxes and the gain on the sale of the credit card business. 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 $285 million for 2004. These expenditures consist primarily of the construction of new stores, 
remodeling  of  existing  stores  and  investments  in  technology.    During  2004,  the  Company  opened  three  new  stores: 
Coastal Grand in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines, Iowa; and South Park 
Mall in Moline, Illinois and five replacement stores: Colonial University Village in Auburn, Alabama; The Shoppes at 
East Chase in Montgomery, Alabama; Eastern Shore in Spanish Fort, Alabama; Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake, Virginia 
and Yuma Palms in Yuma, Arizona.  These eight stores totaled approximately 1.1 million square feet of retail space.  In 
addition,  the  Company  completed  a  major  expansion  on  one  store  totaling  26,000  square  feet  of  retail  space.    The 
Company closed seven store locations, including five for the replacement stores, during the year totaling approximately 
819,000 square feet of retail space.  Capital expenditures for 2005 are expected to be approximately $335 million.  The 
Company  plans  to  open  nine  new  stores  in  fiscal  2005  totaling  1,085,000  square  feet, net of replaced square footage. 
Historically, the Company has financed such capital expenditures with cash flow from operations. The Company expects 
that it will continue to finance capital expenditures in this manner during fiscal 2005. 

During 2004, the company recorded a gain on the sale of property and equipment of $2.9 million and received proceeds 
of $11.3 million.   

During 2004, investing cash flows were positively impacted by the net proceeds of $688 million received from the sale 
of the credit card business to GE (see Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 

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.   

Financing Activities 

Historically,  cash  inflows  from  financing  activities  generally  included  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.   As a result of the sale of its credit card business, the Company’s need for liquidity has been reduced and the 
Company’s  accounts  receivable  conduit  facilities  were  terminated.    The  Company’s  primary  source  of  available 
borrowings  is  its  $1  billion  revolving  credit  facility.    Financing  cash  outflows  generally  include  the  repayment  of 
borrowings under the Company’s accounts receivable conduit facilities (prior to the sale and termination), the repayment 
of mortgage notes or long-term debt, the payment of dividends and the purchase of treasury stock. 

During  fiscal  2004,  the  Company  repurchased  $40.6  million  of  its  outstanding  unsecured  notes  prior  to  their  related 
maturity dates.  Interest rates on the repurchased securities ranged from 6.30% to 8.20%.  Maturity dates ranged from 
2008  to  2028.    The  Company  also  redeemed  the  $331.6  million  Preferred  Securities.    Notes  in  the  amount  of  $163.4 
million matured and were repaid during fiscal 2004. 

During 2004, the Company reduced its net level of outstanding debt and capital leases by $983 million. The decrease in 
total  debt  is  due  to  the  sale  of  the  Company’s  private  label  credit  card  business  to  GE  and  through  scheduled  debt 
maturities and repurchases of notes prior to their related maturity dates.  GE assumed $400 million of the Company’s 
securitized public debt as part of the sale.  Concurrent with the sale of the credit card business, the Company repaid all of 
its  short-term  securitized  borrowings  and  terminated  its  short-term  borrowing  facilities.    Maturities  of  long-term  debt 
over the next five years are $92 million, $98 million, $201 million, $198 million and $25 million, respectively.  

Revolving Credit Agreement 
The  Company’s  primary  source  of  liquidity  is  the  availability  of  funds  under  its  $1  billion  revolving  credit  facility 
(“credit facility”).  Borrowings under the credit facility accrue interest at JPMorgan’s Base Rate or LIBOR plus 1.50% 
(currently 4.09%) subject to certain availability thresholds as defined in the credit facility.  Availability for borrowings 
and letter of credit obligations under the credit facility is limited to 75% of the inventory of certain Company subsidiaries 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
(approximately $878 million at January 29, 2005).  There are no financial covenant requirements under the credit facility 
provided  availability  exceeds  $100  million.    The  credit  facility  expires  on  December  12,  2008.  At  January  29,  2005, 
letters of credit totaling $69.7 million were issued under this facility leaving unutilized availability under the facility of 
$808 million.  The Company borrowed $100 million on its revolving credit facility during 2004 in connection with the 
redemption  of  the  $331.6  million  Preferred  Securities  on  February  2,  2004.    The  Company  had  no  outstanding 
borrowings at January 29, 2005.  

Long-term Debt 
At January 29, 2005, the Company had $1.4 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 2005 through 2028.  The mortgage notes 
bear interest at rates ranging from 7.25% to 10.12% 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  2004,  the  Company  repurchased  approximately  $40.4  million  of  Class  A 
Common Stock, representing 2.0 million shares at an average price of $20.19 per share. Approximately $16 million in 
share repurchase authorization remained under this open-ended plan at January 29, 2005. 

Guaranteed Beneficial Interests in the Company’s Subordinated Debentures 
Prior  to  February  2,  2004,  Guaranteed  Preferred  Beneficial  Interests  in  the  Company’s  Subordinated  Debentures 
included  $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.    The  Company 
redeemed the $331.6 million Preferred Securities on February 2, 2004.   

 The  Company  has  $200  million  liquidation  amount  of  7.5%  Capital  Securities,  due  August  1,  2038  representing  the 
beneficial ownership interest in the assets of Dillard’s Capital Trust I, a consolidated entity of the Company. 

Fiscal 2005 
The  sale  of  the  Company’s  credit  card  business  significantly  strengthened  its  liquidity  and  financial  position.    The 
Company had cash on hand of $498 million as of January 29, 2005 and reduced outstanding debt by $988 million during 
fiscal  2004.    During  fiscal  2005,  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  a  result  of  the  Company’s  sale  of  its  credit  card  business,  the  Company  does  not  currently  expect  to 
utilize  funds  through  its  $1  billion  revolving  credit  agreement.    Management  believes  that  cash  on  hand  and  cash 
generated  from  operations  will  be  sufficient  to  cover  its  reasonably  foreseeable  working  capital,  capital  expenditures, 
debt service requirements and stock repurchase.  Depending on conditions in the capital markets and other factors, the 
Company will from time to time consider possible capital market transactions, the proceeds of which could be used to 
refinance current indebtedness or other corporate purposes. 

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements 

The Company has not created, and is not party to, any special-purpose or off-balance-sheet entities for the purpose of 
raising capital, incurring debt or operating the Company’s business. The Company is a guarantor on a $54.3 million loan 
for a joint venture as of January 29, 2005.  At January 29, 2005, the joint venture had $36.5 million outstanding on the 
loan.  The Company does not have any additional arrangements or relationships with entities that are not consolidated 
into the financial statements that are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s liquidity or the availability of 
capital resources. 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 (1) 
Guaranteed beneficial interests 
  in the Company’s 
  subordinated  debentures 
Capital lease obligations 
Defined benefit plan payments 
Purchase Obligations (2) 
Operating leases 
Total contractual cash   

PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD 

Total 

Less than 
 1 year 

1-3 years 

3-5 years 

More than 
 5 years 

$1,414,453 

$    91,629

$299,114 

$222,799 

$   800,911 

200,000 
25,108 
55,657 
1,803,730 
222,069 

-
4,926
3,604
1,803,730
47,399

- 
7,324 
9,572 
- 
78,328 

- 
2,225 
10,167 
- 
41,538 

200,000 
10,633 
32,314 
- 
54,804 

obligations 

$3,721,017 

$1,951,288

$394,338 

$276,729 

$1,098,662 

(1)  Does not include an estimate of future interest payments having a weighted average rate of 7.2%. 

(2)  The Company’s purchase obligations principally consist of purchase orders for merchandise and store construction 
commitments.  Amounts committed under open purchase order for merchandise inventory represent $1.7 billion of 
the purchase obligations, of which a significant portion are cancelable without penalty prior to a date that precedes 
the vendor’s scheduled shipment date. 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Other commercial 
  commitments 
$1 billion line of credit, 
  none outstanding (1) 
Standby letters of credit 
Import letters of credit 
Total commercial 
commitments 

AMOUNT OF COMMITMENT EXPIRATION PER PERIOD 

Total 
Amounts 
Committed  Within 1 year 

2-3 years 

4-5 years 

After 5 
years 

$- 
59,425 
10,244 

$- 

59,425 
10,244 

$69,669 

$69,669 

$- 
- 
- 

$- 

$- 
- 
- 

$- 

$- 
- 
- 

$- 

(1)  Availability  under  the  credit  facility  is  limited  to  75%  of  the  inventory  of  certain  Company  subsidiaries   
(approximately  $878  million  at  January  29,  2005)  and  has  been  reduced  by  outstanding  letters  of  credit  of  $69.7 
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 $8.9 million in fiscal 2005 with a liability of $91 million.  The 
Company expects to make a contribution to the pension plan of approximately $3.6 million in fiscal 2005. 

The Company is a guarantor on a $54.3 million loan for a joint venture as of January 29, 2005.  At January 29, 2005, the 
joint venture had $36.5 million outstanding on the loan.  The loan is collateralized by a mall in Yuma, Arizona with a 
book value of $55 million at January 29, 2005.   The timing and amount of payments under the guarantee, if any, cannot 
be reasonably predicted and are therefore excluded from the tables above. 

New Accounting Pronouncements 

In  November  2004,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (“FASB”)  issued  Statements  of  Financial  Accounting 
Standards (“SFAS”) No. 151, “Inventory Costs an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4” (“SFAS No. 151”).  SFAS 
No.  151  amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage).   SFAS No. 151 is effective for 
inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005.  The adoption of the of SFAS No. 151 is not 
expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

In  December  2004,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  153,  “Exchanges  of  Nonmonetary  Assets  –  An  Amendment  of  APB 
Opinion  No.  29,  Accounting  for  Nonmonetary  Transactions”  (“SFAS  No.  153”).  SFAS  No.  153  eliminates  from  fair 
value measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets in paragraph 21 (b) of APB Opinion No. 29, 
and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do not have commercial substance.  SFAS No. 153 is effective for 
fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005.  The Company does not expect SFAS No. 153 to have a material impact on 
our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123-R”). 
SFAS No. 123-R requires all forms of share-based payment to employees, including employee stock options, be treated 
as  compensation  and  recognized  in  the  income  statement  based  on  their  estimated  fair  values.  This  statement  will  be 
effective for fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005 which will be the Company’s third quarter of fiscal 2005.  

The Company currently accounts for stock options under APB No. 25 using the intrinsic value method in accounting for 
its employee stock options. No stock-based compensation costs were reflected in net income, as no options under those 
plans had an exercise price less than the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. 

Under the adoption of SFAS No. 123-R, the Company will be required to expense stock options over the vesting period 
in  its  statement  of  operations.    In  addition,  the  Company  will  need  to  recognize  expense  over  the  remaining  vesting 
period associated with unvested options outstanding as of June 15, 2005.  Based on the stock options outstanding as of 
January 29, 2005, the stock-based employee compensation expense, net of related tax effects, will be approximately $0.7 
million in fiscal 2005. The Company has not yet determined the method of adoption or the effect of adopting SFAS 123-
R,  and  it  has  not  determined  whether  the  adoption  will  result  in  amounts  that  are  similar  to  the  current  pro  forma 
disclosures under SFAS 123. 

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 2005 are 
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 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009  Thereafter 

Total 

Fair Value 

$91,629 
6.9% 

$98,479  $200,635  $198,146  $24,653
9.4% 

6.5% 

6.9% 

7.4% 

$800,911 
7.4% 

$1,414,453 
7.2% 

$1,467,024 

            $- 
-% 

$- 
-% 

$- 
-% 

$- 
-% 

$- 
-% 

$200,000 
7.5% 

 $  200,000 
7.5% 

$   199,120 

During  the  year  ended  January  29,  2005,  the  Company  repurchased  $40.6  million  of  its  outstanding  unsecured  notes 
prior to their related maturity dates.  Interest rates on the repurchased securities ranged from 6.3% to 8.2%.  Maturity 
dates ranged from 2008 to 2028. 

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in the interest rates under its $1 billion revolving credit facility. 
Outstanding balances under this facility bear interest at a variable rate based on JPMorgan’s Base Rate or LIBOR plus 
1.50%.  The  Company  borrowed  $100  million  on  its  revolving  credit  facility  during  2004  in  connection  with  the 
redemption  of  the  $331.6  million  Preferred  Securities  on  February  2,  2004.    The  Company  had  no  outstanding 
borrowings at January 29, 2005 other than the utilization for unfunded letters of credit. 

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 DISAGREEMENTS 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-15e and 15d-15e 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 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
necessarily  was  required  to  apply  its  judgment  in  evaluating  the  cost-benefit  relationship  of  possible  controls  and 
procedures.   

As  of  January  29,  2005,  the  Company  carried  out  an  evaluation,  with  the  participation  of  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),  of  the 
effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15.  
Based on their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s 
disclosure controls and procedures are effective.  There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls 
over  financial  reporting  that  occurred  during  the  year  ended  January  29,  2005  to  which  this  report  relates  that  have 
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting and the attestation report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, 
the  Company’s  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm,  on  management’s  assessment  of  internal  control  over 
financial reporting is incorporated herein by reference from pages F-2 and F-3 of this report. 

William  Dillard,  II,  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  Chief  Executive  Officer,  has  certified  to  the  New  York 
Stock Exchange that he is not aware of any violations by the Company of the exchange’s corporate governance listing 
standards.  Attached as an exhibit to this annual report is the certification of Mr. Dillard required under Section 302 of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 regarding the quality of the Company’s public disclosures. 

ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION. 

None. 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
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 Part 1 of this 
report  under  the  heading  “Executive  Officers  of  the  Company.”    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 is 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. 

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. 

Equity Compensation Plan Information 

Number of securities to be 
issued upon exercise of 
outstanding options 

Weighted average 
exercise prices of 
outstanding options 

Number of securities 
available for future 
issuance under equity 
compensation plans 

Equity compensation plans 
approved by shareholders 

Total 

3,845,009 
3,845,009 

$24.91 
$24.91 

11,141,656 
11,141,656 

Additional  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 
“Security Ownership of Management” 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. 

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. 

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

PART IV 

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE.  

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

An “Index to Financial Statements” and “Financial Statement Schedule” 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. 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 

Dillard’s, Inc. 
Registrant 

Date:   April 14, 2005 

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

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

/s/ John Paul Hammerschmidt 
John Paul Hammerschmidt 

/s/ Peter R. Johnson 
Peter R. Johnson 
Director 

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

Date:    April 14, 2005 

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

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

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEX OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE 
DILLARD'S, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Year Ended January 29, 2005 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Consolidated Balance Sheets – January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004. 
Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations  -  Fiscal  years  ended  January  29,  2005, 
January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003. 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) 
- Fiscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003. 
Consolidated  Statements  of  Cash  Flows  -  Fiscal  years  ended  January  29,  2005, 
January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003. 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Fiscal years ended January 29, 2005, 
January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003. 

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 

Page 

F-2 

F-3 

F-4 

F-6 

F-7 

F-8 

F-9 

F-10 

F-26 

F-1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

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 (the “Company”) as of 
January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and 
comprehensive  income  (loss),  and  cash  flows  for  each  of  the  three  years  in  the  period  ended  January  29,  2005.    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 the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States).  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  29,  2005  and  January  31,  2004,  and  the  results  of  their 
operations  and  their  cash  flows  for  each  of  the  three  years  in  the  period  ended  January  29,  2005,  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. 

We  have  also  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United 
States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 29, 2005, based on the 
criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of 
the  Treadway  Commission  and  our  report  dated  April  13,  2005  expressed  an  unqualified  opinion  on  management’s 
assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an unqualified opinion on 
the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

As discussed in Notes 1 and 3 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 Accounting Standards No. 142.   

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP 

Deloitte & Touche LLP 
Dallas, Texas 
April 13, 2005 

F-2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 

The financial statements, financial analysis and all other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were prepared 
by  management,  who  is  responsible  for  their  integrity  and  objectivity  and  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate 
internal controls over financial reporting. 

The  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the 
reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with 
generally  accepted  accounting  principles.    The  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  includes  those 
policies and procedures that: 

i.    pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and        

dispositions of assets of the Company; 

ii.    provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial 
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the 
Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; 
and 

iii.    provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of  unauthorized  acquisition,  use  or 

dispositions of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control, including the possibility of human error and the 
circumvention  or  overriding  of  controls.    Accordingly,  even  effective  internal  controls  can  provide  only  reasonable 
assurances with respect to financial statement preparation.  Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness 
of internal controls may vary over time.  

Management  assessed  the  design  and  effectiveness  of  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of 
January 29, 2005.  In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (“COSO”)  in  Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework.  Based  on 
management’s assessment using those criteria, it believes that, as of January 29, 2005, the Company’s internal control 
over financial reporting is effective. 

Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the financial statements of the 
Company  for  the  fiscal  years  ended  January  29,  2005,  January  31,  2004  and  February  1,  2003  and  has  attested  to 
management’s  assertion  regarding  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of 
January 29, 2005.  Their report is presented on the following page.  The independent registered public accountants and 
internal auditors advise management of the results of their audits and make recommendations to improve the system of 
internal controls.  Management evaluates the audit recommendations and takes appropriate action.   

F-3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

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

We  have  audited  management’s  assessment,  included  in  the  accompanying  Management’s  Report  on  Internal  Control 
over Financial Reporting, that Dillard’s, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over 
financial  reporting  as  of  January  29,  2005,  based  on  criteria  established  in  Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework 
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  The Company’s management is 
responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness 
of internal control over financial reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and 
an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States).    Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether 
effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audit included obtaining 
an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  evaluating  management’s  assessment,  testing  and 
evaluating  the  design  and  operating  effectiveness  of  internal  control,  and  performing  such  other  procedures  as  we 
considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions. 

A  company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  a  process  designed  by,  or  under  the  supervision  of,  the 
company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by 
the  company’s  board  of  directors,  management,  and  other  personnel  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the 
reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with 
generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies 
and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the 
transactions  and  dispositions  of  the  assets  of  the  company;  (2)  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are 
recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting 
principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of 
management  and  directors  of  the  company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely 
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the 
financial statements. 

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or 
improper  management  override  of  controls,  material  misstatements  due  to  error  or  fraud  may  not  be  prevented  or 
detected on a timely basis.  Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial 
reporting  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  the  controls  may  become  inadequate  because  of  changes  in 
conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  

F-4 

 
 
In  our  opinion,  management’s  assessment  that  the  Company  maintained  effective  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting  as  of  January  29,  2005,  is  fairly  stated,  in  all  material  respects,  based  on  the  criteria  established  in  Internal 
Control—Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission.  
Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting 
as  of  January  29,  2005,  based  on  the  criteria  established  in  Internal  Control—Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the 
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. 

We  have  also  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United 
States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended January 29, 
2005 of the Company and our report dated April 13, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements 
and financial statement schedule and included an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s change in accounting 
for goodwill and intangible assets in 2002 to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142. 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP 

Deloitte & Touche LLP  
Dallas, Texas 
April 13, 2005

F-5 

 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets 
Dollars in Thousands  

Assets 
Current Assets: 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for  
doubtful accounts of $0 and $40,967)   
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 and equipment 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 
Current portion of long-term debt 
Current portion of capital lease obligations 
Federal and state income taxes including current deferred taxes 
Current portion of Guaranteed Beneficial Interest 
in the Company’s Subordinated Debentures 

Other short-term borrowings 
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 – 114,581,524 and 112,866,918 shares 
   issued; 79,194,675 and 79,480,069 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 —35,386,849 and  
  33,386,849 shares  
Total stockholders’ equity 

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

F-6 

January 29, 2005 

January 31, 2004 

$   498,248 

$   160,873 

9,651 
1,733,033 
52,559 
2,293,491 

102,098 
2,755,565 
2,143,464 
96,767 
60,724 
(1,977,862) 
3,180,756 
35,495 
181,839 
$ 5,691,581 

$   820,242 
91,629 
4,926 
128,436 

- 
- 
1,045,233 
1,322,824 
20,182 
269,056 
509,589 

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 
166,041 
2,126 
106,487 

331,579 
50,000 
1,336,087 
1,855,065 
17,711 
147,901 
617,236 

200,000 

200,000 

1,146 

1,129 

40 
739,620 
(13,333) 
2,305,993 

(708,769) 
2,324,697 
$ 5,691,581 

40 
713,974 
   (11,281) 
2,201,623 

(668,388) 
2,237,097 
$ 6,411,097 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 29, 2005 

Years Ended 
January 31, 2004 

February 1, 2003 

$7,528,572 
287,699 
7,816,271 

5,017,765 
2,098,791 
301,917 
54,774 
139,056 
19,417 
7,631,720 
184,551 
66,885 
117,666 

— 
$  117,666 

$1.41 
— 
$1.41 

$1.41 
— 
$1.41 

$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) 

F-7 

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

Balance, February 2, 2002 

Net loss 
Minimum pension liability  
  adjustment, net of tax of $2,529 
  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 of tax of $3,817 
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 

Net income 
Minimum pension liability   
adjustment, net of tax of $1,154 
  Total comprehensive income 
Issuance of 1,714,606 shares under 
stock  option, employee savings  
and stock bonus plans 
Purchase of 2,000,000 shares of 
treasury stock 
Cash dividends declared: 
 Common stock, $.16 per share 

Balance, January 29, 2005 
See notes to consolidated financial statements. 

— 
$1,146 

Common Stock 

ClassA 

$1,118 
__ 

Class B 
$40 
__ 

Additional 
Paid-in 
Capital 
$699,104 
__ 

Accumulated 
Other 
Comprehen- 
sive Loss 

  $   — 
__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

(4,496) 

Retained 
Earnings 
$2,617,608 
(398,405) 

Treasury 
Stock 
$(649,473) 
__ 

Total 
$2,668,397 
(398,405) 

__ 

__ 

__ 

(4,496) 
(402,901) 

__ 

12,229 

9 

— 
1,127 
__ 

__ 

2 

__ 

— 
1,129 
__ 

__ 

17 

__ 

__ 

— 
40 
__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

— 
40 
__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

12,220 

— 
711,324 
__ 

2,650 

__ 

— 
713,974 
__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

— 
     (4,496) 
__ 

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

— 
(649,473) 
__ 

(13,529) 
2,264,196 
9,344 

__ 

(6,785) 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

(6,785) 
2,559 

__ 

2,652 

(18,915) 

(18,915) 

— 
(11,281) 

(13,395) 
2,201,623 
117,666 

— 
(668,388) 
__ 

(13,395) 
2,237,097 
117,666 

__ 

(2,052) 

25,646 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

__ 

(2,052) 
115,614 

__ 

25,663 

(40,381) 

(40,381) 

— 
$40 

— 
$739,620 

— 
$(13,333) 

(13,296) 
$2,305,993 

— 

(13,296) 
$(708,769)  $2,324,697 

F-8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 of property and deferred financing 
Deferred income taxes 
Loss on early extinguishments of debt 
Asset impairment and store closing charges 
Gain on sale of credit card business 
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 in accounts receivable 
Increase in merchandise inventories 
(Increase) decrease in other current assets 
(Increase) decrease in other assets 
Increase (decrease) 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 
Net cash from sale of credit card business 
Proceeds from sale of joint venture 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 
Financing Activities: 

Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations 
(Decrease) increase in short-term borrowings and capital lease  
  obligations 
Cash dividends paid 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 
Purchase of treasury stock 
Retirement of Guaranteed Beneficial Interest in the Company’s 
  Debentures 
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 

Non-cash transactions: 
  Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 
  Capital lease transactions 

See notes to consolidated financial statements. 

F-9 

January 29, 2005 

Years Ended 
January 31, 2004 

February 1, 2003 

$117,666 

$9,344 

$(398,405) 

305,536 
(122,036) 
__ 
19,417 
(83,867) 
__ 
(2,933) 
12,835 
__ 

166,899 
(100,656) 
(13,607) 
(39,816) 

294,623 
554,061 

(285,331) 
11,330 
688,213 
— 
414,212 

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) 

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) 

(212,163) 

(272,702) 

(340,081) 

(50,000) 
(13,296) 
16,521 
(40,381) 

(331,579) 
— 
— 
(630,898) 
337,375 
160,873 
$498,248 

51,369 
(13,395) 
1,130 
(18,915) 

— 
— 
— 
(252,513) 
18,517 
142,356 
$160,873 

— 
(13,529) 
11,037 
— 

— 
100,000 
40,000 
(202,573) 
(10,604) 
152,960 
$142,356 

$9,142 
10,781 

$256 
— 

$4,985 
— 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 2004, 2003 and 2002 ended on January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and 
February 1, 2003, respectively.  Fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002 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 prior to November 1, 2004, self-insured accruals, future cash 
flows  for  impairment  analysis,  pension  discount  rate  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.   The Company considers receivables from charge card companies as cash 
equivalents. 

Accounts  Receivable  –  In  November  2004,  the  Company  sold  substantially  all  of  its  accounts  receivable  to  GE 
Consumer Finance (“GE”) and no longer maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. 

Prior  to  November  2004,  customer  accounts  receivable  on  the  Company’s  proprietary  credit  card  were  classified  as 
current assets and include some which are due after one year, consistent with industry practice. Proprietary credit card 
receivables  were  shown  net  of  an  allowance  for  uncollectible  accounts.  The  Company  calculated  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 was then reviewed by management to assess 
whether, based on recent economic events, additional analyses were required to appropriately estimate losses inherent in 
the  portfolio.  The  Company  charged  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 provided 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  represented  amounts  of  credit  card  receivable  balances  (including 
billed  but  uncollected  finance  charges)  which  management  estimated  will  ultimately  not  be  collected.  Finance  charge 
revenue was recorded until an account is charged off, at which time uncollected finance charge revenue was recorded as 
a reduction of credit revenues.  

Historically, the Company utilized credit card securitizations as part of its overall funding strategy.  The transfers were 
accounted for under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 140, “Accounting for 
Transfer and Servicing of Financial Assets and Liabilities”.  All financing through these facilities are recorded on the 
balance sheet as of January 31, 2004 (see Note 16).   

In November 2004, the Company either repaid or transferred to GE all of its debt securitized by credit card receivables. 

Significant  Group  Concentrations  of  Credit  Risk  –  The  Company  granted  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 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004.  As of November 1, 2004, GE owns all accounts and balances 
generated through sales on the Company’s private label card. 

F-10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merchandise  Inventories  –  The  retail  last-in,  first-out  (“LIFO”)  inventory  method  is  used  to  value  merchandise 
inventories. At January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004, 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  $4.5  million,  $2.6  million  and  $2.5  million  in  fiscal  2004,  2003  and  2002,  respectively.  For  financial 
reporting purposes, depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives: 

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 29, 2005 are assets held for sale in the amount of $7.7 million.  During 
fiscal  2004,  2003  and  2002,  the  Company  realized  gains  on  the  sale  of  property  and  equipment  of  $2.9  million,  $8.7 
million and $1.1 million, respectively. 

Depreciation expense on property and equipment was $302 million, $291 million and $301 million for fiscal 2004, 2003 
and 2002, 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 which is based on expected discounted future cash flows. 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 charges recorded in 
2004, 2003 and 2002, as disclosed in Note 14. 

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 2004, 2003 and 2002, as disclosed in Note 3.   

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 $116 million and $97 million at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004, respectively.  
The malls are located in Yuma, Arizona; Toledo, Ohio; Denver, Colorado and one currently under construction in Bonita 
Springs, Florida.  Earnings from joint ventures were $8.7 million, $8.1 million and $19.5 million for fiscal 2004, 2003 
and 2002, 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 

F-11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 

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). 

Operating  Leases  –  The  Company  leases  retail  stores  and  office  space  under  operating  leases.  Most  leases  contain 
construction  allowance  reimbursements  by  landlords,  rent  holidays,  rent  escalation  clauses  and/or  contingent  rent 
provisions. The Company recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term and records 
the difference between the amounts charged to expense and the rent paid as a deferred rent liability. 

To  account  for  construction  allowance  reimbursements  from  landlords  and  rent  holidays,  the  Company  records  a 
deferred rent liability included in trade accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated 
balance sheets and amortizes the deferred rent over the lease term, as a reduction to rent expense on the consolidated 
income  statements.    For  leases  containing  rent  escalation  clauses,  the  Company  records  minimum  rent  expense  on  a 
straight-line basis over the lease term on the consolidated income statement.  The lease term used for lease evaluation 
includes renewal option periods only in instances in which the exercise of the option period can be reasonably assured 
and failure to exercise such options would result in an economic penalty. 

Revenue Recognition – The Company recognizes revenue at the “point of sale.” Revenue associated with gift cards is 
recognized upon redemption of the gift card.  Prior to the sale of its credit card business to GE, finance charge revenue 
earned on customer accounts, serviced by the Company under its proprietary credit card program, was recognized in the 
period in which it was earned.  Beginning November 1, 2004, the Company’s share of income earned under the long-
term  marketing  and  servicing  alliance  is  included  as  a  component  of  Service  Charges,  Interest  and  Other  Income.  
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 $246 million, $229 million and $253 million for fiscal years 2004, 2003 
and 2002, 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 Service Charges, Interest 
and  Other  Income.    The  Company  records  shipping  and  handling  costs  in  Advertising,  Selling,  Administrative  and 
General Expenses. 

Comprehensive  Income  (Loss)  –  Accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss  consists  only  of  the  minimum  pension 
liability, which is calculated annually in the fourth quarter.   

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 

F-12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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”.   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 accounting change would have been: 

(in thousands of dollars, except per share data) 
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change 

Fiscal 2004 

Fiscal 2003 

Fiscal 2002 

As reported 

$117,666 

$ 9,344 

$131,926 

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 

(1,825) 
$115,841 

(2,732) 
$ 6,612 

(9,261) 
$122,665 

$1.41 
1.39 

$1.41 
1.38 

$0.11 
0.08 

$0.11 
0.08 

$1.56 
1.45 

$1.55 
1.44 

Segment Reporting – The Company operates in a single operating segment — the operation of retail department stores. 
Revenues  from  customers  are  derived  from  merchandise  sales  and  service  charges  and  interest  on  the  Company’s 
proprietary credit card prior to November 1, 2004.  

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

New Accounting Pronouncements 

In  November  2004,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  151,  “Inventory  Costs,  an  Amendment  of  ARB  No.  43,  Chapter  4” 
(“SFAS No. 151”).  SFAS No. 151 amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the 
accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage).   SFAS 
No. 151 is effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005.  The adoption of the 
of SFAS No. 151 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or 
cash flows. 

In  December  2004,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  153,  “Exchanges  of  Nonmonetary  Assets  –  An  Amendment  of  APB 
Opinion  No.  29,  Accounting  for  Nonmonetary  Transactions”  (“SFAS  No.  153”).  SFAS  No.  153  eliminates  from  fair 
value measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets in paragraph 21 (b) of APB Opinion No. 29, 
and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do not have commercial substance.  SFAS No. 153 is effective for 
fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005.  The Company does not expect SFAS No. 153 to have a material impact on 
our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123-R”). 
SFAS No. 123-R requires all forms of share-based payments to employees, including employee stock options, be treated 
as  compensation  and  recognized  in  the  income  statement  based  on  their  estimated  fair  values.  This  statement  will  be 
effective for fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005 which will be the Company’s third quarter of fiscal 2005.  

The Company currently accounts for stock options under APB No. 25 using the intrinsic value method in accounting for 
its employee stock options. No stock-based compensation costs were reflected in net income, as no options under those 
plans had an exercise price less than the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. 

Under the adoption of  SFAS No. 123-R, the Company will be required to expense stock options over the vesting period 
in  its  statement  of  operations.    In  addition,  the  Company  will  need  to  recognize  expense  over  the  remaining  vesting 
period associated with unvested options outstanding as of June 15, 2005. 

F-13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.  Disposition of Credit Card Receivables 
On November 1, 2004, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of its private label credit card 
business  to  GE.  The  purchase  price  of  approximately  $1.1  billion  includes  the  assumption  of  $400  million  of 
securitization liabilities, the purchase of owned accounts receivable and other assets.  Net cash proceeds received by the 
Company were $688 million.  The Company recorded a pretax gain of $83.9 million as a result of the sale.  The gain is 
recorded in Service Charges, Interest and Other Income on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. 

As part of the transaction, the Company and GE have entered into a long-term marketing and servicing alliance with an 
initial term of 10 years, with an option to renew. GE will own the accounts and balances generated during the term of the 
alliance and will provide all key customer service functions supported by ongoing credit marketing efforts.   

3. 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. 

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 fiscal 2002.  The Company tests the realizability of goodwill as of the end of each fiscal year or 
when circumstances deem necessary.   

The  changes  in  the  carrying  amount  of  goodwill  for  the  years  ended  January  29,  2005  and  January  31,  2004  are  as 
follows (in thousands): 

Goodwill balance at February 1, 2003 
  Goodwill written off in fiscal 2003 
Goodwill balance at January 31, 2004 
  Goodwill written off in fiscal 2004 
Goodwill balance at January 29, 2005 

$39,214 
        ( 2,483) 
                36,731 
(1,236) 
$35,495  

4. Revolving Credit Agreement 
At  January  29,  2005,  the  Company  maintained  a  $1  billion  revolving  credit  facility  with  JPMorgan  Chase  Bank 
(“JPMorgan”).  Borrowings under the credit agreement accrue interest at JPMorgan’s Base Rate or LIBOR plus 1.50% 
(currently  4.09%)  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 $878 million at January 29, 2005).  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 less outstanding borrowings 
and letters of credit to the banks.  The Company borrowed $100 million on its revolving credit facility during 2004 in 
connection with the redemption of the $331.6 million Preferred Securities on February 2, 2004.  There were no funds 
borrowed under the revolving credit facility during fiscal 2003.  

F-14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
5. 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 2005 through 2028 

Receivable financing facilities 

at rates ranging from 1.4% to  
3.8%  

Mortgage notes, payable  
monthly or quarterly  
(some with balloon payments)  
through 2013 and bearing  
interest at rates ranging from  
7.25% to 10.12% 

Current portion 

January 29, 2005 

January 31, 2004 

$1,357,391 

$1,561,353 

- 

400,000 

57,062 
1,414,453 
(91,629) 
$1,322,824 

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

Building,  land,  and  land  improvements  with  a  carrying  value  of  $50.5  million  at  January  29,  2005  were  pledged  as 
collateral on the mortgage notes.  Maturities of long-term debt over the next five years are $92 million, $98 million, $201 
million, $198 million and $25 million.  Outstanding letters of credit aggregated $69.7 million at January 29, 2005. 

Interest and debt expense consists of the following: 

(in thousands of dollars) 
Long-term debt: 

Interest 
Call premium 
Loss on early retirement 
of long-term debt 
Amortization of  
debt expense 

Interest on capital  
lease obligations 

Interest on receivable financing 

Fiscal 
2004 

Fiscal
2003

Fiscal 
2002 

$121,648 
- 

$144,276
15,568

$154,698 
11,395 

- 

-

6,839 

4,027 
125,675 

2,372 
11,009 
$139,056 

6,985
166,829

2,202
12,034
$181,065

4,088 
177,020 

2,354 
10,405 
$189,779 

Interest paid during fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 was approximately $145.4 million, $186.9 million and $158.6 million, 
respectively.   

F-15 

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

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

Taxes, other than income 
Salaries, wages,  
and employee benefits 
Liability to customers 
Interest 
Rent 
Other 

January 29, 2005 
$597,046 

January 31, 2004 
$457,485 

70,290 

76,263 

55,099 
51,974 
31,877 
9,563 
4,393 
$820,242 

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

7. 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 
2004 

Fiscal 
2003 

Fiscal 
2002 

$  156,137 
32,784 
188,921 

(92,359) 
(29,677) 
(122,036) 
$   66,885  

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

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

$45,428 
2,029 
47,457 

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

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 write off 

Other 

Fiscal 
2004 

Fiscal 
2003 

Fiscal 
2002 

$64,593 

$5,598 

$71,493 

1,834 

122 

2,008 

433 
25 
$66,885 

869 
61 
$6,650 

- 
(1,166) 
$72,335 

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 write-off) was 36% in fiscal 2004, 2003 and 
2002.  Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of January 29, 2005 and January 
31, 2004 are as follows: 

F-16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(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 
NOL carryforwards 
State income taxes 

Total deferred tax assets 

State NOL valuation allowance 

Net deferred tax assets 
Net deferred tax liabilities 

January 29, 2005 

January 31, 2004 

$ 504,253 
64,903 
23,997 

46,001 
12,604 
651,758 
(63,410) 
(82,058) 
(12,625) 
(158,093) 
53,148 
(104,945) 
$ 546,813 

$ 505,581 
68,021 
24,849 

49,095 
112,550 
760,096 
(45,813) 
(79,324) 
(12,558) 
(137,695) 
47,603 
(90,092) 
$ 670,004 

At January 29, 2005, the Company had $1.8 million of federal rehabilitation credit carryovers that could be utilized to 
reduce the tax liabilities of future years.  These credit carryovers will expire between 2005 and 2007. 

At January 29, 2005, the Company had a deferred tax asset related to state net operating loss carryovers of $82 million 
that could be utilized to reduce the tax liabilities of future years.  These carryovers will expire between 2005 and 2025.  
A portion of the deferred asset attributable to state net operating loss carryovers was reduced by a valuation allowance of 
$53 million for the losses of various members of the affiliated group in states that require separate company filings.   

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 29, 2005 
$509,589 
37,224 
$546,813 

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

The  Company’s income tax returns are periodically audited by various state and local jurisdictions.  Additionally, the 
Internal  Revenue  Service  audits  the  Company’s  federal  income  tax  return  annually.    The  Company  reserves  for  tax 
contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the contingent amount is reasonably estimable.  
These reserves are based upon the Company's best estimates of the potential exposures associated with the timing and 
amount  of  deductions  as  well  as  various  tax  filing  positions.    Due  to  the  complexity  of  these  examination  issues,  for 
which reserves have been recorded, it may be several years before the final resolution is achieved.   

Income taxes paid during fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 were approximately $36.2, $0 and $0 million, respectively. 

8. 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 consolidated entity 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. 
The  Company’s  obligations  under  the  debentures  and  related  agreements,  taken  together,  provides  a  full  and 
unconditional guarantee of payments due on the Capital Securities. 

F-17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior  to  February  2,  2004,  Guaranteed  Preferred  Beneficial  Interests  in  the  Company’s  Subordinated  Debentures  also 
included  $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 Preferred 
Securities  were  entitled  to  receive  quarterly  dividends  at  LIBOR  plus  1.56%.    The  Company  redeemed  the  $331.6 
million Preferred Securities on February 2, 2004. 

9. 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 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 $11 million, $12 million and $14 million for fiscal 
2004, 2003 and 2002, 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  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  $3.6  million  in  fiscal  2005.    The 
Company uses January 31 as the measurement date for determining pension plan obligations. 

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 
Actuarial loss  
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 29, 2005 

January 31, 2004 

$77,983 
1,770 
4,578 
7,300 
(3,369) 
$88,262 
$85,682 

$64,360 
993 
4,235 
11,674 
(3,279) 
$77,983 
$75,286 

January 29, 2005 

January 31, 2004 

$          - 
 3,369 
(3,369) 
$          - 
$88,262 
(5,108) 
(23,413) 
5,108 
20,833 
$85,682 
$85,682 

$59,741 
5,108 
20,833 
$85,682 

$          - 
 3,279  
(3,279) 
$          - 
$77,983 
(5,734) 
(17,259) 
5,734 
15,056 
$75,780 
$75,286 

$54,990 
5,734 
15,056 
$75,780 

F-18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 5.5% as of January 29, 2005 from 6.00% as of January 31, 2004.  
Weighted average assumptions are as follows: 

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

Fiscal 2004 
6.00% 
5.50% 
2.50% 

Fiscal 2003 
6.75% 
6.00% 
2.50% 

Fiscal 2002 
7.25% 
6.75% 
2.50% 

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 
Net periodic benefit costs 

Fiscal 2004 

Fiscal 2003 

Fiscal 2002 

$1,770 
4,578 
1,146 
627 
$8,121 

$   993 
4,235 
130 
627 
$5,985 

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

The estimated future benefits payments for the nonqualified benefit plan are as follows: 

(in thousands of dollars)  
Fiscal Year  
2005 
2006 
2007 
2008 
2009 
2010-2014 
Total payments for next ten fiscal years 

$  3,604 
    4,731 
    4,841 
    4,804 
    5,363 
  32,314 
$55,657 

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

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 

F-19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 

Share Repurchase Program 

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 2004 and fiscal 2003, the Company repurchased approximately $40.4 million and 
$18.9 million of Class A Common Stock, representing 2.0 million and 1.5 million shares at an average price of $20.19 
and $12.99 per share, respectively.  Approximately $16 million in share repurchase authorization remained under this 
open-ended plan at January 29, 2005. 

11. 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 

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

Fiscal 2004 
Basic 

Diluted 

Fiscal 2003 
Basic  Diluted 

Fiscal 2002 
Basic 

Diluted 

$117,666 

$117,666 
- 

$9,344 

$9,344 
- 

$  131,926 
(530,331) 

$  131,926 
(530,331) 

$117,666 

$117,666 

$9,344 

$9,344 

$(398,405) 

$(398,405) 

83,205 
- 
83,205 

83,205 
534 

83,643 
- 
83,739  83,643 

83,643 
257 
83,900 

84,513 
- 
84,513 

84,513 
803 
85,316 

$1.41 
- 
$1.41 

$1.41 
- 
$1.41 

$0.11 
- 
$0.11 

$0.11 
- 
$0.11 

$   1.56 
(6.27) 
$(4.71) 

$   1.55 
(6.22) 
$(4.67) 

Total  stock  options  outstanding  were  3,845,009,  7,870,739  and  9,669,755  at  January  29,  2005,  January  31,  2004  and 
February  1,  2003,  respectively.    Of  these,  options  to  purchase  1,438,271,  7,343,073  and  8,974,174  shares  of  Class  A 
Common Stock at prices ranging from $29.99 to $40.22, $18.13 to $40.22, $18.13 to $40.22 per share were outstanding 
in  fiscal  2004,  2003  and  2002,  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. 

12. 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  2004,  11,141,656  shares  were  available  for  grant  under  the  plans  and  14,986,665  shares  of  Class  A 
Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the stock option plans.  Stock option transactions are summarized as 
follows: 

F-20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 

Fiscal 2004 

Fiscal 2003 

Fiscal 2002 

Weighted 
Average 
Shares  Exercise Price 
$22.45 
- 
16.00 
28.09 
$24.91 
$27.24 

7,870,739 
- 
(2,657,215) 
(1,368,515) 
3,845,009 
2,486,134 

Weighted 
Average 
Shares  Exercise Price 
$24.72 
- 
10.44 
35.27 
$22.45 
$23.56 

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

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

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

$- 

$- 

$6.91 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at January 29, 2005: 

                      Options Outstanding 

                          Options Exercisable 

Weighted-Average 

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

Options 

Outstanding   Contractual Life (Yrs.) 
1.04 
2.84 
0.32 
2.10 

606,141 
2,537,868 
701,000 
3,845,009 

Remaining  Weighted-Average 
Exercise Price 
$10.63 
24.11 
40.15 
$24.91 

Options  Weighted-Average 
  Exercise Price 
$10.83 
24.17 
40.15 
$27.24 

Exercisable 
267,866 
1,517,268 
701,000 
2,486,134 

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.  

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 2004 
- 
   - 
- 
- 

Fiscal 2003 
- 
   - 
- 
- 

Fiscal 2002 
1.96% 
3.1 
41.6% 
0.67% 

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. 

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

(in thousands of dollars) 
Operating leases: 
Buildings: 
Minimum rentals 
Contingent rentals 
Equipment 

Fiscal 
2004 

$33,266 
6,941 
14,567 
$54,774 

Fiscal 
2003 

Fiscal 
2002 

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

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

F-21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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  29,  2005  for  all  noncancelable  leases  for  buildings  and 
equipment are as follows: 

(in thousands of dollars)  
Fiscal Year  
2005 
2006 
2007 
2008 
2009 
After 2009 
Total minimum lease payments 
Less amount representing interest 
Present value of net minimum  
lease payments (of which  
$4,926 is currently payable) 

Operating 
Leases 
$  47,399 
    45,083 
    33,245 
    24,058 
    17,480 
    54,804 
$222,069 

Capital 
Leases 
$  6,809 
  6,425 
  4,046 
  2,798 
  1,801 
 17,451 
 39,330 
(14,222) 

$25,108 

Renewal options from three to 25 years exist on the majority of leased properties. At January 29, 2005, the Company is 
committed to incur costs of approximately $106 million to acquire, complete and furnish certain stores and equipment. 

The Company is a guarantor on a $54.3 million loan for a joint venture as of January 29, 2005.  At January 29, 2005, the 
joint venture had $36.5 million outstanding on the loan.  The loan is collateralized by a mall in Yuma, Arizona with a 
book value of $55 million at January 29, 2005.   

On  July  29,  2002,  a  Class  Action  Complaint  (followed  on  December  13,  2004  by  a  Second  Amended  Class  Action 
Complaint)  was  filed  in  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  Ohio  against  the  Company,  the 
Mercantile Stores Pension Plan (the “Plan”) and the Mercantile Stores Pension Committee (the “Committee”) on behalf 
of a putative class of former Plan participants. The complaint alleges that certain actions by the Plan and the Committee 
violated  the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act  of  1974,  as  amended  (“ERISA”),  as  a  result  of  amendments 
made  to  the  Plan  that  allegedly  were  either  improper  and/or  ineffective  and  as  a  result  of  certain  payments  made  to 
certain beneficiaries of the Plan that allegedly were improperly calculated and/or discriminatory on account of age. The 
Second  Amended  Complaint  does  not  specify  any  liquidated  amount  of  damages  sought  and  seeks  recalculation  of 
certain benefits paid to putative class members.  No trial date has been set.  

The Company is defending the litigation vigorously and has named the Plan’s actuarial firm as a cross defendant. While 
it  is  not  feasible  to  predict  or  determine  the  ultimate  outcome  of  the  pending  litigation,  management  believes  after 
consultation with counsel, that its outcome, after consideration of the provisions recorded in the Company’s consolidated 
financial  statements,  would  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  upon  its  consolidated  cash  flow  or  financial  position. 
However, it is possible that an adverse outcome could have an adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated net income 
in a particular quarterly or annual period. 

Various other 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. 

14. 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 2004, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $19.4 million for 
asset impairment and store closing costs. The charge includes a write down to fair value for certain under-performing 

F-22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
properties.    The  charge  consists  of  a  write  down  for  a  joint  venture  in  the  amount  of  $7.6  million,  a  write  down  of 
goodwill  on  one  store  to  be  closed  in  fiscal  2005  of  $1.2  million,  an  accrual  for  future  rent,  property  tax  and  utility 
payments on three stores (two closed in fiscal 2004 and one to be closed in fiscal 2005) of $3.1 million and a write down 
of property and equipment in the amount of $7.5 million.   The Company does not expect to incur significant additional 
exit costs upon the closing of these properties during fiscal 2005.  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 closed in fiscal 2004 of $2.5 million and a write down of property and 
equipment in the amount of $35.7 million.  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.    

Following is a summary of the activity in the 2004 reserve established for asset impairment and store closing charges: 

(in thousands) 
Rent, property taxes and utilities 

Balance, 
beginning 
of year 
$- 

Charges 
$3,080 

Cash Payments 

$175 

Balance, 
end of year 
$2,905 

15. 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 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004 due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The fair value of 
the  Company’s  long-term  debt  at  January  29,  2005  and  January  31,  2004  was  $1.47  billion  and  $2.06  billion, 
respectively. The carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004 was $1.41 
billion and $2.02 billion, respectively.  The fair value of the Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company’s 
Subordinated Debentures at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004 was $199 million and $526 million, respectively.   
The  carrying  value  of  the  Guaranteed  Preferred  Beneficial  Interests  in  the  Company’s  Subordinated  Debentures  at 
January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004 was $200 million and $532 million, respectively. 

16.  Securitizations of Assets 
Prior to November 1, 2004, the Company transferred credit card receivable balances to Dillards Credit Card Master Trust 
(“Trust”) in exchange for certificates representing undivided interests in such receivables.  The Trust securitized balances 
by  issuing  certificates  representing  undivided  interests  in  the  Trust’s  receivables  to  outside  investors.    In  each 
securitization,  the  Company  retained  certain  subordinated  interests  that  serve  as  a  credit  enhancement  to  outside 
investors and exposed the Trust assets to possible credit losses on receivables sold to outside investors.  The investors 
and the Trust had no recourse against the Company beyond Trust assets.  In order to maintain the committed level of 
securitized  assets,  the  Trust  reinvested  cash  collections on  securitized  accounts  in  additional  balances.   The Company 
also received annual servicing fees as compensation for servicing the outstanding balances. 

All borrowings under the Company’s receivable financing conduit were recorded on the 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.  Prior to May 2002, the Company accounted for securitizations of credit card receivables as sales of receivables, 

F-23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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.   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.   

At January 31, 2004 the Company had $50.0 million outstanding in short-term borrowings under its accounts receivable 
conduit facilities related to seasonal financing needs.  

The Company’s receivable financing conduits were terminated and amounts outstanding were repaid concurrent with the 
sale of the Company’s private label credit card business to GE on November 1, 2004. 

17. Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited) 

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

May 1 
$1,854,395 
666,895 
53,762 

Fiscal 2004, Three Months Ended 
October 30 
$1,698,897 
557,999 
(18,688) 

July 31 
$1,671,380 
525,534 
(26,029) 

January 29 
$2,303,900 
760,379 
108,621 

0.64 

(0.31) 

(0.23) 

1.30 

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

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

Fiscal 2003, Three Months Ended 
November 1 
$1,764,484 
564,431 
(15,835) 

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

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

0.29 

(0.60) 

(0.19) 

0.61 

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 2004 and fiscal 2003 includes the following items: 

First Quarter 
2004 

•    a $4.7 million pretax charge ($3.0 million after tax or $0.04 per diluted share) for asset impairment and store closing 

charges related to certain stores. 

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. 

F-24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•    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. 

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. 

Fourth Quarter 
2004 
•    a  pretax  gain  of  $83.9  million  ($53.7  million  after  tax  or  $0.64  per  diluted  share)  related  to  the  sale  of  the 
Company’s  credit  card  business  to  GE  Consumer  Finance  (see  Note  2  of  the  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements). 

•    a  $14.7  million  pretax  charge  ($8.6  million  after  tax  or  $0.10  per  diluted  share)  for  asset  impairment  and  store 

closing charges related to certain stores (see Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 

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. 

F-25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 (2) 

Description 

Allowance for losses on accounts receivable:  

Year Ended January 29, 2005 

$40,967 

$14,704 

$          - 

$55,671 

$         - 

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 

(1)  Accounts written off and charged to allowance for losses on accounts receivable (net of recoveries). 
(2)  On November 1, 2004, the Company sold substantially all the assets of its private label credit card business.  As 

a result, the Company no longer maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. 

F-26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number 

Exhibit Index 

Description 

*3(a) 

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) 

*4(e) 

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). 

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) 

*10(g) 

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). 

Purchase,  Sale  and  Servicing  Transfer  Agreement  among  GE  Capital  Consumer  Card  Co.,  General 
Electric Capital Corporation, Dillards, Inc. and Dillard National Bank (Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K dated as 
of August 12, 2004 in 1-6140). 

*10(h) 

Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement between Dillards, Inc. and GE Capital Consumer Card 
Co. (Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K dated as of August 12, 2004 in 1-6140). 

12 

*18 

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). 

E-1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21 

23 

Subsidiaries of Registrant. 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. 

31(a) 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

31(b) 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

32(a) 

32(b) 

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