Big 5 Fourth Quarter Comps Rise 2.6%

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation reported that net sales for the 14 weeks ended January 2, 2005 increased 13.4% to $217.6 million from $191.8 million for the corresponding 13-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. On a comparative 13-week basis for both fiscal 2004 and 2003, net sales increased 6.0% and same store sales increased 2.6% when calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

The 2.6% same store sales increase represented the Company’s 36th consecutive quarter of positive same store sales comparisons. Excluding the effect of a sales return allowance which was implemented in the fiscal third quarter of 2004, same store sales increased 3.1% versus the same 13-week quarter last year. Management uses this measure to analyze the Company’s performance without regard to the extra week of sales in fiscal 2004 and the effect of the implementation of the sales return allowance and believes this presentation will provide investors with additional insight into the Company’s operating results and a more consistent basis for comparing the Company’s current operating results with those of prior periods.

For the 53 weeks ended January 2, 2005, net sales increased 9.8% to $778.9 million from $709.7 million for the corresponding 52-week fiscal year in 2003. On a comparative 52-week basis for both fiscal 2004 and 2003, net sales increased 7.8% and same store sales increased 3.5% when calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Excluding the effect of a sales return allowance which was implemented in the fiscal third quarter of 2004, same store sales increased 3.9% versus the same 52-week period last year. Management uses this measure to analyze the Company’s performance without regard to the extra week of sales in fiscal 2004 and the effect of the implementation of the sales return allowance and believes this presentation will provide investors with additional insight into the Company’s operating results and a more consistent basis for comparing the Company’s current operating results with those of prior periods.

“We are pleased to have achieved our 36th consecutive quarterly increase in same store sales, and to have posted solid gains against our strongest quarterly gain in fiscal 2003,” said Steven G. Miller, Big 5’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.