Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. reported net income for the fourth quarter ended January 31, 2004 increased 36% to $26.0 million and earnings per share increased 22% to $1.00 per diluted share as compared to net income of $19.1 million and earnings per share of $0.82 per diluted share for the quarter ended February 1, 2003. Total sales for the quarter increased 20% to $474.4 million. Comparable store sales increased 4.6%.

During the fourth quarter, the Company opened one store, in Allentown, PA, bringing the total for the year to 22 new stores. As of January 31, 2004, the Company operated 163 stores in 27 states.

Full Year Results

Net income for the year ended January 31, 2004 increased 38% to $52.8 million and earnings per share increased 12% to $2.10 per diluted share as compared to net income of $38.3 million and earnings per share of $1.87 per diluted share for the year ended February 1, 2003. Total sales for the year ended January 31, 2004 increased 16% to $1,470.8 million. Comparable store sales increased 2.1%.

Net income increased 37% and earnings per share increased 22% compared to last year's pro-forma net income of $38.6 million or $1.72 per diluted share. Prior year pro-forma results include a reduction of interest expense and an increase in diluted shares as if the Company had consummated its initial public offering at the beginning of the first quarter last year rather than on the October 15, 2002 effective date.

“We are very pleased to be able to post another record performance for the 4th quarter and the year in total,” said Edward W. Stack, Chairman and CEO. “Our associates delivered above-plan sales and increased operating margin against the difficult comparison of last year. We managed inventory effectively with average inventory per square foot declining 6% compared to last year. As a result, Dick's is well positioned as we enter 2004.”

2004 Outlook

The Company's current outlook for 2004 is based on current expectations and includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act as described later in this release. Although the Company believes that comments reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

    Full Year 2004

  • Based on an estimated 26.6 million fully-diluted shares outstanding,
    the Company expects to report EPS for the full year of $2.47 – $2.50
    per diluted share, an 18% – 19% increase over last year's EPS of $2.10.

  • Net income is expected to be $65.7 – $66.5 million, an increase of
    24% – 26% over last year's net income of $52.8 million.

  • Comparable store sales are expected to increase approximately 3%.
  • The Company expects to open 25 new stores during the year.

    First Quarter 2004

  • Based on an estimated 26.4 million fully-diluted shares outstanding,
    EPS for the first quarter is expected to be $0.35 – $0.37 per diluted
    share, a 25% – 32% increase over the prior year's first quarter EPS of
    $0.28.

  • Net income is expected to be $9.2 – $9.8 million, an increase of
    37% – 46% over last year's net income of $6.7 million in the first
    quarter.

  • Comparable store sales are expected to increase approximately 4% – 5%.
  • The Company expects to open six new stores during the first quarter:
    Youngstown, OH; Myrtle Beach, SC; Indianapolis, IN (3 stores); and
    Hartford, CT (the Company's third store in the Hartford market).

The earnings and the outlook presented in this press release do not give effect to the two-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend that we announced on February 10, 2004. We expect this stock split dividend to be payable on or about April 5, 2004 to stockholders of record on March 19, 2004.

                    DICK'S SPORTING GOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - UNAUDITED
                     (In thousands, except per share data)

                                                           GAAP
                                                       13 Weeks Ended
                                                -----------------------------
                                                 January 31,       February 1,
                                                    2004              2003
                                                 -----------       -----------

    Net sales                                     $474,432          $395,209

    Cost of goods sold, including
     occupancy and distribution costs              334,927           280,339
                                                 -----------       -----------
      GROSS PROFIT                                 139,505           114,870

    Selling, general and administrative
     expenses                                       95,590            79,748

    Pre-opening expenses                               316               692
                                                 -----------       -----------

      INCOME FROM OPERATIONS                        43,599            34,430

    (Gain) on sale / loss on write-down
     of non-cash investment                            -               2,447
    Interest expense, net                              285               217
                                                 -----------       -----------

      INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                    43,314            31,766

    Provision for income taxes                      17,326            12,706
                                                 -----------       -----------

      NET INCOME                                   $25,988           $19,060
                                                 ===========       ===========

    EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
      Basic                                          $1.11             $0.96
      Diluted                                        $1.00             $0.82


                   DICK'S SPORTING GOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - UNAUDITED
                     (In thousands, except per share data)

                                                    GAAP           Pro-Forma
                                                 Year Ended        Year Ended
                                         ------------------------ ------------
                                          January 31, February 1, February 1,
                                              2004       2003        2003
                                          ----------- ----------- -----------

    Net sales                              $1,470,845  $1,272,584  $1,272,584

    Cost of goods sold, including
     occupancy and distribution costs       1,063,106     935,192     935,192
                                          ----------- ----------- -----------

      GROSS PROFIT                            407,739     337,392     337,392

    Selling, general and administrative
     expenses                                 314,885     262,755     262,755

    Pre-opening expenses                        6,528       5,553       5,553
                                          ----------- ----------- -----------

      INCOME FROM OPERATIONS                   86,326      69,084      69,084

    (Gain) on sale / loss on write-down of
     non-cash investment                       (3,536)      2,447       2,447
    Interest expense, net                       1,831       2,864       2,242
                                          ----------- ----------- -----------

      INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES               88,031      63,773      64,395

    Provision for income taxes                 35,212      25,509      25,758
                                          ----------- ----------- -----------

      NET INCOME                              $52,819     $38,264     $38,637
                                          =========== =========== ===========

    EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
      Basic                                     $2.36       $2.16       $1.96
      Diluted                                   $2.10       $1.87       $1.72