The Buckle, Inc. posted an 88.9% jump in second quarter net income to $22.3 million, or 72 cents per diluted share from $11.8 million, or 38 cents per diluted share last year. Net sales for the second quarter increased 36.6% to  $169.8 million from net sales of $124.3 million for the year-ago period as comparable store sales improved 27.8%.


Comparable store net sales year-to-date for the 26-week period ended August 2, 2008 increased 26.7 percent from comparable store net sales for the 26-week period ended August 4, 2007. Net sales for the 26-week fiscal period ended August 2, 2008 increased 34.5 percent to $330.1 million from net sales of $245.4 million for the prior year 26-week fiscal period ended August 4, 2007.

Net income for the 26-week period ended August 2, 2008 was $41.0 million, or $1.36 per share ($1.32 per share on a diluted basis), compared with $24.0 million, or 81 cents per share (78 cents per share on a diluted basis) for the 26-week period ended August 4, 2007.


General and administrative expenses for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended August 2, 2008 are reported net of a $3.0 million gain from the involuntary conversion of one of the company’s corporate aircrafts to a monetary asset upon receipt of the insurance proceeds. The aircraft was destroyed by a tornado that hit the airport in Kearney, Nebraska. This gain had a 6 cents per share after-tax impact on reported basic and diluted earnings per share for both the quarter and year-to-date periods.


 
THE BUCKLE, INC.


STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Amounts in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)


                             Thirteen Weeks Ended    Twenty-six Weeks Ended

                             ———————-  ———————-

                             August 2,   August 4,   August 2,   August 4,

                               2008        2007        2008        2007


SALES, Net of returns and

 allowances                  $  169,765  $  124,257  $  330,065  $  245,368


COST OF SALES (Including

 buying, distribution, and

 occupancy costs)                99,497      77,844     194,175     153,452

                             ———-  ———-  ———-  ———-


      Gross profit               70,268      46,413     135,890      91,916

                             ———-  ———-  ———-  ———-


OPERATING EXPENSES:

   Selling                       33,480      25,065      65,039      48,489

   General and

    administrative                3,477       4,891      10,172       9,871

                             ———-  ———-  ———-  ———-

                                 36,957      29,956      75,211      58,360

                             ———-  ———-  ———-  ———-


INCOME FROM OPERATIONS           33,311      16,457      60,679      33,556


OTHER INCOME, Net                 2,049       2,260       4,369       4,383

                             ———-  ———-  ———-  ———-


INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES       35,360      18,717      65,048      37,939


PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES       13,084       6,925      24,055      13,954

                             ———-  ———-  ———-  ———-


NET INCOME                   $   22,276  $   11,792  $   40,993  $   23,985

                             ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========


EARNINGS PER SHARE:

   Basic                     $     0.74  $     0.40  $     1.36  $     0.81

                             ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========


   Diluted                   $     0.72  $     0.38  $     1.32  $     0.78

                             ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========


Basic weighted average

 shares                          30,231      29,776      30,051      29,622

Diluted weighted average

 shares                          31,058      30,924      30,946      30,806