Dollar Tree, Inc. : Reports Record First Quarter Earnings

• Earnings per diluted share increase 22.0%, to $1.00
• Consolidated net sales increase 11.5%
• Comparable store sales increase 5.6%

Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR), North America's leading operator of discount variety stores selling everything for $1 or less, reported its results for the quarter ended April 28, 2012 ("first quarter"). Consolidated net sales for the first quarter were $1.72 billion, an 11.5% increase compared to $1.55 billion reported for the quarter ended April 30, 2011 ("first quarter 2011"). Comparable store sales increased 5.6%, on top of a 7.1% increase for the first quarter 2011.

Earnings per diluted share for the first quarter were $1.00, a 22.0% increase compared to earnings per diluted share of $0.82 reported for the quarter ended April 30, 2011.

"I am pleased with the first quarter results as both sales and earnings exceeded the high end of our guidance," said President and CEO Bob Sasser. "The top performing categories for the quarter included Home products; Food, snacks and beverage; Health care products; Party supplies; Household cleaning supplies; and Seasonal merchandise. Inventory turns increased in the first quarter and we entered the second quarter in stock and well prepared, with our shelves full of the right product for our customers."

Operating margin for the quarter was 10.9%, a 40 basis point improvement from the 10.5% operating margin in the first quarter 2011.

Cash and investments at quarter-end totaled $382.3 million, compared with $510.3 million at the end of the first quarter 2011. During the first quarter, the Company completed its $300 million Accelerated Share Repurchase program and repurchased an additional 49 thousand shares on the open market for $4.5 million, and ended the quarter with $1.2 billion remaining on its share repurchase authorization.

The Company continues to grow. During the first quarter, Dollar Tree opened 110 stores, closed 10 stores, and expanded or relocated 44 stores. Retail selling square footage increased 7.1% compared to a year ago, to 38.6 million square feet.

Guidance

The Company estimates sales for the second quarter of 2012 to be in the range of $1.66 billion to $1.70 billion, based on low -to- mid single digit positive comparable store sales. Diluted earnings per share are estimated to be in the range of $0.87 to $0.93.

Full year sales are now estimated to be in the range of $7.33 billion to $7.46 billion. This estimate is based on a range of low -to- mid single digit positive comparable store sales. Fiscal year 2012 diluted earnings per share are expected to be $4.74 to $4.94. These estimates assume no impact from potential additional share repurchase activity in 2012. In addition, 2012 will include a 53rd week that will be recorded in the fourth quarter 2012. The extra week is expected to add $120 million to $130 million to sales in the fourth quarter 2012 and $0.13 to $0.15 earnings per diluted share, both of which are included in our guidance.

On Thursday, May 17, 2012, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its earnings results at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The telephone number for the call is 888-224-1075. A recorded version of the call will be available until midnight Thursday, May 24, and may be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112, and the access code is 3204362. A webcast of the call is accessible through Dollar Tree's website, www.dollartreeinfo.com/investors/news/events and will remain online until midnight Thursday, May 24.

Dollar Tree, a Fortune 500 Company, operated 4,451 stores in 48 states and 5 Canadian Provinces as of April 28, 2012, with total retail selling square footage of 38.6 million. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Our press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements address future events, developments or results and typically use words such as believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, forecast, or estimate. For example, our forward-looking statements include statements regarding second quarter and full year sales, second quarter and full year diluted earnings per share, second quarter comparable store sales and the impact of the 53^rd week of 2012. For a discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our future events, developments or results, you should carefully review the "Risk Factors," "Business," and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections in our Annual Report on Form 10 - K filed March 15, 2012. We are not obligated to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report and you should not expect us to do so.

DOLLAR TREE, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
		First Quarter Ended
		April 28,			April 30,
		2012			2011
		(unaudited)			(unaudited)
Net sales		$	1,723.6		$	1,545.9
Cost of sales			1,120.9			1,005.1
Gross profit			602.7			540.8
			35.0%			35.0%
Selling, general & administrative expenses			414.7			379.1
			24.1%			24.5%
Operating income			188.0			161.7
			10.9%			10.5%
Interest expense, net			0.5			0.9
Other income, net			(1.1)			(0.7)
Income before income taxes			188.6			161.5
			10.9%			10.4%
Income tax expense			72.5			60.5
Income tax rate			38.4%			37.5%
Net income		$	116.1		$	101.0
			6.7%			6.5%
Net earnings per share:
Basic		$	1.00		$	0.82
Weighted average number of shares			115.8			122.6
Diluted		$	1.00		$	0.82
Weighted average number of shares			116.4			123.5

DOLLAR TREE, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
		April 28,			January 28,			April 30,
		2012			2012			2011
Cash and cash equivalents		$	382.3		$	288.3		$	371.3
Short-term investments			-			-			139.0
Merchandise inventories			875.0			867.4			771.2
Other current assets			47.1			53.7			44.0
Total current assets			1,304.4			1,209.4			1,325.5
Property and equipment, net			848.8			825.3			760.2
Goodwill			174.0			173.1			175.0
Deferred tax assets			19.2			16.8			25.1
Other assets, net			104.7			104.0			95.5
Total assets		$	2,451.1		$	2,328.6		$	2,381.3
Current portion of long-term debt		$	265.5		$	15.5		$	16.5
Accounts payable			319.1			286.7			276.0
Other current liabilities			187.0			215.5			170.6
Income taxes payable, current			44.4			63.3			41.6
Total current liabilities			816.0			581.0			504.7
Long-term debt, excluding current portion			-			250.0			250.0
Income taxes payable, long-term			15.7			15.5			15.4
Other liabilities			138.8			137.5			124.5
Total liabilities			970.5			984.0			894.6
Shareholders' equity			1,480.6			1,344.6			1,486.7
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	2,451.1		$	2,328.6		$	2,381.3
STORE DATA:
Number of stores open at end of period			4,451			4,351			4,177
Total selling square footage (in millions)			38.6			37.6			36.0

DOLLAR TREE, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended
		April 28,				April 30,
			2012				2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	116.1			$	101.0
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			41.8				39.2
Other non-cash adjustments			20.9				23.8
Changes in working capital			(44.3	)			(7.7	)
Total adjustments			18.4				55.3
Net cash provided by operating activities			134.5				156.3
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(65.4	)			(58.3	)
Purchase of short-term investments			-				(6.0	)
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments			-				41.8
Other			-				0.4
Net cash used in investing activities			(65.4	)			(22.1	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments for share repurchases			(4.5	)			(88.6	)
Proceeds from stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans			5.9				3.9
Tax benefit of stock-based compensation			23.8				9.8
Other			(0.2	)			(0.1	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			25.0				(75.0	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(0.1	)			0.9
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents			94.0				60.1
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			288.3				311.2
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	382.3			$	371.3

Dollar Tree, Inc., Chesapeake
Timothy J. Reid, 757-321-5284
www.DollarTree.com

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