Financial Highlights
    


($000, except per share data) 
2000(1) 
1999 
1998 
Operating Results 
  
  
  
  
  
  
Sales 
$ 
2,709,039 
$ 
2,468,638 
$ 
2,182,361 
Earnings before taxes(3) 
  
249,186 
  
246,479 
  
219,415 
Net earnings(3) 
  
151,754 
  
150,106 
  
133,843 
Earnings per diluted common share(2,3) 
$ 
1.82 
$ 
1.64 
$ 
1.40 
Financial Position 
  
  
  
  
  
  
Total assets 
$ 
975,047 
$ 
947,678 
$ 
870,306 
Long-term debt 
  
30,000 
  
0 
  
0 
Working capital 
  
197,004 
  
190,724 
  
170,795 
Current ratio 
  
1.5:1 
  
1.5:1 
  
1.4:1 
Long-term debt as a percent of total capitalization 
  
6% 
  
0% 
  
0% 
Stockholders' equity 
  
467,547 
  
473,431 
  
424,703 
Operating Statistics 
  
  
  
  
  
  
Diluted shares (000)(2) 
  
83,337 
  
91,671 
  
95,700 
Net earnings as a percent of sales(3) 
  
5.6% 
  
6.1% 
  
6.1% 
Return on average stockholders' equity 
  
32% 
  
33% 
  
33% 
Comparable store sales increase 
  
1% 
  
6% 
  
3% 
Number of stores at year-end 
  
409 
  
378 
  
349 

(1) 
 Fiscal 2000 is a 53-week year. All other years are 52 weeks. 
(2) 
 All shares and per share data have been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split in the form of a 100% stock dividend paid on September 22, 1999. See Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for quarterly financial and stock price information. 
(3) 
 Net earnings and earnings per share for fiscal 1999 include a non-recurring pre-tax charge of $9.0 million, or $.06 per share, related to litigation. See Note G of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 



Sales
($ million)
Net Earnings
($ million) 		Return on Average
Stockholders' Equity (%)

Note: This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements concerning the company's business and current outlook that are subject to risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors are detailed in the company's Form 10-K and Management's Discussion and Analysis for fiscal 2000.