Eagle Hardware & Garden Reports Record Sales and Earnings  for Fiscal 1998 Second Quarter;  Diluted Net Income Per Share $0.48; Same Store Sales Increase Six Percent
  Business Wire - August 20, 1998 07:46 RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 1998--Eagle Hardware &  Garden, Inc. (Nasdaq NM:EAGL) today reported record sales and   earnings for its second fiscal quarter ended July 31, 1998. 
  For the quarter, sales increased 11% to $308.0 million from $278.2  million in the second quarter of fiscal 1997. Same store sales  increased 6% over the previous year. Net income for the quarter  increased 18% to $15.4 million, or $0.48 per share, diluted, from  $13.0 million, or $0.41 per share, diluted, in the same quarter of last year. 
  For the first half of fiscal 1998, sales increased by 12% to $558.2  million from $499.3 million in the first half of 1997. Net income  for the first six months of fiscal 1998 increased 23% to $21.6  million, or $0.69 per share, diluted, from $17.6 million, or $0.57  per share, diluted, for the same period last year. Same store sales  increased 6% for the first half of fiscal 1998. 
  Commenting on the Company's second quarter results, Eagle President  Richard Takata said, "Our second quarter results represented the best  quarterly sales and earnings performance in our Company's history.  We achieved these record results and a 6% increase in same store  sales despite some sales cannibalization and increased competition." 
  "We look forward to introducing the Eagle concept to several new  markets in the coming months. Our expansion plans currently include  the opening of four to six new stores by the end of fiscal 1998,  including three in southern California. In fiscal 1999, our goal is  to open 10 to 12 new stores, with at least six of those in  California," Takata added. 
  Eagle Hardware & Garden operates 32 warehouse home improvement  centers in Washington, Colorado, Utah, Hawaii, Alaska, California,  Idaho, Montana and Oregon. The Company's home centers average  128,000 square feet of retail selling space and feature over 65,000  products under its "More of Everything"(R) merchandising philosophy. 
  Some of the information in this press release constitutes forward -looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of  risks and uncertainties that might cause actual results to differ  materially from stated expectations. These risks include, among  others, the highly competitive environment in the retail home  improvement industry, the effect of general economic conditions and  weather in the Company's markets and the Company's ability to  achieve its expansion plans and successfully manage growth. These  risks are described in detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form  10-K and other SEC filings. 
  (financial statements follow) 
  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)
                                    (UNAUDITED)                                    July 31,          January 30,                                      1998                1998 Assets Cash and cash equivalents           $90,140             $63,557 Accounts receivable, net              2,224               4,463 Merchandise inventories             213,773             202,833 Other current assets                  7,941               6,791   Total current assets              314,078             277,644
  Property and equipment, net         358,364             316,133 Preopening costs                        231               1,055 Other assets                         11,628               6,823   Total assets                     $684,301            $601,655
  Liabilities & Shareholders'    Equity Outstanding checks, not   cleared by the bank                $16,055             $11,008 Accounts payable                     70,170              55,097 Other current liabilities            51,282              38,934   Total current liabilities         137,507             105,039
  Deferred income taxes                12,737              11,084 Other long-term liabilities           3,516               3,159 Long-term debt                      171,806             145,836   Total liabilities                 325,566             265,118
  Shareholders' equity                358,735             336,537
    Total liabilities &     shareholders' equity            $684,301            $601,655
       These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying footnotes included in the Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
                                                                                               Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except per share data)
                              13 Weeks Ended         26 Weeks Ended                           July 31,  August 1,    July 31,   August 1,                             1998      1997         1998       1997
  Net sales                 $307,957   $278,238    $558,196   $499,345 Cost of sales              221,331    199,966     401,325    358,503    Gross margin             86,626     78,272     156,871    140,842
  Operating expenses          60,927     56,388     118,362    108,282 Preopening expenses              0          0       1,030      2,089    Operating income         25,699     21,884      37,479     30,471
  Other income (expense):  Net interest (expense)     (1,563)    (1,531)     (3,539)    (2,950)  Other income                   71         80         128        138    Income before tax        24,207     20,433      34,068     27,659
  Income tax provision         8,836      7,450      12,435     10,088    Net income              $15,371    $12,983     $21,633    $17,571
  Net income per share,    basic                      $0.53      $0.45       $0.74      $0.61
  Net income per share,    diluted                    $0.48      $0.41       $0.69      $0.57
  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS    (UNAUDITED) (in thousands)                                                26 Weeks Ended                                             July 31,      August 1,                                               1998           1997 Operating Activities Net income                                   $21,633       $17,571 Expenses not requiring use of cash             8,403         8,312 Changes in current assets and    current liabilities, net                    21,754       (10,079) Other                                         (3,624)          133   Net cash provided by operating      activities                                48,166        15,937
  Investing Activities Capital expenditures for property    and equipment                              (50,529)      (28,768) Net sales of short-term investments                0        31,330
    Net cash (used in) provided by      investing activities                     (50,529)        2,562
  Financing Activities Proceeds on long-term borrowings, net         32,000        17,584 Other                                         (3,054)        1,368
    Net cash provided by financing      activities                                 28,946       18,952
    Increase in cash and cash equivalents       $26,583      $37,451      CONTACT:  Eagle Hardware & Garden                Richard T. Takata, President & CEO                Ronald P. Maccarone, Chief Financial Officer                425/227-5740                businesswire.com             |