The TJX Companies, Inc. Reports April 2006 Sales; Strong Profits Expected for First Quarter

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2006--The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TJX) today reported April 2006 sales results. Sales for the four-week period ended April 29, 2006, were $1.3 billion, up 6% over the $1.2 billion achieved during the four-week period ended April 30, 2005. For the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2006, sales reached $3.9 billion, a 7% increase over last year's $3.7 billion. Consolidated comparable store sales for the four-week period ended April 29, 2006, increased 1% over last year. For the thirteen-week period ended April 29, 2006, consolidated comparable store sales increased 1% over last year.

Ben Cammarata, Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer of The TJX Companies, Inc., stated, "While our comparable store sales increase of 1% in April was less than we expected, merchandise margins are very strong, expenses are well controlled, and inventories are in great shape. Therefore, we now expect to achieve first quarter earnings per share near the upper end of our previously anticipated range of $.31 - $.33, an 11% - 18% increase over last year."

The TJX Companies, Inc. is the leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the U.S. and worldwide. The Company operates 805 T.J. Maxx, 725 Marshalls, 254 HomeGoods, and 156 A.J. Wright stores, as well as 35 Bob's Stores, in the United States. In Canada, the Company operates 178 Winners and 60 HomeSense stores, and in Europe, 201 T.K. Maxx stores. TJX's press releases and financial information are also available on the Internet at www.tjx.com.

April and May Fiscal 2007 Sales Recorded Calls

A recorded message with more detailed information regarding TJX's April 2006 sales results, operations and business trends is available via the Internet at www.tjx.com, or by calling [phone] through Thursday, May 11, 2006. The Company expects to release its May 2006 sales results on Thursday, June 1, 2006, at approximately 8:15 a.m. ET. Concurrent with that press release, a recorded message with more detailed information regarding TJX's May sales results, operations and business trends will be available via the Internet at www.tjx.com, or by calling [phone] through Thursday, June 8, 2006.

First Quarter Fiscal 2007 Conference Call

Additionally, the Company expects to release its first quarter earnings on Tuesday, May 16, 2006, before 9:30 a.m. ET. At 11:00 a.m. ET that day, Ben Cammarata, Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer, and Carol Meyrowitz, President of TJX, will hold a conference call with stock analysts to discuss the Company's first quarter fiscal 2007 results. A real-time webcast of the call will be available at www.tjx.com. A replay of the call will also be available at www.tjx.com or by dialing [phone] through Tuesday, May 23, 2006. Archived versions of the Company's recorded messages and conference calls are available at www.tjx.com after they are no longer available by telephone.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENTS UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Various statements made in this release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect or believe may occur in the future, including projections of earnings per share and same store sales, are forward-looking statements. The following are some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: our ability to continue successful expansion of our store base and increase same store sales; risks of expansion; our ability to successfully implement our opportunistic inventory strategies and to effectively manage our inventories; successful advertising and promotion; consumer confidence, demand, spending habits and buying preferences; effects of unseasonable weather; competitive factors; factors affecting availability of store and distribution center locations on suitable terms; factors affecting our recruitment and employment of associates; factors affecting expenses; success of our acquisition and divestiture activities; our ability to successfully implement technologies and systems and protect data; our ability to continue to generate adequate cash flows; availability and cost of financing; general economic conditions, including gasoline prices; potential disruptions due to wars, natural disasters and other events beyond our control; changes in currency and exchange rates; import risks; adverse outcomes for any significant litigation; changes in laws and regulations and accounting rules and principles; effectiveness of internal controls; and other factors that may be described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized.