Financial Performance - Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 were 2.53billion,a1.72.49 billion in the same quarter last year[5] - Comparable sales increased by 0.6%, compared to a 4.5% increase in the prior year, driven by a 0.5% increase in transactions and a 0.1% increase in average ticket[5] - Gross profit was 1.0billion,withagrossprofitmarginof39.7318.5 million, or 12.6% of net sales, compared to 13.1% in the prior year[6] - Net income for the third quarter was 242.2million,comparedto249.5 million in the same quarter last year[6] - Net sales for the 39 weeks ended November 2, 2024, reached 7,808,035,a2.07,653,005 for the same period last year[23] - Gross profit margin decreased to 39.1% from 39.7% year-over-year, with gross profit amounting to 3,053,601comparedto3,040,536[23] - Operating income for the 39 weeks was 1,048,651,representingadeclineto13.4807,848, or 10.3% of net sales, down from 896,636,whichwas11.717.00, down from 18.08year−over−year,whiledilutednetincomepersharewas16.93 compared to 17.99[23]ExpensesandLiabilities−Selling,generalandadministrativeexpensesroseto682.3 million, representing 27.0% of net sales, up from 26.6%[6] - Total liabilities increased to 3,629,477from3,566,466, with current liabilities rising to 1,816,407from1,836,939[26] Store Operations - The company opened 28 new stores in the third quarter, bringing the total to 1,437 stores[11] - Total stores increased from 1,385 at the beginning of Fiscal 2024 to 1,437 by the end of the third quarter, with a net addition of 52 stores during the year[31] - Total gross square feet increased from 14,515,593 at the beginning of Fiscal 2024 to 15,020,825 by the end of the third quarter, reflecting an increase of 505,232 square feet[31] - In the third quarter, 258,320 gross square feet were added from new or expanded stores, while 20,083 square feet were closed[31] Inventory and Cash Flow - Merchandise inventories increased by 1.9% to 2.4billion,primarilyduetotheadditionof63netnewstoressincetheendofthepreviousfiscalyear[8]−Totalcurrentassetsincreasedto2,954,862 from 2,792,040,withmerchandiseinventoriesrisingto2,365,186 from 2,321,306[26]−Cashandcashequivalentsattheendoftheperiodwere177,782, a decrease from 121,811attheendofthepreviousyear[28]−Netcashprovidedbyoperatingactivitieswas302,041, down from 358,011intheprioryear[28]−Capitalexpendituresfortheperiodwere300,536, slightly lower than 311,030inthepreviousyear[28]ShareholderActions−Thecompanyrepurchased731,458sharesatacostof267.0 million during the third quarter, with 2.9billionremainingunderthesharerepurchaseprogram[10]SalesComposition−FortheweekendedOctober28,2023,cosmeticsaccountedfor4211.1 billion and 11.2billion,withdilutedearningspershareprojectedtobebetween23.20 and $23.75[13]