Press Release

DSW Inc. Reports 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results; Updates Annual Outlook

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DSW Inc. (NYSE: DSW), a leading branded footwear specialty retailer, announced net income of $26.6 million on net sales of $444.6 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2009, compared with net income of $13.2 million on net sales of $391.4 million for the quarter ended November 1, 2008. Same store sales increased 8.7% versus a decrease of 4.1% last year.

Diluted earnings per share were $0.60 for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 compared with diluted earnings per share of $0.30 for the same period last year.

Nine Month Results

Net income was $41.3 million on net sales of $1.2 billion for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2009, compared with net income of $34.4 million on net sales of $1.1 billion for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2008. Same store sales increased 0.4% for the comparable thirty-nine week period versus a decrease of 5.5% last year.

Diluted earnings per share were $0.93 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2009 compared with diluted earnings per share of $0.78 for the same period last year.

Fiscal 2009 Outlook

Based on the performance through the third quarter reported today, the Company now estimates annual 2009 diluted earnings per share of $0.90 to $1.00 and annual comparable store sales of approximately 1%. This is updated from the Company's previous estimate of annual 2009 diluted earnings per share of $0.70 to $0.80, and flat annual comparable store sales.

The Company will discuss its 2009 outlook more fully on its webcasted conference call to be held today.

Webcast and Conference Call

To hear the Company's live earnings conference call, log on to www.dswinc.com today at 8:00 AM Eastern, or call 1-866-831-6267 and reference passcode 30402506. To hear a replay of the earnings call, which will be available approximately two hours after the conference call ends, dial 1-888-286-8010, followed by passcode 87409873. An audio replay of the conference call, as well as additional financial information, will also be available at www.dswinc.com.

About DSW Inc.

DSW Inc. is a leading branded footwear specialty retailer that offers a wide selection of brand name and designer dress, casual and athletic footwear for women and men. As of November 24, 2009, DSW operated 306 stores in 39 states and operated an e-commerce site, www.dsw.com. DSW also supplied footwear to 356 leased locations in the United States. For store locations and additional information about DSW, visit www.dswinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Any statements in this release that are not historical facts, including the statements made in our "Outlook," are forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: our success in opening and operating new stores on a timely and profitable basis; continuation of supply agreements and the financial condition of our leased business partners; maintaining good relationships with our vendors; our ability to anticipate and respond to fashion trends; fluctuation of our comparable store sales and quarterly financial performance; disruption of our distribution operations; the realization of our bankruptcy claims related to liquidating Filene's Basement and Value City Department Stores; impact of the disposition of Filene's Basement by Retail Ventures on the allocation of expenses pursuant to the shared services agreement; failure to retain our key executives or attract qualified new personnel; our competitiveness with respect to style, price, brand availability and customer service; declining general economic conditions; risks inherent to international trade with countries that are major manufacturers of footwear; the success of dsw.com; liquidity and investment risks related to our investments; RVI's lease of an office facility; our ability to secure a replacement credit facility upon the expiration of our existing credit facility; and liquidity risks at Retail Ventures and their impact on DSW. Additional factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations are described in the Company's latest annual or quarterly report, as filed with the SEC. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the time when made. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any future events or circumstances.

                            DSW INC.
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                         (In thousands)
                           (Unaudited)


                                           October 31,  January 31,
                                                  2009         2009
                                                  ----         ----

ASSETS
Cash and equivalents                           $96,491      $54,782
Short-term investments, net                    169,429      101,404
Accounts receivable, net                         5,397        7,187
Inventories                                    289,395      244,008
Prepaid expenses and other current assets       21,819       24,790
Deferred income taxes                           28,855       21,876
---------------------                           ------       ------
Total current assets                           611,386      454,047
--------------------                           -------      -------

Property and equipment, net                    213,776      233,366
Goodwill                                        25,899       25,899
Deferred income taxes and other assets           6,714        7,885
--------------------------------------           -----        -----
Total assets                                  $857,775     $721,197
============                                  ========     ========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable                              $143,494      $95,211
Accrued expenses                               105,586       63,115
----------------                               -------       ------
Total current liabilities                      249,080      158,326
-------------------------                      -------      -------

Deferred income taxes and non-current
 liabilities                                    95,852       97,287
Total shareholders' equity                     512,843      465,584
--------------------------                     -------      -------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
 equity                                       $857,775     $721,197
===================================           ========     ========

                                DSW INC.
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                       Three months ended           Nine months ended
                       ------------------           -----------------
                    October 31,   November 1,   October 31,  November 1,
                        2009          2008          2009         2008
                   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------




Net sales              $444,621      $391,355    $1,199,957    $1,114,794
Cost of sales          (297,462)     (282,280)     (850,029)     (807,578)
-------------          --------      --------      --------      --------
Gross profit            147,159       109,075       349,928       307,216
Operating
 expenses              (102,438)      (88,158)     (281,743)     (252,614)
---------              --------       -------      --------      --------
Operating profit         44,721        20,917        68,185        54,602
Interest income,
 net                        445           686         1,277         1,829
Non-operating
 expense, net              (754)                       (621)
-------------              ----                        ----
Earnings before
 income taxes            44,412        21,603        68,841        56,431
Income tax
 provision              (17,781)       (8,425)      (27,498)      (22,008)
----------              -------        ------       -------       -------
Net income              $26,631       $13,178       $41,343       $34,423
----------              -------       -------       -------       -------

Basic and diluted
 earnings per share:
    Basic                 $0.60         $0.30         $0.94         $0.78
    Diluted               $0.60         $0.30         $0.93         $0.78

Shares used in per
 share calculations:
    Basic                44,144        44,011        44,079        43,992
    Diluted              44,486        44,240        44,398        44,210

SOURCE DSW Inc.

Investor Relations for DSW Inc., +1-614-872-1474