Family Dollar 2003 Annual Report Download - page 23

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Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein and elsewhere in this Annual Report which are
not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-
looking statements address the Company’s plans and activities or events which the
Company expects will or may occur in the future, such as future capital expenditures,
store openings, closings, renovations, expansions and relocations, additional distribu-
tion facilities, sales, cost of sales, expenses, the outcome of legal proceedings and other
aspects of the Company’s business and operations. A number of important factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statements, whether written or oral, made by or on behalf of the Company. Such factors
include, but are not limited to, competitive factors and pricing pressures, general
economic conditions, the impact of acts of war or terrorism, changes in consumer
demand and product mix, unusual weather that may temporarily impact sales, inflation,
merchandise supply constraints, general transportation delays or interruptions,
dependence on imports, changes in currency exchange rates, tariffs, quotas and freight
rates, availability and costs of real estate, costs and delays associated with building,
opening and operating new distribution facilities and stores, costs and potential prob-
lems associated with the implementation of new systems and technology, including
supply chain systems and electronic commerce, changes in energy prices and the
impact on consumer spending and the Company’s costs, legal proceedings and claims,
changes in health care and other insurance costs, and the effects of legislation on
wage levels and entitlement programs. Consequently, all of the forward-looking state-
ments made are qualified by these and other factors, risks and uncertainties. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. The Company does not undertake to
publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future
changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements
will not be realized.
Family Dollar Stores, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Market Price and Dividend Information
Family Dollar’s Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FDO. At November 1, 2003, there were approximately 1,825 holders of record
of the Common Stock. The accompanying tables give the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock and the dividends declared per share for each quarter of fiscal 2003
and 2002.
Market Prices and Dividends
2003 High Low Dividend 2002 High Low Dividend
First Quarter $32.45 $23.75 $.061⁄2First Quarter $31.35 $23.30 $.06
Second Quarter 32.30 27.43 .071⁄2Second Quarter 33.95 27.00 .061⁄2
Third Quarter 36.59 25.46 .071⁄2Third Quarter 37.25 30.06 .061⁄2
Fourth Quarter 40.46 35.55 .071⁄2Fourth Quarter 36.88 25.00 .061⁄2