DILLARDS INC
10-Q, 1999-12-14
DEPARTMENT STORES
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                          UNITED STATES
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                            FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[x]       QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
          SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended October 30, 1999

                               OR

[  ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR  15(d)  OF
          THE SECURITES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________.

Commission file number 1-6140

                         DILLARD'S, INC.
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          DELAWARE                           71-0388071
      (State or other jurisdiction         (IRS Employer
      of incorporation or organization)     Identification Number)

        1600 CANTRELL ROAD, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS  72201
             (Address of principal executive office)
                           (Zip Code)


                         (501) 376-5200
      (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                Indicate by checkmark whether the Registrant  (1)
     has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13  or
     15(d)  of  the  Securities Exchange Act of 1934  during  the
     preceding  12  months  (or for such shorter  time  that  the
     registrant was required to file such reports), and  (2)  has
     been  subject to such filing requirements for  the  past  90
     days.  Yes x No_

     Indicate  the number of shares outstanding of  each  of  the
     issuer's   classes  of  common  stock,  as  of  the   latest
     practicable date.



     CLASS A COMMON STOCK  as  of  October 30, 1999     100,890,118
     CLASS B COMMON STOCK  as  of  October 30, 1999       4,010,929

<PAGE>




                              Index

                         DILLARD'S, INC.


                                                                    Page
Part I.  Financial Information                                     Number


 Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited):

          Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 30, 1999,
            January 30, 1999 and October 31, 1998.                    3

          Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings
           for the Three, Nine and Twelve Month Periods Ended
           October 30, 1999 and October 31, 1998.                     4

          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months
           Ended October 30, 1999 and October 31, 1998                5

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                 6

 Item 2.  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial
          Condition and Results of Operations.                        8

 Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk  13


Part II.  Other Information

 Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.       14

 Item 5.  Other Information.                                         14

 Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.                          14



Signatures                                                           14


<PAGE>



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1  Financial Statements

                              DILLARD'S, INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (Unaudited)
                         (Amounts in Thousands)
<TABLE>

                                                            October 30,           January 30,           October 31,
                                                                1999                 1999                   1998
<S>                                                         <C>                   <C>                   <C>
Assets
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                                    $43,650               $72,401               $56,010
  Trade accounts receivable, net                               981,140             1,192,572             1,411,185
  Merchandise inventories                                    2,929,451             2,157,010             2,608,041
  Other current assets                                          48,469                15,728                55,326

    Total current assets                                     4,002,710             3,437,711             4,130,562

Property and Equipment, net                                  3,657,964             3,684,629             3,731,555
Goodwill, net                                                  647,030               659,262               648,966
Other Assets                                                   421,928               395,957               418,343

Total Assets                                                $8,729,632            $8,177,559            $8,929,426


Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current  Liabilities:
  Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses               $1,520,462              $921,187            $1,315,473
  Commercial paper                                                   0                     0               158,132
  Short-term borrowings                                              0                     0               865,001
  Federal and state income taxes                                 4,313                 5,930               126,248
  Current portion of long-term debt                              7,289               164,289               176,268
  Current portion of capital lease obligations                   2,463                 2,396                 2,409

    Total current liabilities                                1,534,527             1,093,802             2,643,531

Long-term Debt                                               2,997,276             3,002,595             2,648,838
Capital Lease Obligations                                       25,268                27,000                27,582
Deferred Income Taxes                                          714,154               681,061               642,706
Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial
  Interests in Company's
  Subordinated Debentures                                      531,579               531,579               200,000

Stockholders' Equity:
  Preferred stock                                                    0                   440                   440
  Common stock                                                   1,154                 1,150                 1,149
  Additional paid-in capital                                   692,399               682,313               677,655
  Retained earnings                                          2,557,859             2,432,793             2,362,699
  Less treasury stock                                        (324,584)             (275,174)             (275,174)

 Total stockholders' equity                                  2,926,828             2,841,522             2,766,769

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                  $8,729,632            $8,177,559            $8,929,426
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>

                             DILLARD'S, INC.
          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
                              (Unaudited)
              (Amounts in Thousands, except per share data)

<TABLE>
                                               Three Months Ended             Nine Months Ended          Twelve Months Ended
                                            October 30,    October 31,    October 30,   October 31,    October 30,   October 31,
                                               1999           1998           1999          1998           1999          1998
<S>                                          <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>
Net Sales                                    $2,078,211    $2,021,299     $6,101,874    $5,208,019     $8,690,596    $7,279,156
Service Charges, Interest, and Other             53,818        63,125        180,019       158,290        236,712       202,830

                                              2,132,029     2,084,424      6,281,893     5,366,309      8,927,308     7,481,986

Costs and Expenses:
  Cost of sales                               1,386,783     1,368,266      4,016,798     3,449,631      5,785,262     4,845,297
  Advertising, selling, administrative
   and general expenses                         541,679       642,880      1,597,854     1,469,159      2,198,907     1,914,068
  Depreciation and amortization                  75,044        68,486        220,731       177,330        283,072       220,840
  Rentals                                        16,170        17,616         47,673        37,799         77,856        60,524
  Interest and debt expense                      56,240        64,871        176,358       133,869        239,169       165,948

                                              2,075,916     2,162,119      6,059,414     5,267,788      8,584,266     7,206,677
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes                56,113      (77,695)        222,479        98,521        343,042       275,309
Income Taxes (Benefit)                           21,325      (27,490)         84,540        37,710        130,655       103,120

Net Income (Loss)                                34,788      (50,205)        137,939        60,811        212,387       172,189

Retained Earnings at Beginning of the Period  2,527,366     2,417,176      2,432,793     2,314,709      2,362,699     2,207,735

                                              2,562,154     2,366,971      2,570,732     2,375,520      2,575,086     2,379,924
Cash Dividends Declared                         (4,295)       (4,272)       (12,873)      (12,821)       (17,227)      (17,225)

Retained Earnings at End of Period           $2,557,859    $2,362,699     $2,557,859    $2,362,699     $2,557,859    $2,362,699


Earnings (Loss) per common share:
  Basic                                           $0.33       ($0.47)          $1.29         $0.57          $1.99         $1.59
  Diluted                                         $0.33       ($0.47)          $1.29         $0.56          $1.98         $1.58

Cash Dividends Declared Per
  Common Share                                    $0.04        $0.04           $0.12         $0.12          $0.16         $0.16

</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>

                                DILLARD'S, INC.
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                  (Unaudited)
                           (Amounts in Thousands)
<TABLE>


                                                                             Nine Months Ended
                                                                       October 30,      October 31,
                                                                          1999            1998
<S>                                                                    <C>                   <C>
Operating Activities:
Net income                                                             $137,939              $60,811
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to
    net cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                                       221,023              178,765
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Decrease  in trade accounts receivable, net                       211,432              191,490
      Increase in merchandise inventories and other current assets     (805,182)            (401,480)
      Increase in other assets                                          (29,093)              (8,931)
      Increase in trade accounts payable and
       accrued expenses and income taxes                                630,751              529,889

Net cash provided by operating activities                               366,870              550,544

Investing Activities:
  Purchases of property and equipment                                  (179,004)            (237,147)
  Acquisition, net of cash acquired and assets held for sale                  0           (2,175,442)

Net cash used in investing activities                                  (179,004)          (2,412,589)

Financing Activities:
  Net decrease  in commercial paper                                           0             (261,004)
  Net proceeds from short-term borrowings                                     0              865,001
  Proceeds from long-term borrowings                                          0            1,250,000
  Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease               (163,984)             (75,625)
  Proceeds from Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the
   Company's Subordinated Debentures                                          0              200,000
  Cash dividends paid                                                   (12,873)             (12,991)
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock                                 10,090               20,524
  Retirement of preferred stock                                            (440)                   0
  Purchase of treasury stock                                            (49,410)            (109,683)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                    (216,617)           1,876,222

(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents                        (28,751)              14,177
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Peroid                           72,401               41,833

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period                                $43,650              $56,010

</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>


                         DILLARD'S, INC.
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           (Unaudited)
                        October 30, 1999


Note 1.    Basis of Presentation

     The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements
     of  Dillard's,  Inc. (the "Company") have been  prepared  in
     accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for
     interim  financial information and with the instructions  to
     Form  10-Q  and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.   Accordingly,
     they  do  not  include all of the information and  footnotes
     required  by  generally accepted accounting  principles  for
     complete   financial  statements.    In   the   opinion   of
     management, all adjustments (consisting of normal  recurring
     accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation  have
     been  included.  Operating results for the three,  nine  and
     twelve  month  periods  ended  October  30,  1999  are   not
     necessarily  indicative of the results that may be  expected
     for  the  fiscal  year ending January 29, 2000  due  to  the
     seasonal  nature of the business.  For further  information,
     refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes
     thereto included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K
     for the fiscal year ended January 30, 1999.

Note 2. Earnings Per Share Data

     The  following table sets forth the computation of basic and
     diluted earnings per share ("EPS") for the periods indicated
     (in thousands, except per share data).
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>         <C>            <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>
                                  Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended        Twelve Months Ended
                                October 30,  October 31,  October 30,  October 31,  October 30,  October 31,
                                   1999         1998         1999         1998         1999         1998
Basic:
 Net Income (Loss)               $34,788     $(50,205)      $137,939    $ 60,811     $212,387   $172,189
 Preferred stock dividends             -           (6)           (8)        (17)         (19)       (22)
 Net earnings (loss) available
  for per-share calculations     $34,788     $(50,211)      $137,931    $ 60,794     $212,368   $172,167

Average shares outstanding       106,847      106,820        106,985     107,290      106,954    108,098
Basic earnings (loss) per share  $   .33     $  (.47)       $   1.29    $    .57     $   1.99   $   1.59

Diluted:
 Net income (Loss)               $34,788     $(50,205)      $137,939    $ 60,811     $212,387   $172,189
 Preferred stock dividends             -           (6)           (8)        (17)         (19)       (22)
 Net earnings (loss) available
  for per-share calculations     $34,788     $(50,211)      $137,931    $ 60,794     $212,368   $172,167

Average shares outstanding       106,847      106,820        106,985     107,290      106,954    108,098
Stock options                          -            -            187         567          168        594
Total average equivalent shares  106,847      106,820        107,172     107,857      107,122    108,692
Diluted earnings(loss) per share $   .33     $  (.47)       $   1.29    $    .56     $   1.98   $   1.58

</TABLE>

     Options to purchase 8,074,946 and 4,845,690 shares of  Class
     A  common stock at prices ranging from $25.13 to $44.38  per
     share  were outstanding at October 30, 1999 and October  31,
     1998, respectively, but were not included in the computation
     of   diluted  earnings  per  share  because  they  would  be
     antidilutive.

<PAGE>

Note 3.  Acquisition
     The  Company  acquired the Mercantile Stores  Company,  Inc.
     ("Mercantile")    on    August   13,    1998    ("Mercantile
     Acquisition").  The Mercantile Acquisition was accounted for
     as a purchase and, accordingly, the results of operations of
     Mercantile  have been included in the Company's  results  of
     operations  from  August 13, 1998.  In connection  with  the
     Mercantile  Acquisition,  the  Company  entered   into   two
     separate  agreements;  whereby the Company  either  sold  or
     exchanged  certain of the stores obtained in the  Mercantile
     Acquisition  to other retailers.  The results of  operations
     of  the  sold  or  exchanged  stores  are  included  in  the
     accompanying  statements  of operations  from  the  date  of
     acquisition to the date of sale or exchange.

     The  following  unaudited pro-forma condensed statements  of
     operations  give  effect to the Mercantile  Acquisition  and
     related  financing transactions as if such transactions  had
     occurred  at the beginning of the periods presented (amounts
     in thousands, except per share data):

                               Nine Months    Twelve Months
                                  Ended           Ended
                               October 31,     October 31,
                                  1998            1998

             Net sales          $6,347,902      $9,152,166
             Net income             36,335         181,829

             Basic EPS                0.34            1.68
             Diluted EPS              0.34            1.67


     The  pro-forma amounts reflect the results of operations  of
     the   Company,  the  acquired  business  and  the  following
     adjustments:  (i) elimination of sales, cost of  goods  sold
     and  operating  expenses related to the stores  subsequently
     sold,  (ii)  depreciation  on  property  and  equipment  and
     amortization  of  intangible assets based  on  the  purchase
     price allocation, (iii) interest expense on debt incurred in
     connection  with  the  Mercantile  Acquisition,   and   (iv)
     adjustment of income tax expense related to the above.

     The  foregoing unaudited pro-forma information  is  provided
     for  illustrative purposes only and does not purport  to  be
     indicative of results that actually would have been achieved
     had the Mercantile Acquisition been consummated on the first
     day of the periods presented or of future results.


Note 4.  Common Stock Repurchase

     On  September 14, 1999, the Company announced that the Board
     of  Directors had authorized the repurchase of  up  to  $250
     million  of Class A Common Stock.  During the quarter  ended
     October 30, 1999, the Company repurchased approximately  $50
     million  of  Class A Common Stock, representing 2.5  million
     shares at an average price of $20.10 per share.

<PAGE>



ITEM 2.  Management's Discussion And Analysis Of Financial
    Condition And Results Of Operations


Results of Operations

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  results  of  operations,
expressed  as  a  percentage  of  net  sales,  for  the   periods
indicated:
<TABLE>

<S>                    <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
                       Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended        Twelve Months Ended
                    October 30,  October 31, October 30,  October 31, October 30,  October 31
                       1999         1998        1999         1998        1999         1998

Net sales              100.0%       100.0%      100.0%       100.0%      100.0%       100.0%
Cost of sales           66.7         67.7        65.8         66.2        66.6         66.6
Gross profit            33.3         32.3        34.2         33.8        33.4         33.4
Advertising, selling,
administrative
 and general expenses   26.1         31.8        26.2         28.2        25.3         26.3
Depreciation and
 amortization            3.6          3.4         3.6          3.4         3.3          3.0
Rentals                  0.8          0.9         0.8          0.7         0.9          0.8
Interest and debt
 expense                 2.7          3.2         2.9          2.6         2.7          2.3
   Total operating
    expenses            33.2         39.3        33.5         34.9        32.2         32.4
Service charges,
 interest and other      2.6          3.1         2.9          3.0         2.7          2.8
Income (loss) before
 income taxes            2.7         (3.9)        3.6          1.9         3.9          3.8
Income taxes             1.0         (1.4)        1.3          0.7         1.5          1.4
Net income (loss)        1.7%        (2.5)%       2.3%         1.2%        2.4%         2.4%

</TABLE>

Net Sales
Net  sales  increased  3%, 17% and 19% for the  three,  nine  and
twelve  month  periods  ended  October  30,  1999,  respectively,
compared  to  the  three,  nine and twelve  month  periods  ended
October  31,  1998.  These increases were primarily  due  to  (i)
increases  in  comparable store sales, (ii)  incremental  revenue
generated in the nine and twelve month periods of 1999 by  stores
acquired  in  the Mercantile Acquisition (the "Acquired  Stores")
and  (iii)  incremental revenue generated  from  traditional  new
store  openings.  The increase in net sales for the  three  month
period ended October 30, 1999 was partially offset by the sale of
a number of the Acquired Stores in the third quarter of 1998.

Comparable store sales for the Company increased 5%,  4%  and  3%
during the three, nine and twelve month periods ended October 30,
1999 compared to the same periods of 1998.

The  Company  anticipated  an initial decline  in  sales  at  the
Acquired  Stores, due to changes from  promotional  merchandising
formats  to more traditional balanced pricing formats.   However,
management expected a more rapid improvement in sales during 1999
than  has  occurred.   As a result of lower  than  planned  sales
levels,  the  relationship  of  costs  of  sales  to  sales   and
advertising,  selling,  administrative and  general  expenses  to
sales continues to be negatively impacted (see below).

Cost of Sales
Cost  of  sales, as a percent of net sales, was 66.7%, 65.8%  and
66.6%  for the three, nine and twelve month periods ended October
30,  1999 compared to 67.7%, 66.2% and 66.6% for the three,  nine
and  twelve month periods ended October 31, 1998.  Cost of  sales
for  the  1998 periods include a $39 million inventory  valuation
charge resulting from alignment of Acquired Store inventories  to
reflect  the  Company's  merchandising and pricing  philosophies.
Prior  to  this charge, cost of sales as a percent of  net  sales
would  have been 65.8%, 65.4% and 66.0% for the three,  nine  and
twelve month periods ended October 31, 1998.

<PAGE>

The  continuation of merchandising issues and lower than expected
sales  levels  in  the Acquired Stores resulted in  gross  margin
pressures  in the second and third quarters of 1999  compared  to
the  same quarters of 1998.  Additionally, cost of sales for  the
twelve  months ended October 30, 1999 was impacted  by  markdowns
resulting   from   merchandise  processing  delays   during   the
consolidation of distribution systems of the Acquired Stores into
the  Dillard's distribution system during the fourth  quarter  of
1998.    The  distribution  and  merchandise  processing   delays
resulted  in  later  than planned store receipts  and  subsequent
higher levels of markdowns in the post-holiday selling season.

Management believes that integration of the Acquired Stores  into
the  Company's merchandising and distribution operations has been
substantially  completed  and that integration  issues  involving
significant merchandise markdowns, discontinuation of merchandise
subject   to   outstanding  commitments  with  branded   vendors,
elimination  of  certain  private  label  clothing  lines,   with
resultant  markdowns required to liquidate these  lines  and  the
consolidation  of  distribution systems have  been  substantially
resolved.   However,  Management  expects  cost  of  sales   will
continue  at higher than historic Company levels since net  sales
at  the  Acquired  Stores  have not yet  improved  in  line  with
management's expectations (see net sales comments, above).

Advertising, Selling, Administrative and General Expenses
Advertising, selling, administrative and general expenses  ("SG&A
expenses"), as a percentage of net sales, were 26.1%,  26.2%  and
25.3%  for the three, nine and twelve month periods ended October
30,  1999  compared to 31.8%, 28.2% and 26.3% for the  comparable
1998 periods. The decreases in SG&A expenses are due primarily to
inclusion  of  duplicate  and closed facilities  charges  of  $91
million,  which  were  incurred in the  third  quarter  of  1998.
Primary  efforts  to  integrate  the  Acquired  Stores  into  the
Dillard's  system  occurred in the third and fourth  quarters  of
1998  and  involved  the  Company recording  integration  related
expenses, including charges for duplicate and closed facilities.

The  process  of  integrating the Acquired  Stores  involved  the
consolidation of various administrative support functions such as
marketing,  buying, advertising, accounting and data  processing,
as  well  as  the  alignment of store operating and  distribution
methodologies.  The alignment process continued during the  first
and  second  quarters  of 1999.  However,  this  and  process  is
substantially  complete at this time. and the  Consequently,  the
relationship  between  advertising, selling,  administrative  and
general  expenses and net sales is beginning to  return  to  more
traditional  levels.  The Company, however,  continues  to  incur
higher levels of  SG&A expenses at the Acquired Stores (26.4%  of
net  sales) compared to SG&A expenses of 24.7% of net  sales  for
Dillard's core stores.  This trend is expected to continue, since
net  sales  at the Acquired Stores has not yet improved  in  line
with Management's expectations (see net sales comments, above).

Depreciation and Amortization Expense
Depreciation and amortization expense, as a percent of net sales,
increased  for  the  three, nine and twelve month  periods  ended
October  30,  1999  compared  to similar  periods  in  1998,  due
primarily  to  the  amortization of goodwill. Goodwill  is  being
amortized  over  a  40  year period, with quarterly  amortization
expense approximating $4.1 million.

Rentals
Rental  expense, as a percent of net sales, for the  three,  nine
and  twelve month periods ended October 30, 1999 was .8% .8%  and
 .9%,  respectively,  compared to .9%, .7% and .8%,  respectively,
for  the  three, nine and twelve month periods ended October  31,
1998.  The general increase in rental expense between periods  is
due to higher levels of leased properties obtained as a result of
the  Mercantile Acquisition.  During the third quarter  of  1998,
the  Company operated certain Acquired Stores which were sold  to
other retailers at the end of the third quarter of 1998.  Thereby
accounting  for  the decline in rent expense  between  the  third
quarter of 1998 and 1999.

<PAGE>

Interest and Debt Expense
Interest and debt expense for the three months ended October  30,
1999 decreased to $56.2 million or 2.7% of net sales compared  to
$64.9  million  or 3.2% of net sales for the three  months  ended
October  31, 1998.  This reduction is due primarily to a decrease
in the average amount of outstanding debt in the third quarter of
1999  compared to the third quarter of 1998.  The debt  reduction
was  achieved  through the sale of 26 of the Acquired  Stores  to
Proffitt's,  Inc. and the May Department Store Company  near  the
end  of  the third quarter of 1998, sales of other duplicate  and
surplus  assets  and  a $300 million securitization  of  accounts
receivable, which occurred in the fourth quarter of 1998.
Interest  and debt expense, as a percent of net sales,  increased
in  each  of the nine and twelve month periods ended October  30,
1999,  compared  to similar periods in 1998.   This  increase  is
directly  related  to  the  increased  level  of  unsecured  debt
incurred in connection with the Mercantile Acquisition.

Service Charges, Interest and Other Income
Service  charges, interest and other income for the three  months
ended October 30, 1999 decreased to $53.8 million or 2.6% of  net
sales  compared  to $63.1 million or 3.1% of net  sales  for  the
three months ended October 31, 1998.  This decrease is due  to  a
$300  million account receivable securitization completed in  the
fourth quarter of 1998, as a part of the funding structure of the
Mercantile  acquisition  as well as a  decrease  in  the  average
amount of outstanding accounts receivable in the third quarter of
1999 compared to the third quarter of 1998.



Income Taxes
The  effective federal and state income tax rates for the  three,
nine  and  twelve month periods ended October 30, 1999  was  38%,
compared  to  37%  for each of the three, nine and  twelve  month
periods  ended  October 31, 1998.  The increase in the  effective
tax  rate  is the result of the nondeductible nature of  goodwill
amortization.

Financial Condition
Cash provided by operating activities totaled $366.9 million  and
$550.5  million for the nine months ended October  30,  1999  and
October  31, 1998, respectively.  The reduction in cash  provided
by  operating  activities  is due primarily  to  an  increase  in
merchandise inventories. Merchandise inventories increased 9%, on
a  comparable store basis, between October 30, 1999  and  October
31,  1998.  This increase is due to (i) the impact of acquisition
related receiving delays which were experienced in September  and
October  1998 and resulted in inventory levels during  that  time
being  lower than normal, (ii) the acceleration into  October  of
merchandise purchased to be gift wrapped prior to sale,  whereas,
in  prior years this type of merchandise was not purchased  until
November and (iii) the acquisition of Mercantile's licensed men's
shoe business and related inventory.

The  Company invested $179.0 million in capital expenditures  for
the nine months ended October 30, 1999 compared to $237.2 million
for  the nine months ended October 31, 1998.  Consistent with its
corporate  plan,  the Company has reduced its  level  of  capital
spending,  with  current year emphasis placed on integrating  the
Mercantile  Stores.  The  Company completed  its  acquisition  of
Mercantile  on  August  13, 1998, with the  net  effect  of  this
acquisition reflected as an investing activity in the October 31,
1998 Statement of Cash Flows.

During the nine months ended October 30, 1999, the Company opened
nine  stores:  the Citrus Park Mall store in Tampa, Florida;  the
MacArthur Center store in Norfolk, Virginia; the Mall of  Georgia
store in Atlanta, Georgia; the Arbor Place store in Douglasville,
Georgia;  the  Sierra Vista Towne Center store in  Sierra  Vista,
Arizona;   the   Park  Place  Mall  store  in   Tucson,   Arizona
(replacement  store); the Boynton Beach store in  Boynton  Beach,
Florida; the Pemberton Square store in Vicksburg, Mississippi and
the  Antelope  Valley  Mall store in Palmdale,  California.   The
Company anticipates opening five new stores in 2000, resulting in
an addition of approximately 800,000 square feet of retail space.

<PAGE>

Cash  used  in  financing activities for the  nine  months  ended
October 30, 1999 totaled $216.6 million compared to cash provided
by financing activities of $1.9 billion for the nine months ended
October  31,  1998.   As  was previously mentioned,  the  Company
completed its acquisition of Mercantile on August 13, 1998.   The
various  financing activities included in the Statement  of  Cash
Flows  for  the  nine months ended October 31, 1998  include  the
funding  of  long and short term financing conduits to facilitate
the  Mercantile acquisition.  Subsequent to the third quarter  of
1998, the Company completed its long-term financing structure for
the  Mercantile  Acquisition and reduced its short-term  debt  by
approximately $1.2 billion, significantly improving  the  current
ratio of the Company at October 30, 1999 compared to October  31,
1998.   The  Company's  long-term debt was  generally  issued  as
unsecured  notes in underwritten public offerings at fixed  rates
of  interest.  During the twelve months ended October  30,  1999,
the  Company  also  reduced  its level  of  outstanding  debt  by
approximately $500 million.

On  September 14, 1999, the Company announced that the  Board  of
Directors  had  authorized  a Class  A  Common  Stock  repurchase
program, whereby the Company may repurchase up to $250 million of
Class  A Common Stock.  During the nine months ended October  30,
1999, the Company has repurchased approximately 2.5 million Class
A Common Shares for approximately $50.0 million.

During  the  nine  months ended October  31,  1998,  the  Company
repurchased  3  million Class A Common Shares for $109.7  million
under  a  $300  million Class A Common Stock repurchase  program.
This  repurchase  program was discontinued at  the  time  of  the
Mercantile Acquisition.

Management  of  the  Company believes that  cash  generated  from
operations, in conjunction with existing credit facilities,  will
be   sufficient  to  cover  its  reasonably  foreseeable  working
capital,  capital  expenditure  and  debt  service  requirements.
Depending on conditions in the capital markets and other factors,
the  Company will from time to time consider the issuance of debt
or   other   securities,   or  other  possible   capital   market
transactions,  the proceeds of which could be used  to  refinance
current indebtedness or for other corporate purposes.

Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure

The Company has actively addressed the issues related to the date
change in the year 2000.  This is necessary because many computer
systems were written using only two digits to contain the year in
date  fields.   On January 1, 2000, many of these programs  could
fail to perform date calculations correctly and would, therefore,
produce  erroneous results.  This would temporarily  prevent  the
Company from processing business transactions.

Based  on  assessments of its computerized systems,  the  Company
determined that is was necessary to modify or replace portions of
it  software and certain hardware so that applicable computerized
systems  would properly utilize dates beyond December  31,  1999.
The  Company presently believes that it has modified or  replaced
the  necessary software and hardware and that the Year 2000 issue
has   been   mitigated.   However,  if  all   modifications   and
replacements have not been made, the Year 2000 issue could have a
material impact on the operations of the Company.

The  Company's plan to resolve the Year 2000 issue  is  complete.
This  plan  involved  the  assessment, remediation,  testing  and
implementation of internal systems, as well as the evaluation  of
the Year 2000 compliance status of significant vendors.

<PAGE>

State of Readiness
The  Company began initial efforts to address the Year 2000 issue
in  1996.  Since that time, the computer systems, including  both
information   technology  systems  ("IT")   and   non-information
technology systems ("non-IT"), have been assessed and appropriate
modifications  or  replacements, for  those  systems  which  were
evaluated  as not being Year 2000 compliant, have been completed.
Additionally,  the Company has obtained letters of  certification
from  its  mission-critical computer system hardware and software
vendors indicating that such systems are Year 2000 compliant.
Non-IT  systems  are  primarily systems with embedded  processors
such  as  elevators, telephone systems and security systems.   At
the  present  time,  the non-IT systems have  been  substantially
remediated, tested and applicable corrections implemented.


Cost
The  Company  utilized  both internal and external  resources  to
reprogram,  replace,  test and implement  hardware  and  software
changes   for  Year  2000  modifications.  The  Company  incurred
approximately,  $1.4  million ($0.7  million  expensed  and  $0.7
million  capitalized for new systems and equipment),  related  to
all  phases  of the Year 2000 project. Additionally, the  Company
incurred internal costs relating principally to payroll costs  of
the  information  systems group and other costs  related  to  the
normal  operation  of the Company's data centers.   All  internal
costs  have been expensed as incurred. The costs associated  with
Year  2000 issues were funded from the Company's existing sources
of   liquidity.   The  Company  did  not  defer  any  significant
information  technology projects as a result  of  its  Year  2000
compliance efforts.

Third Parties
There are significant third party risks associated with Year 2000
issues.   Many  of  these  risks, such as those  associated  with
electrical  power  and/or  telecommunications,  are  outside  the
reasonable  control  of  the Company.  Also,  the  failure  of  a
significant number of the Company's business partners could  have
a  material  impact  on the Company's operations.   Although  the
Company  believes  its  contingency planning  efforts  adequately
identify  and  address the Year 2000 issues that are  within  the
Company's reasonable control, there can be no assurance that  the
Company's efforts will be fully effective.
Due to the significant risks involved in the Year 2000 issue, the
Company's  management  continues to  closely  monitor  Year  2000
related matters.  Additionally, the Audit Committee of the  Board
of  Directors  continues to receive status updates on  Year  2000
matters.

Contingency Plan
Business  resumption contingency plans have  been  completed  for
bank  related mission-critical systems.  These plans address  how
the  Company  will  continue to do business  until  any  mission-
critical  system  failure has been corrected.   These  plans  are
periodically   reviewed  to  determine   if   changing   business
conditions necessitate a change in the contingency plan.

Summary
Management of the Company believes that its Year 2000 program has
been  effective and that all significant systems  are  Year  2000
compliant. However, as is the case for most companies involved in
Year  2000  system  modifications,  disruptions  in  the  general
economy  resulting  from Year 2000 issues could  also  materially
adversely  affect the Company's ability to market  and  sell  its
products.   The  Company could also be subject to litigation  for
computer  system  failure, equipment shutdown at  its  stores  or
failure  to  properly  date  business  records.   The  amount  of
potential   liability  and  lost  revenue  cannot  be  reasonably
estimated at this time.

The  preceding  Year  2000  discussion contains  "forward-looking
statements"   within  the  meaning  of  the  Private   Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements including without
limitation, anticipated costs and the dates by which the  Company
expects  to  complete certain actions, are based on  management's
best  current  estimates, which were derived  utilizing  numerous
assumptions   about  future  events,  including   the   continued
availability of certain resources, representations received  from
third  parties,  and other factors.  However,  there  can  be  no
guarantee  that  these  estimates will be  achieved,  and  actual
results  could differ materially from those anticipated. Specific
factors  that might cause such material differences include,  but
are  not  limited to, the ability to identify and  remediate  all
relevant  information  technology and non-information  technology
systems,  results  of Year 2000 testing, adequate  resolution  of
Year  2000 issues by businesses and other third parties  who  are
service   providers,  suppliers  or  customers  of  the  Company,
unanticipated  system  costs, the  adequacy  of  and  ability  to
implement contingency plans as well as other uncertainties.   The
"forward-looking  statements" made in  the  foregoing  Year  2000
discussion speak only as of the date on which such statements are
made,  and  the  Company undertakes no obligation to  update  any
forward-looking  statement  to reflect  events  or  circumstances
after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect  the
occurrence of unanticipated events.

<PAGE>

Forward-Looking Information
Statements  in  the  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis   of
Financial  Condition  and Results of Operations  include  certain
"forward-looking  statements",  including  (without   limitation)
statements  with  respect  to anticipated  future  operating  and
financial  performance, growth and acquisition opportunities  and
other  similar  forecasts and statements of  expectation.   Words
such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes,"
"seeks," "estimates," and "should" and variations of these  words
and  similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-
looking  statements.  The Company cautions  that  forward-looking
statements,  as  such term is defined in the  Private  Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, contained in this quarterly report
on  Form  10-Q  or  made by management are  based  on  estimates,
projections, beliefs and assumptions of management at the time of
such  statements  and  are not guarantees of future  performance.
The  Company  disclaims any obligation to update  or  revise  any
forward-looking  statements based on  the  occurrence  of  future
events,  the receipt of new information, or otherwise.   Forward-
looking statements of the Company involve risks and uncertainties
and  are  subject  to change based on various important  factors.
Actual  future  performance,  outcomes  and  results  may  differ
materially  from  those  expressed in forward-looking  statements
made by the Company and its management as a result of a number of
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those relating to
Year  2000  considerations.   Representative  examples  of  those
factors   (without  limitation)  include  general  industry   and
economic conditions; economic and weather conditions for  regions
in which the Company's stores are located and the effect of these
factors  on  the  buying  patterns of  the  Company's  customers;
changes in consumer spending patterns and debt levels; trends  in
personal  bankruptcies; the impact of competitive market  factors
and  other  economic  and  demographic  changes  of  similar   or
dissimilar  nature; the Company's success, or  lack  thereof,  to
remediate,  test  and implement necessary hardware  and  software
modifications to become Year 2000 compliant; changes in operating
expenses,  including employee wages, commissions  structures  and
related  benefits;  the continued availability  of  financing  in
amounts  and  at  the  terms necessary to support  the  Company's
future  business;  assumed  cost savings  and  other  synergistic
benefits  of the Mercantile Acquisition and the success  achieved
or   problems   encountered  in  the  continued  integration   of
Mercantiles' operations.

Item  3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.
During the nine months ended October 30, 1999, the Company  paid-
off  repaid a $100 million unsecured 7.375% note at its  maturity
date  and  a  $57  million  unsecured 6.70%  note  prior  to  its
scheduled  maturity  date,  in addition  to  remitting  scheduled
principal payments of $5.3 million on mortgage notes.


<PAGE>




               PART II   OTHER INFORMATION


Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

     None

Item 5.  Other Information

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:

The Company has calculated the ratio of earnings to fixed charges
pursuant  to  Item  503 of Regulation S-K of the  Securities  and
Exchange Act as follows:

<TABLE>
<C>     <C> <C>     <C>   <C>     <C> <C>     <C> <C>      <C>         <C>        <C>
   Nine Months Ended                  Fiscal Year Ended
October 31, October 30,   January 30, January 31, February 1, February 3, January 28,
   1999        1998          1999        1998         1997       1996*       1995

   2.12        1.64          1.97        3.69         3.61       2.86        3.72

*  53 week year.
</TABLE>

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)   Exhibit  (12): Statement re:  Computation  of  Earnings  to
       Fixed Charges

(b)  Reports of Form 8-K filed during the second quarter:  None



                           SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange  Act  of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed  on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                   DILLARD'S, INC.
                                   (Registrant)

DATE:  December 14, 1999                     /s/James I. Freeman
                                   James I. Freeman
                                   Senior Vice President & Chief
                                    Financial Officer
                                   (Principal Financial & Accounting Officer)




EXHIBIT 12 - STATEMENT  RE: COMPUTATION  OF  RATIO  OF  EARNINGS  TO  FIXED
              CHARGES
 (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>





<S>                                 <C>         <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
                                       Nine Months Ended                               Fiscal Year Ended
                                   October 30, October 31,    January 30  January 31  February 1  February 3  January 28
                                       1999        1998         1999        1998        1997        1996 *      1995

Consolidated pretax income          $ 222,479   $  98,521     $ 219,084    $ 410,035    $ 378,761   $ 269,653   $ 406,110
Fixed charges (less capitalized
interest)                             192,249     146,469       219,341      147,466      139,188     139,666     145,921

EARNINGS                            $ 414,728   $ 244,990     $ 438,425    $ 557,501    $ 517,949   $ 409,319   $ 552,031


Interest                            $ 176,358   $ 133,869     $ 196,680    $ 129,237    $ 120,599   $ 120,054   $ 124,282
Capitalized interest                    3,693       2,631         3,050        3,644        4,420       3,567       2,545
Interest factor in rent expense        15,891      12,600        22,661       18,229       18,589      19,612      21,639

FIXED CHARGES                       $ 195,942   $ 149,100     $ 222,391    $ 151,110    $ 143,608   $ 143,233   $ 148,466



Ratio of earnings to fixed charges       2.12        1.64          1.97         3.69        3.61         2.86        3.72

 * 53 Weeks
</TABLE>



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-29-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-30-1999
<CASH>                                          43,650
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  981,140
<ALLOWANCES>                                    29,000
<INVENTORY>                                  2,929,451
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             4,002,710
<PP&E>                                       5,542,965
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,885,001
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,729,632
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,534,527
<BONDS>                                      3,022,544
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,154
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,927,674
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 8,729,632
<SALES>                                      6,101,874
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             6,281,893
<CGS>                                        4,016,798
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                4,016,798
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                64,324
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             176,358
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                222,479
<INCOME-TAX>                                    84,540
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            137,939
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   137,939
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29


</TABLE>


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