FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES INC /DE/
10-Q, 2000-12-12
DEPARTMENT STORES
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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                            FORM 10-Q




Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal quarter ended
October 28, 2000.







                FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
                      151 West 34th Street
                    New York, New York 10001
                         (212) 494-1602
                               and
                       7 West Seventh St.
                     Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                         (513) 579-7000




 Delaware                   1-13536                  13-3324058
(State of            (Commission File No.)        (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation)                                  Identification Number)



The Registrant has filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 12, 13 or 15 (d) of the Act during the preceding 12
months and has been subject to such filing requirements for the
past 90 days.

198,739,448 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock, $.01 par
value, were outstanding as of November 25, 2000.




                   PART I -- FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                  FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                             (UNAUDITED)

                (MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE FIGURES)

                                   13 Weeks Ended            39 Weeks Ended
                              October 28,  October 30,  October 28,  October 30,
                                 2000         1999         2000         1999

Net Sales                       $ 4,195      $ 4,137      $12,292      $11,743

Cost of sales:

 Recurring                        2,515        2,454        7,289        6,947

 Inventory valuation
   adjustments related to
   Fingerhut restructuring           35            -           35            -

Total cost of sales               2,550        2,454        7,324        6,947

Selling, general and
   administrative expenses        1,476        1,381        4,326        3,951

Asset impairment and
   restructuring charges            760            -          760            -

Operating Income (loss)            (591)         302         (118)         845

Interest expense                   (113)         (95)        (323)        (260)

Interest income                       2            4            5            9

Income (Loss) Before Income
   Taxes                           (702)         211         (436)         594

Federal, state and local income
   tax benefit (expense)             34          (88)         (80)        (247)

Net Income (loss)               $  (668)     $   123      $  (516)     $   347


Basic earnings (loss)
   per share                    $ (3.32)     $   .59      $ (2.50)     $  1.65

Diluted earnings (loss)
   per share                    $ (3.32)     $   .56      $ (2.50)     $  1.58


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
Consolidated Financial Statements.



                FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                           (UNAUDITED)

                           (MILLIONS)

                                  October 28,    January 29,    October 30,
                                     2000           2000           1999
ASSETS:
 Current Assets:
  Cash                             $    303            218       $    595
  Accounts receivable                 3,826          4,313          3,731
  Merchandise inventories             5,045          3,589          4,741
  Supplies and prepaid expenses         269            230            269
  Deferred income tax assets            255            172            162
   Total Current Assets               9,698          8,522          9,498

 Property and Equipment - net         6,808          6,828          6,739
 Intangible Assets - net                913          1,735          1,771
 Other Assets                           627            607            551

   Total Assets                    $ 18,046       $ 17,692       $ 18,559

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
 Current Liabilities:
  Short-term debt                  $  2,593       $  1,284       $  2,078
  Accounts payable and accrued
    liabilities                       3,859          3,043          3,688
  Income taxes                            3            225             84
   Total Current Liabilities          6,455          4,552          5,850

 Long-Term Debt                       4,033          4,589          4,658
 Deferred Income Taxes                1,485          1,444          1,345
 Other Liabilities                      548            555            582
 Shareholders' Equity                 5,525          6,552          6,124

   Total Liabilities and
     Shareholders' Equity          $ 18,046       $ 17,692       $ 18,559



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
Consolidated Financial Statements.



                  FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                             (UNAUDITED)

                             (MILLIONS)

                                            39 Weeks Ended       39 Weeks Ended
                                           October 28, 2000     October 30, 1999
 Cash flows from operating activities:
 Net income (loss)                               $  (516)             $   347
 Adjustments to reconcile net income
  (loss) to net cash provided by
  operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                     486                  493
   Amortization of intangible assets                  62                   57
   Amortization of financing costs                     5                    5
   Amortization of unearned restricted stock           5                    1
   Asset impairment and restructuring charges        795                    -
   Changes in assets and liabilities:
      Decrease in accounts receivable                489                  109
      Increase in merchandise inventories         (1,489)              (1,317)
      Increase in supplies and prepaid expenses      (39)                 (67)
      Increase in other assets not separately
       identified                                    (44)                 (18)
      Increase in accounts payable and accrued
       liabilities not separately identified         688                  741
      Decrease in current income taxes              (220)                 (64)
      Increase in deferred income taxes               52                   17
      Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
       not separately identified                      (6)                   3
       Net cash provided by operating activities     268                  307

Cash flows from investing activities:
 Purchase of property and equipment                 (490)                (470)
 Capitalized software                                (62)                 (34)
 Investments in companies                            (31)                 (90)
 Acquisition of Fingerhut Companies, Inc.,
  net of cash acquired                                 -               (1,539)
Disposition of property and equipment                 62                   32
       Net cash used by investing activities        (521)              (2,101)

Cash flows from financing activities:
 Debt issued                                         802                2,055
 Financing costs                                      (4)                 (10)
 Debt repaid                                         (50)                (158)
 Increase in outstanding checks                      101                  140
 Acquisition of treasury stock                      (551)                   -
 Issuance of common stock                             40                   55
       Net cash provided by financing activities     338                2,082

 Net increase in cash                            $    85              $   288
 Cash at beginning of period                         218                  307

 Cash at end of period                           $   303              $   595


 Supplemental cash flow information:
  Interest paid                                  $   317              $   259
  Interest received                                    5                    8
  Income taxes paid (net of refunds received)        251                  278
  Schedule of noncash investing and
  financing activities:
   Debt assumed in acquisition                         -                  125
   Equity issued in acquisition                        -                   12
   Consolidation of net assets and debt of
    previously unconsolidated subsidiary               -                1,132


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
Consolidated Financial Statements.



                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              (UNAUDITED)


1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

  A description of the Company's significant accounting policies is
  included in the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
  year ended January 29, 2000 (the "1999 10-K").  The accompanying
  Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with
  the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto in the 1999
  10-K.

  Because of the seasonal nature of  the retail business, the results
  of operations for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 28, 2000 and
  October 30, 1999 (which do not include the Christmas season) are not
  indicative of such results for the fiscal year.

  Substantially all department store merchandise inventories are
  valued by the retail method and stated on the LIFO (last-in, first-
  out) basis, which is generally lower than market.  Direct-to-
  customer merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of FIFO
  (first-in, first-out) cost or market.

  The Consolidated Financial Statements for the 13 and 39 weeks ended
  October 28, 2000 and October 30, 1999, in the opinion of management,
  include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring
  adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly, in all material
  respects, the consolidated financial position and results of
  operations of the Company and its subsidiaries.

  Certain  reclassifications  were made  to  prior  period  amounts  to
  conform with the classifications of such amounts for the most  recent
  periods.

2.  ACQUISITION

  On March 18, 1999, the Company purchased Fingerhut Companies, Inc.
  ("Fingerhut") for a purchase price of approximately $1,720 million,
  including the assumption of $125 million of debt.  The Fingerhut
  acquisition is being accounted for under the purchase method of
  accounting.  Accordingly, the Company's results of operations do not
  include Fingerhut's results of operations for any period prior to
  March 18, 1999, and the purchase price has been allocated to
  Fingerhut's assets and liabilities based on the estimated fair value
  of these assets and liabilities as of March 18, 1999.

3.  ASSET IMPAIRMENT AND RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

  In the 13 weeks ended October 28, 2000, the Company recorded asset
  impairment and restructuring charges related to its Fingerhut
  businesses totaling $795 million,  $35 million of which are included
  in cost of sales.

  In response to a significant credit delinquency problem associated
  with Fingerhut's core catalog operations, the Company reevaluated
  the long-term operating projections of, and performed an asset
  impairment analysis for, each Fingerhut business.  This analysis
  included projected future undiscounted and discounted cash flows
  disaggregated for each Fingerhut business unit under a variety of
  operating assumptions.



                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              (UNAUDITED)


  Using undiscounted projected future cash flows, management
  determined that an impairment existed for one of the Fingerhut
  businesses, and a write-down of certain fixed assets and goodwill
  was recorded in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
  Standards No. 121 "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived
  Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of."   Using
  discounted projected cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with
  the Company's cost of capital, management determined that an
  impairment existed at several other Fingerhut businesses, including
  the core catalog business, and a write-down of goodwill and credit
  file intangibles was recorded in accordance with Accounting
  Principles Board Opinion No. 17, "Intangible Assets."

  As a result of the above,  the Company recorded asset write-downs of
  $673 million for goodwill and credit file intangibles and $18
  million for fixed assets in the 13 weeks ended October 28, 2000.
  During this same period, the Company recorded a write-down of $60
  million for certain non-public Internet-related investments as a
  result of the Company's determination, based on uncertain financing
  alternatives and comparisons with market values of similar publicly
  traded businesses, that these equity investments were permanently
  impaired.

  The Company also recorded restructuring costs during the 13 weeks
  ended October 28, 2000 related to the downsizing of the Fingerhut
  core catalog operations, consisting of $35 million of inventory
  valuation adjustments included in cost of sales and $9 million of
  severance costs.  The severance costs cover approximately 250
  employees of which $2 million had been paid to employees and $7
  million was accrued as of October 28, 2000.

4.  SEGMENT DATA

  The Company conducts its business through two segments, department
  stores and direct-to-customer.  The department store segment sells a
  wide range of merchandise, including men's, women's and children's
  apparel and accessories, cosmetics, home furnishings and other
  consumer goods.  The direct-to-customer segment (Fingerhut,
  Bloomingdale's By Mail, bloomingdales.com, Macy's By Mail, macys.com
  and certain other direct marketing activities) sells a broad range
  of products and services directly to consumers via catalogs, direct
  marketing and the Internet.  "Corporate and other" consists of the
  assets and liabilities, and related income or expense, associated
  with the corporate office and certain items managed on a company-
  wide basis (e.g., intangibles, financial instruments, investments,
  income taxes,  retirement benefits and properties held for sale or
  disposition).




                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              (UNAUDITED)


  The financial information for each segment is reported on the basis
  used internally by the Company to evaluate performance and allocate
  resources.


                                13 Weeks  Ended             39 Weeks Ended
                            October 28,  October 30,   October 28,  October 30,
                               2000         1999          2000         1999
                                                (millions)
  Net Sales:

  Department Stores           $3,742       $3,646       $10,927      $10,652
  Direct-to-Customer             453          491         1,365        1,091

  Total                       $4,195       $4,137       $12,292      $11,743

  Operating income (loss):

  Department Stores           $  329       $  328       $ 1,065      $   999
  Direct-to-Customer            (138)          25          (344)          (4)
  Corporate and other           (782)         (51)         (839)        (150)

  Total                       $ (591)      $  302       $  (118)     $   845



  For the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 28, 2000, the operating loss
  for the direct-to-customer segment includes restructuring costs
  related to the downsizing of the Fingerhut core catalog operations,
  consisting of  $35 million of inventory valuation adjustments and $9
  million of severance costs as well as an asset impairment charge of
  $18 million for fixed assets of another Fingerhut business.  For the
  13 and 39 weeks ended October 28, 2000, the operating loss for the
  corporate and other segment includes asset impairment charges of
  $673 million for goodwill and credit file intangibles and $60
  million for certain Internet-related investments.

  Depreciation and amortization expense:

  Department Stores           $  153       $  157       $   451      $   461
  Direct-to-Customer              11           11            33           28
  Corporate and other             22           23            69           62

  Total                       $  186       $  191       $   553      $   551




                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              (UNAUDITED)

                                               October 28,     October 30,
                                                  2000            1999
                                                       (millions)
  Total assets for each segment at the end
  of the reporting period were as follows:

  Department Stores                              $13,852        $13,604
  Direct-to-Customer                               2,512          2,582
  Corporate and other                              1,682          2,373

  Total                                          $18,046        $18,559

5.  EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

  The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted
  earnings (loss) per share:


                                                    13 Weeks Ended
                                       October 28, 2000        October 30, 1999
                                      Loss         Shares     Income      Shares
  (millions, except per share data)
  Net income (loss) and average
    number of shares outstanding      $(668)        200.5     $ 123       210.0

  Shares to be issued under deferred
    compensation plans                    -            .6         -          .4
                                      $(668)        201.1     $ 123       210.4

    Basic earnings (loss) per share         $(3.32)                 $ .59

  Effect of dilutive securities:
   Warrants                               -             -         -         7.3
   Stock options                          -             -         -         2.2

                                      $(668)        201.1     $ 123       219.9

    Diluted earnings (loss) per share       $(3.32)                 $ .56




                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              (UNAUDITED)



                                                    39 Weeks Ended
                                       October 28, 2000        October 30, 1999
                                      Loss         Shares     Income      Shares
  (millions, except per share data)
  Net income (loss) and average
     number of shares outstanding     $(516)        206.3      $347       209.3

  Shares to be issued under deferred
     compensation plans                   -            .5         -          .4
                                      $(516)        206.8      $347       209.7

     Basic earnings (loss) per share         $(2.50)                $1.65

   Effect of dilutive securities:
     Warrants                             -             -         -         7.3
     Stock options                        -             -         -         2.4
                                      $(516)        206.8      $347       219.4

     Diluted earnings (loss) per share       $(2.50)                $1.58


   For the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 28, 2000, warrants and stock
   options to purchase 34.2 million shares of common stock at prices
   ranging from $11.63 to $79.44 per share were outstanding at October
   28, 2000, but were not included in the computation of diluted
   earnings per share because, as a result of the Company's net loss
   during these periods, their inclusion would have been antidilutive.

   In addition to the stock options reflected in the foregoing tables
   for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 30, 1999, stock options to
   purchase 4.7 million shares of common stock at prices ranging from
   $46.75 to $79.44 per share were outstanding at October 30, 1999,
   but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per
   share because the exercise price thereof exceeded the average
   market price and their inclusion would have been antidilutive.




                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

                 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
           OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

  For purposes of the following discussion, all references to "third
  quarter of 2000" and "third quarter of 1999" are to the Company's 13-
  week fiscal periods ended October 28, 2000 and October 30, 1999,
  respectively, and all references to "2000" and "1999" are to the
  Company's 39-week fiscal periods ended October 28, 2000 and October
  30, 1999, respectively.

  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

  COMPARISON OF THE 13 WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER 28, 2000 AND OCTOBER 30, 1999

  Net sales for the third quarter of 2000 totaled $4,195 million,
  compared to net sales of $4,137 million for the third quarter of
  1999, an increase of  1.4%.  Net sales for department stores for the
  third quarter of 2000 were $3,742 million compared to $3,646 million
  for the third quarter of 1999, an increase of 2.6%.  On a comparable
  store basis (sales from stores in operation throughout 1999 and
  2000), net sales for the third quarter of 2000 increased 1.9%
  compared to the third quarter of 1999.  Net sales for the direct-to-
  customer segment were $453 million for the third quarter of 2000
  compared to $491 million for the third quarter of 1999, a decrease
  of 7.6%, reflecting credit tightening policies at Fingerhut.

  Cost of sales was 60.8% of net sales for the third quarter of 2000,
  compared to 59.3% for the third quarter of 1999.  Cost of sales as a
  percent of net sales for department stores increased 0.2 percentage
  points as a result of higher markdowns taken through the third
  quarter of 2000, which enabled the Company to keep in-store
  inventories fresh.  Cost of sales for the direct-to-customer segment
  increased 11.2 percentage points as a percent of net sales during
  the third quarter of 2000, primarily as a result of the $35 million
  of inventory valuation adjustments related to the Fingerhut
  restructuring.  The valuation of department store merchandise
  inventories on the last-in, first-out basis did not impact cost of
  sales in either period.

  Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were 35.2% of
  net sales for the third quarter of 2000 compared to 33.4% for the
  third quarter of 1999.  Department store SG&A expenses as a percent
  of department store net sales were flat compared to the same period
  a year ago. Higher pre-opening expenses associated with the large
  number of store openings planned for the fall season were offset by
  lower other non-payroll expenses during the third quarter of 2000.
  SG&A expenses for the direct-to-customer segment in the third
  quarter of 2000 were negatively impacted by higher bad debt expenses
  resulting from increased credit delinquencies at Fingerhut.  The
  higher credit related expenses in the direct-to-customer segment
  during the third quarter of 2000 and increased costs related to the
  macys.com and bloomingdales.com businesses contributed to the 1.8
  percentage point increase in the overall SG&A expense rate for the
  third quarter of 2000.

     During the third quarter of 2000, the Company recorded asset
  impairment and restructuring charges related to its Fingerhut
  businesses.  The Company recorded asset write-downs of $673 million
  for goodwill and credit file intangibles, $18 million for fixed
  assets and $60 million for certain Internet-related investments.
  The Company also recorded $9 million of severance costs related to
  the downsizing of the Fingerhut core catalog operations. The Company
  anticipates incurring an additional $30-$55 million of restructuring
  charges during the remainder of the fiscal year.  In fiscal year
  2001, amortization expense of intangible assets will be
  approximately $29 million lower as a result of the write-down of
  goodwill and credit file intangibles.




                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

                 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
           OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


  Net interest expense was $111 million for the third quarter of 2000,
  compared to $91 million for the third quarter of 1999.  The higher
  interest expense for the third quarter of 2000 is due primarily to
  the increased outstanding debt resulting from the consolidation of
  the Fingerhut Master Trust for financial reporting purposes, and to
  a lesser extent the higher interest rate environment.

  The income tax benefit was $34 million for the third quarter of
  2000.  This amount differs from the amount computed by applying the
  federal income tax statutory rate of 35.0% to the loss before income
  taxes because of permanent differences arising from the write-off
  and amortization of intangible assets and the effect of state and
  local income taxes.

  COMPARISON OF THE 39 WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER 28, 2000 AND OCTOBER 30, 1999

  Net sales for 2000 totaled $12,292 million, compared to net sales of
  $11,743 million for 1999, an increase of  4.7%.  Net sales for
  department stores for 2000 were $10,927 million compared to $10,652
  million for 1999, an increase of 2.6%.  On a comparable store basis,
  net sales for 2000 increased 2.3% compared to 1999.  Net sales for
  the direct-to-customer segment were $1,365 million for 2000 (which
  includes Fingerhut for the entire period) compared to $1,091 million
  for 1999 (which includes Fingerhut from and after the March 18, 1999
  acquisition date).

  Cost of sales was 59.6% of net sales for 2000, compared to 59.2% for
  1999.  Cost of sales as a percent of net sales for department stores
  increased 0.2 percentage points as a result of higher markdowns
  taken throughout 2000, which enabled the Company to keep in-store
  inventories fresh.  Cost of sales for the direct-to-customer segment
  increased 3.9 percentage points as a percent of net sales during
  2000, primarily as a result of the $35 million of inventory
  valuation adjustments related to the Fingerhut restructuring taken
  in the third quarter of 2000.  The valuation of department store
  merchandise inventories on the last-in, first-out basis did not
  impact cost of sales in either period.

  SG&A expenses were 35.2% of net sales for 2000, compared to 33.6%
  for 1999.  Department store SG&A expenses improved 0.5 percentage
  points as a percent of department store net sales, reflecting the
  impact of lower non-payroll expenses, including depreciation
  expense, and higher finance charge income.  SG&A expenses for the
  direct-to-customer segment in 2000 were negatively impacted by
  higher bad debt expenses resulting primarily from increased credit
  delinquencies at Fingerhut during 2000.  The higher credit related
  expenses in the direct-to-customer segment during 2000, increased
  costs related to the macys.com and bloomingdales.com businesses and
  increased amortization expense resulting from the Fingerhut
  acquisition combined to offset the improvement in the department
  store SG&A expense rate and produce a 1.6 percentage point increase
  in the overall SG&A expense rate for 2000.

  During the third quarter of 2000, the Company recorded asset
  impairment and restructuring charges related to its Fingerhut
  businesses.  The Company recorded asset write-downs of $673 million
  for goodwill and credit file intangibles, $18 million for fixed
  assets and $60 million for certain Internet-related investments.
  The Company also recorded $9 million of severance costs related to
  the downsizing of the Fingerhut core catalog operations.




                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

                 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
           OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS



  Net interest expense was $318 million for 2000 compared to $251
  million for 1999.  The higher interest expense for 2000 is due
  primarily to the increased outstanding debt resulting from the
  Fingerhut acquisition and the consolidation of the Fingerhut Master
  Trust for financial reporting purposes.

  Income tax expense was $80 million for 2000.  This amount differs
  from the amount computed by applying the federal income tax
  statutory rate of  35.0% to the loss before income taxes because of
  permanent differences arising from the write-off and amortization of
  intangible assets and the effect of state and local income taxes.

  LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

  The Company's principal sources of liquidity are cash from
  operations, cash on hand and certain available credit facilities.

  Net cash provided by operating activities in 2000 was $268 million,
  a decrease of $39 million compared to the $307 million provided in
  1999.  This reflects greater decreases in 2000 in non-merchandise
  accounts payable and accrued liabilities due to the timing of the
  Fingerhut acquisition and greater decreases in income tax
  liabilities.  The impact on net income resulting from higher
  reserves for bad debt at Fingerhut was offset by greater decreases
  in 2000 in accounts receivable.  The greater increases in 2000 in
  merchandise inventories were offset by greater increases in
  merchandise accounts payable.

  Net cash used by investing activities was $521 million for 2000.
  Investing activities for 2000 included purchases of property and
  equipment totaling $490 million, capitalized software of $62 million
  and investments in companies engaged in complementary businesses
  totaling $31 million.  The Company opened four new department
  stores and one new furniture gallery during 2000.  In addition, five
  department stores were opened in November and the Company plans to
  open two additional furniture galleries before the end of the fiscal
  year.

  Net cash  provided to the Company by all financing activities was
  $338 million in 2000.  During 2000, the Company issued debt totaling
  $802 million, consisting of $452 million of borrowings under the
  Company's commercial paper program and receivables backed commercial
  paper and $350 million of 8.5% Senior Notes due 2010.  The Company
  purchased 16.0 million shares of its Common Stock under its stock
  repurchase program during 2000 at a cost of $549 million.  On August
  25, 2000, the Board of Directors approved a $500 million increase to
  the current stock repurchase program increasing the authorization to
  $1 billion.  As of October 28, 2000, the Company had $451 million of
  the $1 billion authorization remaining. The Company may continue or,
  from time to time, suspend repurchases of shares under its stock
  repurchase program, depending on prevailing market conditions,
  alternate uses of capital and other factors.  Also during 2000, the
  Company issued 1.0 million shares of its Common Stock and received
  $35 million in proceeds from the exercise of the Company's Series B
  Warrants, which expired on February 15, 2000.

  On December 7, 2000, the Company's wholly owned, special purpose
  subsidiary, Prime Receivables Corporation, completed a public
  offering of $400 million principal amount of 6.70% asset backed
  certificates issued by the Prime Credit Card Master Trust, with a
  expected final payment date of November 15, 2005. The proceeds from
  the offering were used for general corporate purposes.



                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.

                 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
           OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


  Management believes the department store business and other retail
  businesses will continue to consolidate.  Accordingly, the Company
  intends from time to time to consider additional acquisitions of,
  and investments in, department stores, Internet-related companies,
  catalog companies and other complementary assets and companies.

  Management believes that, with respect to its current operations,
  cash on hand and funds from operations, together with its credit
  facilities, will be sufficient to cover its reasonably foreseeable
  working capital, capital expenditure and debt service requirements.
  Acquisition transactions, if any, are expected to be financed
  through a combination of cash on hand and from operations and the
  possible issuance from time to time of long-term debt or other
  securities.  Depending upon 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
  markets transactions, the proceeds of which could be used to
  refinance current indebtedness or for other corporate purposes.



                     PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION

                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.


ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

          The Company and certain members of its senior management have
          been named defendants in five substantially identical
          purported class action complaints (the "Complaints") filed on
          behalf of persons who purchased shares of the Company between
          February 23, 2000 and July 20, 2000.  The Complaints were
          filed on August 24, August 30, September 15, September 26,
          and October 6, 2000, in the United States District Court for
          the Southern District of New York.  The Complaints allege
          violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, on the basis
          that the Company, among other things, made false and
          misleading statements regarding its financial condition and
          results of operations and failed to disclose material
          information relating to the credit delinquency problem at
          Fingerhut.  The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified amounts
          of compensatory damages and costs, including legal fees.
          Management believes that the allegations contained in the
          Complaints are without merit and intends to vigorously defend
          against the allegations contained in the Complaints.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

          This report and other reports, statements and information
          previously or subsequently filed by the Company with the
          Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") contain or may
          contain forward-looking statements.  Such statements are
          based upon the beliefs and assumptions of, and on information
          available to, the management of the Company at the time such
          statements are made.  The following are or may constitute
          forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
          Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: (i) statements
          preceded by, followed by or that include the words "may,"
          "will," "could," "should," "believe," "expect," "future,"
          "potential," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or
          "continue" or the negative or other variations thereof and
          (ii) statements regarding matters that are not historical
          facts.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to
          various risks and uncertainties, including (i) risks and
          uncertainties relating to the possible invalidity of the
          underlying beliefs and assumptions, (ii) possible changes or
          developments in social, economic, business, industry,
          market,  legal  and regulatory circumstances and  conditions,
          and  (iii) actions taken or omitted to be taken by third
          parties, including customers, suppliers, business partners,
          competitors and legislative, regulatory, judicial and other
          governmental authorities and officials.  In addition to any
          risks and uncertainties specifically  identified in the text
          surrounding such forward-looking statements, the statements
          in the immediately preceding sentence and the statements
          under captions such as "Risk Factors" and "Special
          Considerations" in reports, statements and information filed
          by the Company with the SEC from time to time constitute
          cautionary statements identifying important factors that
          could cause actual amounts, results, events and circumstances
          to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-
          looking statements.




                        PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION

                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (a)  Exhibits

          10.1  Third Amendment to Series 1998-3 Supplement, dated as of
                August 28, 2000, by and among Fingerhut Receivables,
                Inc., as Transferor, Axsys National Bank (formerly named
                Fingerhut National Bank), as Servicer and The Bank of
                New York (Delaware), as Trustee.

          10.2  Third Amendment Agreement to Fingerhut Receivables, Inc.
                Security Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2000,
                by and among Fingerhut Receivables, Inc., Quincy Capital
                Corporation, Falcon Asset Securitization Corporation, Four
                Winds Funding Corporation, Bank of America, N.A., Bank One,
                NA (Main Office Chicago), and Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft,
                Chicago Branch.

          10.3  Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of August 28,
                2000, by and among Fingerhut Receivables, Inc., as Tranferor,
                certain Purchasers and Managing Agents parties thereto, and
                Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for such
                Purchasers.

          10.4  Reassignment of Receivables, dated as of October 27, 2000,
                by and between Fingerhut Receivables, Inc. and The Bank of
                New York.

          27    Financial Data Schedule


     (b)  Report on Form 8-K

          Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 29, 2000, reporting
          matters under Items 5 and 7 thereof.

          Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 16, 2000 reporting
          matters under Items 5 and 7 thereof.




                   FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.


                               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 thereunder duly authorized.




                                  FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.



Date  December 12, 2000                /s/ Dennis J. Broderick
                                           Dennis J. Broderick
                                      Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                                and Secretary




                                       /s/ Joel A. Belsky
                                           Joel A. Belsky
                                      Vice President and Controller
                                      (Principal Accounting Officer)




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