UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-Q

OR

Commission file number 1-416

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 286-2500

Indicate by check mark 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 and [2] has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

As of May 1, 2004, the Registrant had 212,786,603 common shares, $.75 par value, outstanding.

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
13 Weeks Ended April, 3, 2004

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

See accompanying notes.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

See accompanying notes.

2

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003, the related Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the 13 weeks ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003, and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the 13 weeks ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003, are unaudited. The interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Sears, Roebuck and Co. (the “Company” or “Sears”) 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year. The Company typically earns a disproportionate share of its operating income in the fourth quarter due to seasonal customer buying patterns.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2003 financial statements to conform with the current year presentation.

NOTE 2 — DISPOSITIONS

On November 3, 2003, the Company completed the sale of its domestic Credit and Financial Products business, including its clubs and services business, to Citigroup. On November 29, 2003, the Company sold National Tire & Battery (“NTB”) to TBC Corporation. The following table illustrates the impact the estimated results of the divested businesses had on the reported results for the 13-week period ended March 29, 2003:

NOTE 3 — SECURITIZED ASSETS

A summary of the Company’s securitized assets at April 3, 2004, March 29, 2003 and January 3, 2004 is as follows:

The Company securitizes certain of its credit card receivables through master trusts (“trusts”). Under the Sears Canada securitization program, trusts purchase undivided interests in the receivable balances, funded by issuing short-term and long-term debt, primarily commercial paper and senior and subordinated receivable-backed notes.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The trusts related to the domestic receivables securitized the receivable balances by issuing certificates representing undivided interests in the trusts’ receivables to both outside investors and to the Company. These certificates entitled the holder to a series of scheduled cash flows under preset terms and conditions, the receipt of which was dependent upon cash flows generated by the related trusts’ assets. The Company accounts for credit card securitizations as secured borrowings.

Certain real estate assets were transferred to a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of Sears and segregated into a trust owned by the consolidated subsidiary. These assets are related to an inter-company loan agreement.

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENTS

The fair value of the available-for-sale securities as of April 3, 2004 include unrealized losses of $0.1 million.

The maturity distribution of available-for-sale securities outstanding is summarized in the following table. Actual maturities may differ from those scheduled as a result of prepayments by issuers.

The $279 million of available-for-sale securities due in one year or less are classified within prepaid expenses, deferred charges and other current assets on the balance sheet. The $42 million of available-for-sale securities due after one year are classified within other assets on the balance sheet.

The Company did not have available-for-sale securities with maturities greater than 90 days for either the quarter ended March 29, 2003 or the year ended January 3, 2004.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

NOTE 5 — BORROWINGS

Total borrowings outstanding at April 3, 2004, March 29, 2003 and January 3, 2004 were $6.4 billion, $32.1 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively. Total borrowings are presented on the balance sheet as follows:

The Company maintains committed credit facilities to support its unsecured commercial paper borrowings. In February 2003, the Company’s domestic wholly-owned financing subsidiary, Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. (“SRAC”), through a syndicate of banks, obtained an unsecured, 364-day revolving credit facility in the amount of $3.5 billion. Effective November 3, 2003, SRAC amended the facility, extending the termination date to May 2004 for consenting lenders and modifying the option to extend the repayment of any borrowings to November 2004. Pursuant to the amendment, the commitment amount was reduced to $2.5 billion as of December 3, 2003. SRAC is in the process of syndicating a new $2.0 billion unsecured, three-year revolving credit facility. SRAC expects to have the new facility in place no later than the expiration of the current facility.

During the first quarter of 2004, the Company retired $1.8 billion of domestic term debt and incurred costs related to the debt retirement of $12 million which are included within interest expense in the statement of operations.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

NOTE 6 — SPECIAL CHARGES AND IMPAIRMENTS

Following is a summary of the 2004 activity in the reserve established for employee termination and exit costs related to previously announced restructuring initiatives:

During the second quarter of 2003, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $28 million for the estimated cost of severance for approximately 650 associates. As of January 3, 2004, all identified associates had been terminated and the remaining reserve relates to severance to be paid out by the end of 2004.

During the third quarter of 2003, the Company announced a refinement of the business strategy for The Great Indoors (“TGI”) which included its decision to close three TGI stores and cease development of four future locations. Included within the total pretax charge of $141 million was $2 million related to employee termination costs and $11 million related to other contractual obligations for items such as reimbursement to licensed businesses for facility closures, lease termination costs and other exit costs. As of January 3, 2004, the three stores were closed and all related employees terminated. The remaining employee termination reserves will be paid out by the end of the second quarter of 2004. The remaining contractual obligation and other costs will be paid out over the remaining contractual terms.

NOTE 7 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dividend Payments

Under an agreement pursuant to which the Company has provided a credit facility in support of certain tax increment revenue bonds issued by the Village of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, in connection with the construction of its headquarters facility, the Company cannot take specified actions, including the declaration of cash dividends, that would cause its unencumbered assets, as defined, to fall below 150% of its liabilities, as defined. At April 3, 2004, approximately $4.7 billion could be paid in dividends to shareholders under this covenant.

Share Repurchase Program

The Company repurchased 18.6 million common shares during the first quarter of 2004 at a cost of $852 million under a common share repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors. The Company did not repurchase any common shares during the first quarter of 2003. As of April 3, 2004, the Company has remaining authorization under the existing share repurchase program to repurchase $726 million of shares by December 31, 2006.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table shows the computation of comprehensive income:

The following table displays the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss:

NOTE 8 — (LOSS)/EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share:

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share before the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle:

In each period, certain options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because they would have been anti-dilutive. Due to the net loss recognized for the 13-week period ended April 3, 2004, all options to purchase 31.5 million common shares were excluded from the 13-week 2004 calculation. At March 29, 2003, options to purchase 26.3 million common shares at prices ranging from $23 to $64 per share were excluded from the 13-week 2003 calculation.

NOTE 9 — RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

Certain domestic full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate in noncontributory defined benefit plans after meeting age and service requirements. Substantially all full-time Canadian employees as well as some part-time employees are eligible to participate in contributory defined benefit plans. Pension benefits are based on length of service, compensation and, in certain plans, social security or other benefits. Funding for the various plans is determined using various actuarial cost methods.

In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company provides domestic and Canadian employees certain medical and life insurance benefits for retired employees. Employees may become eligible for medical benefits if they retire in accordance with the Company’s established retirement policy and are continuously insured under the Company’s group medical plans or other approved plans for 10 or more years immediately prior to retirement. The Company shares the cost of the retiree medical benefits with retirees based on years of service. Generally, the Company’s share of these benefit costs will be capped at the Company contribution calculated during the year of retirement. The Company’s postretirement benefit plans are not funded. The Company has the right to modify or terminate these plans.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The components of net periodic benefit cost/(benefit) are as follows:

The Company does not expect to contribute to the domestic pension plan in 2004.

Accounting Change

Subsequent to the sale of its domestic Credit and Financial Products business, the Company initiated a project to review its domestic employee retirement benefits cost structure and programs. The Company assessed its retirement benefits programs in the context of comparable programs in the retail industry. As a result of this review, in January 2004, the Company announced a series of benefit plan changes which included the enhancement of the Company’s 401(k) defined contribution plan and the phasing out of participation in its domestic pension plan. Associates hired in 2004 and those under the age of 40 as of December 31, 2004, will receive an increased Company-matching contribution to the 401(k) plan of 110%, but will no longer earn additional pension benefits effective January 1, 2005. Pension benefits continue to accrue for associates age 40 and older as of December 31, 2004, unless they elect to participate in the enhanced 401(k) defined contribution plan.

In addition, the Company eliminated its domestic retiree medical insurance contribution for associates hired in 2004 and those under the age of 40 as of December 31, 2004, and capped the contribution at the 2004 level for associates age 40 and older. A curtailment gain of $30 million is included within selling and administrative costs for the 13-week period ended April 3, 2004 as a result of the change in domestic retiree medical benefit.

In connection with the domestic pension and postretirement plan changes discussed above, the Company believed it was preferable to change its accounting methods, which under SFAS No’s. 87 and 106 delay recognition of past events. Therefore, in the first quarter of 2004, the Company changed its method for determining the market-related value of plan assets used in determining the expected return-on-assets component of annual net pension costs and its method for recognizing gains and losses for both its domestic pension and postretirement benefit plans. Under the previous accounting method, the market-related value of the domestic pension plan assets was determined by averaging the value of equity assets over a five-year period. The new method recognizes equity assets at fair value. Further, under its previous accounting method, all unrecognized gains and losses in excess of the 10 % corridor were amortized over the expected working lifetime of active employees (approximately 10 years). Under the new methodology, the portion of the total gain or loss outside the 10 % corridor will be immediately recognized. As a result of this accounting change, the Company recorded an after-tax charge of $839 million in the first quarter of 2004 for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle. The charge

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

represents the recognition of unamortized experience losses at the beginning of 2004 in accordance with the new methods.

The new method of determining market-related value of plan assets and recognizing gains and losses is preferable as it produces results that more closely match the current economic position of the Company’s domestic retirement benefit plans by not delaying the recognition of past events.

The cumulative effect of the accounting changes related to fiscal 2004 is presented in the following table:

Presented below is pro forma net income and earnings per share for the quarters ended March 29, 2003, June 28, 2003, September 27, 2003, January 3, 2004 and full-year 2003 showing the estimated effects as if the accounting change were applied retroactively:

The Company uses October 31 as the measurement date for determining retirement plan assets, obligations and experience gains or losses. Under the new accounting method for domestic plans, the Company will recognize the portion of experience gain or loss in excess of the 10% corridor at the measurement date, which falls in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year. Had the Company used this accounting method in 2003, an experience loss would have been recognized in the fourth quarter of 2003 which would have reduced net income by $373 million.

NOTE 10 - STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

At April 3, 2004, the Company has various stock-based employee compensation plans which are described more fully in Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company accounts for those plans in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting For Stock Issued to Employees”, and related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net (loss)/income, as no options granted under those plans had an exercise price less than the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net (loss)/income and (loss)/earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”.

NOTE 11 — EFFECTS OF ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOT YET ADOPTED

In March 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) staff issued FASB Staff Position 106-b, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the “Act”)”. The Act was signed into law in December 2003. Any measures of the accumulated projected benefit obligation or net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the financial statements or accompanying notes do not reflect the effects of the Act on the Company’s domestic plans. While the impact of the Medicare legislation will not be known until detailed regulations are developed, the Company does not expect the impact to be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 12 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Pending against the Company and certain of its officers and directors are a number of lawsuits, described below, that relate to the domestic credit card business and public statements about the business. The Company believes that all of these claims lack merit and is defending against them vigorously.

•		On and after October 18, 2002, several actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company and certain current and former officers alleging that certain public announcements by the Company concerning its domestic credit card business violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The Court has consolidated the actions and certified the consolidated action as a class action. The Court has scheduled trial to begin on April 4, 2005. Discovery is underway.
•		On and after November 15, 2002, several actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company, certain officers and directors, and alleged fiduciaries of Sears 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”), seeking damages and equitable relief under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The plaintiffs purport to represent participants in the Plan, and allege breaches of fiduciary duties under ERISA in connection with the Plan’s investment in the Company’s common shares and alleged communications made to Plan participants regarding the Company’s financial condition. These actions have been consolidated into a single action. Discovery is underway. No trial date has been set.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

•		On October 23, 2002, a purported derivative action was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against the Company (as a nominal defendant) and certain current and former directors seeking damages on behalf of the Company. The complaint purports to allege a breach of fiduciary duty by the directors with respect to the Company’s management of the domestic credit card business. A motion to dismiss has been and remains pending. Two similar actions were subsequently filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, and a third was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. These actions have been and remain stayed pending disposition of the action in New York. The plaintiffs in the Northern District of Illinois action have appealed the stay order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. That appeal has been briefed and argued but has not yet been decided.
•		On June 17, 2003, an action was filed in the Northern District of Illinois against the Company and certain officers, purportedly on behalf of a class of all persons who, between June 21, 2002 and October 17, 2002, purchased the 7% notes that SRAC issued on June 21, 2002. An amended complaint has been filed, naming as additional defendants certain former officers, SRAC and several investment banking firms who acted as underwriters for SRAC’s March 18, May 21 and June 21, 2002 notes offerings. The amended complaint alleges that the defendants made misrepresentations or omissions concerning its domestic credit card business during the class period and in the registration statements and prospectuses relating to the offerings. The amended complaint alleges that these misrepresentations and omissions violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, and Sections 11, 12 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and purports to be brought on behalf of a class of all persons who purchased any security of SRAC between October 24, 2001 and October 17, 2002, inclusive. Motions to dismiss the amended complaint are pending.

The Company is subject to various other legal and governmental proceedings, many involving litigation incidental to the businesses. Some matters contain class action allegations, environmental and asbestos exposure allegations and other consumer-based claims that involve compensatory, punitive or treble damage claims in very large amounts as well as other types of relief. The consequences of these matters are not presently determinable but, in the opinion of management of the Company after consulting with legal counsel, and taking into account insurance and reserves, the ultimate liability is not expected to have a material adverse effect on annual results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources of the Company.

NOTE 13 — FINANCIAL GUARANTEES

The Company issues various types of guarantees in the normal course of business. As of April 3, 2004, the Company had the following guarantees outstanding:

The debt obligations of SRAC are reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As a result of the Company’s sale of its domestic Credit and Financial Products business, Sears, Roebuck and Co. (“Parent”) was required to issue a guarantee of SRAC’s outstanding public debt in order to maintain SRAC’s exemption from being deemed an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. This guarantee would require the Parent to repay such debt should SRAC default.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The secondary lease obligations relate to certain store leases of previously divested businesses. The Company remains secondarily liable if the primary obligor defaults. As of April 3, 2004, the Company had a $14 million liability recorded in other liabilities which represents the Company’s current estimate of potential exposure related to these secondary lease obligations.

The performance guarantee relates to certain municipal bonds issued in connection with the Company’s headquarters building. This guarantee expires in 2007.

NOTE 14 — SEGMENT DISCLOSURES

With the sale of the domestic Credit and Financial Products business, the Company’s financial reporting segments for fiscal 2004 have been changed to reflect two operating segments — a Domestic segment and a Sears Canada segment.

The Domestic segment consists of merchandise sales and related services, including product protection agreements, delivery and product installation and repair services. It includes all Sears selling channels, Specialty and Full-line Stores as well as Direct to Customer operations encompassing online, catalogs, and the Lands’ End online and catalog business. The results of operations for the divested businesses, Credit and Financial Products and NTB, are included within the Domestic segment for the 13-week period ended March 29, 2003.

The Sears Canada segment includes retail, credit and corporate operations conducted by Sears Canada, a 54.3% owned subsidiary.

Prior to the sale of its domestic Credit and financial Products business in November 2003, the Company organized its business into three domestic segments: Retail and Related Services, Credit and Financial Products and Corporate and Other; and one international segment: Sears Canada.

•		The Retail and Related Services segment consisted of merchandise sales and related services, including product protection agreements, delivery and product installation and repair services. It included all Sears selling channels, including Specialty and Full-line Stores as well as Direct to Customer operations which includes online, catalogs, and Lands’ End online and catalog business. Beginning November 3, 2003, this segment also included the revenues earned under the long-term marketing and servicing alliance with Citigroup.
•		The Credit and Financial Products segment managed the Company’s domestic portfolio of Sears Card and MasterCard receivables. This segment also included related financial products, such as credit protection and insurance products. The domestic Credit and Financial products business was sold on November 3, 2003, and thus the segment results include the results of operations through November 2, 2003.
•		The Corporate and Other segment included activities that are of an overall holding company nature primarily consisting of administrative activities supporting the Domestic operations. This segment also included Home Improvement Services which installs siding and windows.
•		External revenues and expenses were allocated between the applicable segments. For zero-percent financing promotions in which customers received free financing, Retail and Related Services reimbursed Credit and Financial Products over the life of the financing period at a 10% annual rate. The cost was reported as selling expense by Retail and Related Services and an offsetting benefit was recognized by Credit and Financial Products. With the sale of the domestic Credit and Financial Products business, the allocation of these costs are included in the results of operation through November 2, 2003. Under the terms of the long-term

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

		marketing and servicing alliance with Citigroup, Citigroup will support the Company’s historical level zero-percent receivable balances at no cost to the Company.
•		The domestic segments participated in a centralized funding program. Interest expense was allocated to the Credit and Financial Products segment based on its funding requirements. Funding included unsecured debt reflected on the balance sheet and investor certificates related to credit card receivables transferred to trusts through securitizations. The remainder of net domestic interest expense was reported in the Retail and Related Services segment through November 3, 2003. Subsequent to the sale of the Credit and Financial Products business, the allocation of interest expense was changed such that net interest expense associated with approximately $3.8 billion of outstanding domestic term debt remaining from the Credit and Financial Products segment, also referred to as credit legacy debt, was allocated to the Corporate and Other Segment.

The 2003 segment information has been presented on the 2004 basis — Domestic and Sears Canada. In addition, the Company has provided, for 2003, information on the operating segments comprising the Domestic segment in 2003.

For the 13 weeks ended April 3, 2004

For the 13 weeks ended March 29, 2003

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Sears, Roebuck and Co.

We have reviewed the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of Sears, Roebuck and Co. as of April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003, and the related Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows for the 13-week periods ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003. These condensed consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data and of making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the Consolidated Balance Sheet of Sears, Roebuck and Co. as of January 3, 2004, and the related Consolidated Statements of Operations, Shareholders’ Equity, and Cash Flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 9, 2004, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 3, 2004 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the Consolidated Balance Sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
13 Weeks Ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operations, Financial Condition and Liquidity

With the sale of the domestic Credit and Financial Products business in the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company’s financial reporting segments for fiscal 2004 were changed to reflect two operating segments — a Domestic segment and a Sears Canada segment.

Domestic consisting of:

OVERVIEW AND CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is one of the largest retailers in the United States and Canada with a 118-year history of providing high quality merchandise and related services to a broad array of customers. The Company’s vision is to be the preferred and most trusted resource for products and services that enhance our customers’ homes and family life. The Company’s mission is to grow the business by providing quality products and services at a great value. We aspire to make these products and services available to customers through a wide network of multiple channels, including 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, a product repair services system with over 10,000 technicians, leading internet channels including sears.com, sears.ca and landsend.com and direct to customer catalog programs.

Fiscal 2003 was a defining year for the Company. On November 3, 2003, the Company completed the sale of its domestic Credit and Financial Products business, including its clubs and services business, to Citigroup and entered into a long-term marketing and servicing alliance with Citigroup. Additionally, on November 29, 2003, the Company sold National Tire & Battery (“NTB”) to TBC Corporation.

The divestiture of these businesses significantly strengthened the Company’s financial position and liquidity. These divestitures, along with the beginning of a new strategic relationship with Citigroup, has allowed the Company to refocus its efforts as a pure-play retailer with strong proprietary brands and unparalleled service offerings.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
13 Weeks Ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003

The Company’s focus in 2004 is to achieve more consistent revenue growth with improved margins. In the first quarter of 2004, the Company made progress towards achieving these objectives, including:

•		introducing a range of innovative products within our Home Group;
•		reassorting our offerings in Home Fashions;
•		introducing new brands within our apparel collection, including U.S. Polo within men’s and boy’s wear;
•		converting an additional 35 Sears Hardware stores to include the offerings of home appliances;
•		announcing the expansion of sears.com to include certain apparel offerings; and
•		entering into contract negotiations with Computer Sciences Corporation (“CSC”), whereby CSC will provide Sears with certain Information Technology support services.

The Company also opened its second Sears Grand, its new off-mall pilot store. The initial results of these stores are encouraging as the customer response to the new format has been favorable. The Company continues to believe that Sears Grand provides the Company with a significant new retail format to grow the business. An additional three pilot stores are expected to be opened within the next year.

During the current quarter, the Company continued to return the proceeds from the sale of its domestic Credit and Financial Products business to its shareholders. An additional 18.6 million shares were repurchased during the first quarter of 2004 at a cost of $852 million. Through the end of the first quarter of 2004, the Company had returned $3.5 billion of proceeds from the sale of its Credit and Financial Products business to its shareholders. Subject to market conditions, the Company expects to return the remaining $500 million to its shareholders by the end of 2004.

In addition, the Company retired $1.8 billion of domestic term debt during the first quarter of 2004, thus reducing the level of domestic term debt to $3.5 billion. An additional $800 million of domestic term debt will be retired by the end of 2004. The Company continues to target a level of net domestic term debt of $1.5 billion, exclusive of working capital needs.

Net interest of $76 million for the first quarter of 2004 includes $38 million of costs related to domestic term debt outstanding that is attributable to the divested Credit and Financial Products business. These costs consist of interest expense of $26 million, also referred to as negative carry, and costs incurred to retire credit legacy debt of $12 million.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
13 Weeks Ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003

A summary of consolidated results of operations is as follows:

Effective January 4, 2004, the Company changed its method for recognizing gains and losses for both its domestic pension and postretirement benefit plans. The Company began recognizing experience gains and losses on a more current basis, while under its previous methods, the Company amortized experience gains and losses over future service periods. As a result of this accounting change, the Company recorded an after-tax charge of $839 million, or $3.81 per share, in the first quarter of 2004 for the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. The charge represents the recognition of unamortized experience losses at the beginning of 2004 in accordance with the new accounting methods.

The results of operations for the 13-week period ended March 29, 2003 include the results of operations for the divested businesses, Credit and Financial Products and NTB.

•		Merchandise sales and service revenues were $7.7 billion in the first quarter of 2004, an increase of 3.1% from the prior year quarter. The increase is due to increases in several key Full-line Store home group categories, strengthening of the Canadian dollar and revenues earned under the Company’s long-term alliance with Citigroup. Domestic comparable store sales for the first quarter of 2004 increased 1.6% with strong growth in lawn and garden, tools and home electronics. These strengths were partially offset by comparable store sales declines in apparel.
•		Credit and financial products revenues were lower than the prior year quarter as a result of the sale of the Credit and Financial Products business in the fourth quarter of 2003. Domestic revenues generated in the prior year quarter were $1.3 billion. The current year revenues reflect solely the credit business of Sears Canada.
•		The modest improvement in first quarter of 2004 gross margin rate compared with the prior year quarter is reflective of revenues earned under the long-term alliance with Citigroup.
•		Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues increased primarily due to a reduction in expense leverage resulting from the divestiture of the Credit and Financial Products and NTB businesses, increased domestic advertising expense and a charge recorded in Sears Canada related to the decision to

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
13 Weeks Ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003

		license its auto centers to three auto service providers. These increases were partially offset by a $30 million curtailment gain attributable to the change in retiree medical benefits offered to employees.
•		The increase in other income of $15 million was primarily related to an $11 million gain on the sale of a Sears Canada real estate joint venture.

The Company believes that an understanding of its reported results and its ongoing financial performance is not complete without excluding the impact of the divested businesses, negative carry and debt retirement costs and reflecting the impact of the change in accounting for domestic retirement plans on the results of operations for the 13-week periods ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003.

The table below provides an understanding through this reconciliation.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
13 Weeks Ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003

SEGMENT OPERATIONS

The Company is organized into two principal business segments — Domestic and Sears Canada. Following is a discussion of results of operations by business segment.

Domestic

Domestic results and key statistics were as follows:

Domestic merchandise sales and services revenues increased 1.2% in the first quarter of 2004 due to increases in several key Full-line Store home group categories and approximately $33 million earned under the Company’s long-term alliance with Citigroup, which more than offset the loss of revenues due to the divestiture of NTB. NTB’s revenues for the first quarter of 2003 were approximately $100 million.

21

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
13 Weeks Ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003

Full-line Stores revenues increased 3.5% for the first quarter of 2004 compared with the prior year quarter as a result of increases in sears.com revenues as well as increased Full-line Stores comparable store sales. Full-line Stores comparable store sales increased 1.9% primarily as a result of a strong home improvement business. Home appliances and consumer electronics performed well in the quarter with comparable store increases in the low to mid-single digit range. Apparel comparable stores sales declined in the first quarter of 2004 due to delayed spring product receipts and a relatively late Spring floor transition.

Specialty Stores revenues decreased 7.2% in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the prior year quarter primarily due to the divestiture of NTB. Comparable store sales were flat as increases in the Hardware stores were offset by expected declines in TGI. The Company continues to refine its TGI product offerings as a result of its previously announced strategic refinement. Dealer store comparable store sales were relatively flat for the quarter, however, total revenues increased due to the net addition of twenty-four Dealer stores since the first quarter of 2003.

Direct to Customer revenues for the first quarter of 2004 declined from the comparable prior year quarter primarily due to a decline in Lands’ End direct to customer revenues resulting from lower liquidation inventory levels in the first quarter of 2004.

Home Services revenues increased 3.7% in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the prior year quarter due to increases in product repair services and the Sears Home Improvement business.

Domestic gross margin as a percentage of Domestic merchandise sales and services increased 40 basis points as compared to the prior year primarily due to the income from revenues earned through our long-term alliance with Citigroup.

Domestic selling and administrative expense as a percentage of Domestic total revenues increased 30 basis points in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the prior year. This rate increase was primarily due to a reduction in expense leverage resulting from the divestitures of the domestic Credit and Financial Products business and NTB, as well as an increase in advertising expense versus the prior year due to the earlier Easter holiday and an increase in general brand awareness advertising. Partially offsetting the higher expenses were productivity improvements focused on more effective staffing levels in the stores and a $30 million curtailment gain attributable to the change in retiree medical benefits offered to domestic employees.

The decline in interest expense was primarily due to the prior year results including $242 million of interest expense associated with the divested Credit and Financial Products business. The first quarter 2004 interest expense includes $26 million attributable to the negative carrying cost related to credit legacy debt and $12 million of debt retirement costs.

The Domestic segment reported an operating loss of $39 million for the first quarter of 2004, compared with operating income of $299 million in the first quarter of 2003.

The Company believes that an understanding of its reported results and its ongoing financial performance for the Domestic segment is not complete without excluding the impact of the divested businesses, negative carry and debt retirement costs and reflecting the impact of the change in accounting for retirement plans on the results of operations for the 13-week periods ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003.

22

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
13 Weeks Ended April 3, 2004 and March 29, 2003

This reconciliation is provided below:

Sears Canada

Sears Canada results were as follows: