EX-12.1 4 dex121.txt COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Exhibit 12.1 Whole Foods Market, Inc. Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Sep 30 Sep 24 Sep 26 Sep 27 Sep 28 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Earnings: Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and accounting change 95,455 77,585 65,616 63,148 35,487 Rent Expense 57,326 47,149 38,417 34,786 28,953 x1/3 x1/3 x1/3 x1/3 x1/3 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- One-third of rent expense 19,109 15,716 12,806 11,595 9,651 Interest expense 17,891 15,093 8,248 7,677 6,033 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Fixed charges to add to earnings 37,000 30,809 21,054 19,272 15,684 Total available earnings 132,455 108,394 86,670 82,420 51,171 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Fixed charges: Interest expense 17,891 15,093 8,248 7,677 6,033 Capitalized interest 2,112 2,274 1,759 735 769 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Total interest 20,003 17,367 10,007 8,412 6,802 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- One-third of rent expense 19,109 15,716 12,806 11,595 9,651 Total fixed charges 39,112 33,083 22,813 20,007 16,453 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.39x 3.28x 3.80x 4.12x 3.11x ============= ============= ============= ============= =============