PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Feb. 25, 2012

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

Schedule of the components of the provision for income taxes

	FISCAL YEAR ENDED
(in thousands)	February 25, 2012		February 26, 2011			February 27, 2010
Current:
Federal	$	475,280	$	426,956		$	346,875
State and local	74,438		90,689			61,080
	549,718		517,645			407,955
Deferred:
Federal	28,695		(7,698		)	(17,851		)
State and local	1,538		(8,302		)	(4,882		)
	30,233		(16,000		)	(22,733		)
	$	579,951	$	501,645		$	385,222

Schedule of the significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

	February 25,			February 26,
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Deferred tax assets:
Inventories	$	33,058		$	26,151
Deferred rent and other rent credits	78,292			75,007
Insurance	53,607			51,906
Stock-based compensation	37,633			48,743
Merchandise credits and gift card liabilities	12,376			29,043
Accrued expenses	80,012			86,927
Other	47,422			33,616
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(25,510		)	(18,991		)
Goodwill	(36,590		)	(31,213		)
Other	(27,228		)	(21,152		)
	$	253,072		$	280,037

Schedule of the activity related to the gross unrecognized tax benefits from uncertain tax positions

	February 25,			February 26,
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	141,869		$	113,086
Increase related to current year positions	23,286			24,051
Increase related to prior year positions	12,533			16,677
Decrease related to prior year positions	(33,191		)	(8,273		)
Settlements	(17,822		)	(1,576		)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(1,712		)	(2,096		)
Balance at end of year	$	124,963		$	141,869