FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.
  Investor Contact/Media Contact:  Peg Lupton
                                                          (203) 743-8234
       
   


ETHAN ALLEN ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER RESULTS;
SALES INCREASE 15%; EARNINGS PER SHARE INCREASE 18%

DANBURY, CT., April 24, 2006 -- Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (“Ethan Allen” or the “Company”) (NYSE:ETH) today reported sales and earnings for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2006.

Three and Nine Month Results

        Net delivered sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 increased 15.5% to $267.1 million from $231.2 million in the prior year quarter. Net delivered sales for the Company’s Retail division increased 22.6% to $168.2 million, while Wholesale sales increased 13.9% to $192.2 million during that same period. Comparable Ethan Allen store delivered sales increased 15.2% over the prior year quarter. During that same period, Retail division written sales increased 19.5% while comparable store written sales increased 12.3%.

        For the nine months ended March 31, 2006, net delivered sales increased 12.4% to $794.4 million from $706.8 million in the prior year comparable period. Net delivered sales for the Company’s Retail division increased 16.5% to $506.6 million, while Wholesale sales increased 13.6% to $558.2 million during that same period. Comparable Ethan Allen store delivered sales increased 12.2% over the prior year comparable period. During that same period, Retail division written sales increased 16.1% while comparable store written sales increased 11.4%.

        For the quarter ended March 31, 2006, earnings per share increased 18.0% to $0.59 on net income of $20.0 million. This compares to earnings per share and net income of $0.50 and $17.9 million, respectively, in the prior year comparable period.

        For the nine months ended March 31, 2006, earnings per share, which includes a pre-tax restructuring and impairment charge of $4.2 million related to the Company’s planned conversion of one of its existing manufacturing facilities into a regional distribution center, amounted to $1.85 on net income of $63.3 million. This compares to earnings per share and net income of $1.63 and $59.8 million, respectively, in the prior year comparable period. Excluding the impact of the restructuring and impairment charge, earnings per share for the current nine-month period amounted to $1.93 on net income of $65.9 million.

        Farooq Kathwari, Chairman and CEO, commented: “We are pleased with the continued progress at Ethan Allen and believe that our results reflect the positive effects of initiatives undertaken in recent years, including: the relocation of our stores to larger and more prominent locations; major investments at retail to increase the professionalism of our management team; the impact of new product introductions – over 80% of our product offerings are new within the last three years; enhanced advertising and marketing programs; and faster delivery of our products to our customers.”

        Mr. Kathwari continued: “All of these initiatives, particularly the development of a more professional Company-operated retail division, have entailed major investment and cost. Still, despite these expenditures and additional cost increases associated with selected raw materials, fuel, utilities, and health insurance, we have been able to report significant improvements in both profitability and operating cash flow.”

        Commenting on the outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, Mr. Kathwari stated: “So far this fiscal year we have experienced considerable increases in both sales and earnings and, at this stage, we believe that the analyst estimates for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2006 are within reach.”

        Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. is a leading manufacturer and retailer of quality home furnishings. The Company sells a full range of furniture products and decorative accessories through an exclusive network of 311 retail stores in the United States and abroad, of which 134 are Company-owned. Ethan Allen has 10 manufacturing facilities, which include 2 sawmills, located throughout the United States.

        The Company will conduct a Conference Call at 11:00 AM (Eastern) on Monday, April 24th. The live webcast and replay are accessible via the Company’s website at www.ethanallen.com/investors.

        This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2005 and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release and related discussions contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current expectations concerning future events and results of the Company, and are subject to various assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual future events or results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or provide revision to any forward-looking statement at any time for any reason.

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EXHIBIT 99.1

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.
Selected Financial Information
Unaudited

(In millions)

Selected Consolidated Financial Data:

Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
3/31/06
3/31/05
3/31/06
3/31/05
Net Sales     $ 267 .1 $ 231 .2 $ 794 .4 $ 706 .8
Gross Margin    50 .5%  47 .8%  50 .5%  48 .1%
Operating Margin    12 .5%  12 .7%  13 .3%  13 .7%
Operating Margin (ex restructuring  
& impairment charge)    12 .5%  12 .7%  13 .9%  13 .7%
Net Income   $ 20 .0 $ 17 .9 $ 63 .3 $ 59 .8
Net Income (ex restructuring &  
impairment charge)   $ 20 .0 $ 17 .9 $ 65 .9 $ 59 .8
 
Operating Cash Flow   $ 26 .3 $ 12 .4 $ 92 .5 $ 79 .2
Capital Expenditures   $ 7 .1 $ 8 .8 $ 28 .3 $ 24 .2
Treasury Stock Repurchases
(settlement date basis)
   $    - $ 20 .5 $ 51 .1 $ 59 .6
 
EBITDA   $ 40 .3 $ 34 .8 $ 124 .6 $ 114 .1
EBITDA as % of Net Sales    15 .1%  15 .0%  15 .7%  16 .1%
EBITDA (ex restructuring &  
impairment charge)   $ 40 .3 $ 34 .8 $ 128 .8 $ 114 .1
EBITDA as % of Net Sales (ex
restructuring & impairment charge)
    15 .1%  15 .0%  16 .2%  16 .1%

Selected Financial Data by Business Segment:

Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
3/31/06
3/31/05
3/31/06
3/31/05
Retail                    
Net Sales   $ 168 .2 $ 137 .3 $ 506 .6 $ 434 .8
Operating Margin    0 .1%  -0 .7%  2 .2%  1 .8%


Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
3/31/06
3/31/05
3/31/06
3/31/05
Wholesale                    
Net Sales   $ 192 .2 $ 168 .8 $ 558 .2 $ 491 .4
Operating Margin    17 .7%  18 .7%  17 .4%  17 .6%
Operating Margin (ex restructuring &
impairment charge)
    17 .7%  18 .7%  18 .2%  17 .6%

EXHIBIT 99.1

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)


Three Months
Ended March 31,
Nine Months
Ended March 31,
2006 2005 2006 2005
(unaudited) (unaudited)

Net sales     $ 267,071   $ 231,154   $ 794,388   $ 706,752  
Cost of sales    132,325    120,704    393,248    366,476  




       Gross profit    134,746    110,450    401,140    340,276  
Operating expenses:  
    Selling    58,340    45,506    166,291    137,347  
    General and administrative    43,067    35,646    124,787    106,319  
    Restructuring and impairment charges    --    --    4,241    (219 )




      Total operating expenses    101,407    81,152    295,319    243,447  




       Operating income    33,339    29,298    105,821    96,829  
Interest and other miscellaneous income    1,747    160    2,950    1,406  
Interest and other related financing costs    3,095    201    6,497    488  




    Income before income tax expense    31,991    29,257    102,274    97,747  
Income tax expense    11,997    11,322    38,986    37,920  




       Net income   $ 19,994   $ 17,935   $ 63,288   $ 59,827  




Basic earnings per share:   
Net income per share   $ 0.61   $ 0.51   $ 1.90   $ 1.68  




Basic weighted average shares outstanding    33,021    35,257    33,340    35,690  

Diluted earnings per share:
  
Net income per share   $ 0.59   $ 0.50   $ 1.85   $ 1.63  




Diluted weighted average shares outstanding    34,046    36,148    34,173    36,603  

EXHIBIT 99.1

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

  March 31,
2006
June 30,
2005
  (unaudited)

Assets            
 
Current Assets:  
     Cash and cash equivalents   $ 185,754   $ 3,448  
     Accounts receivable, net    26,724    28,019  
     Inventories    191,573    186,479  
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets    48,089    46,443  


        Total current assets    452,140    264,389  
 
Property, plant, and equipment, net    286,797    275,211  
Intangible assets, net    86,032    82,897  
Other assets    5,645    5,889  


        Total Assets   $ 830,614   $ 628,386  


 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity  
 
Current Liabilities:  
     Current maturities of long-term debt
        and capital lease obligations
   $ 212   $ 240  
     Customer deposits    58,220    53,654  
     Accounts payable    28,193    19,352  
     Accrued expenses and other current liabilities    59,063    60,720  


        Total current liabilities    145,688    133,966  
 
Long-term debt    202,717    12,270  
Other long-term liabilities    12,075    12,445  
Deferred income taxes    36,261    35,637  


        Total liabilities    396,741    194,318  
 
Shareholders’ equity    433,873    434,068  


        Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   $ 830,614   $ 628,386