Ross Stores price target raised to $180 from $170 at Bernstein

Bernstein raised the firm’s price target on Ross Stores (ROST) to $180 from $170 and keeps a Market Perform rating on the shares as part of a Q4 preview for the off-price retailers. The holiday looks “very strong” across the three off-price retailers, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says real-time data shows positive and accelerating foot traffic and strong card spending trends through the holiday quarter. Bernstein views TJX (TJX) as the “highest quality and most consistent name,” and adds the stock is not much more expensive than Ross.