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Ross Stores (ROST)
NASDAQ:ROST

Ross Stores (ROST) AI Stock Analysis

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ROST

Ross Stores

(NASDAQ:ROST)

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Outperform 77 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:
$246.00
▲(11.23% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:04/02/26
The score is driven primarily by strong financial performance (revenue growth, resilient profitability, and solid free cash flow with improving leverage) and supportive technical momentum (price above major moving averages with positive MACD). Valuation is the main offset due to a higher P/E and low dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Sustained revenue growth
Multi-year revenue expansion and recent re-acceleration indicate durable demand for off-price apparel and successful scaling. Sustained top-line growth supports purchasing leverage, margin resilience, and capacity to fund new stores and distribution, strengthening long-term earnings power.
Negative Factors
Material absolute debt level
Although leverage ratios improved, a sizable absolute debt load constrains financial flexibility if retail sales weaken. Interest servicing and principal commitments could limit capital allocation to expansion or inventory investment during downturns, raising structural risk.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Sustained revenue growth
Multi-year revenue expansion and recent re-acceleration indicate durable demand for off-price apparel and successful scaling. Sustained top-line growth supports purchasing leverage, margin resilience, and capacity to fund new stores and distribution, strengthening long-term earnings power.
Read all positive factors

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Ross Stores Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description
Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates off-price retail apparel and home fashion stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd's DISCOUNTS brand names. Its stores primarily offer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions...
How the Company Makes Money
Ross Stores makes money primarily by selling discounted branded merchandise through its physical retail stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd’s DISCOUNTS banners. Revenue is generated at the point of sale from retail transactions across majo...

Ross Stores Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Store Count
Store Count
Indicates the total number of retail locations, highlighting the company's expansion strategy and market penetration. A growing store count can signal aggressive growth and increased market presence.
Chart InsightsRoss Stores has consistently expanded its store count, reaching 2,273 locations by late 2025. This growth aligns with their strategic expansion, as highlighted in the latest earnings call, where 90 new stores were opened in 2025 alone. Despite tariff-related and distribution cost challenges, the company maintained strong sales growth and operating margins. The expansion is part of a broader strategy to enhance market presence and capitalize on increased consumer demand, particularly in the ladies' category, which has outperformed chain averages. This positions Ross Stores well for continued growth and resilience against economic pressures.
Data provided by:The Fly

Ross Stores Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 20, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 14, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Ross Stores reported strong sales growth and positive momentum in Q3, driven by successful expansion and a well-received branded strategy. Despite challenges from tariff-related costs and increased distribution expenses, the company maintained robust operating margins and raised its guidance for the future. The positive aspects, such as sales growth and strategic initiatives, outweigh the challenges, indicating a strong outlook.
Positive Updates
Strong Sales Growth
Total sales for the third quarter grew 10% to $5.6 billion with comparable store sales increasing by 7%.
Negative Updates
Impact of Tariff-Related Costs
Tariff-related costs impacted earnings by approximately $0.05 per share in Q3 and $0.16 per share year-to-date.
Read all updates
Q3-2025 Updates
Negative
Strong Sales Growth
Total sales for the third quarter grew 10% to $5.6 billion with comparable store sales increasing by 7%.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
During the Ross Stores, Inc. third quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported a robust 10% increase in total sales to $5.6 billion, with comparable store sales up by 7%. The operating margin reached 11.6% despite a negative impact of $0.05 per share from tariff-related costs. Earnings per share for the quarter were $1.58, up from $1.48 in the previous year. For the first nine months, earnings per share stood at $4.61, with sales totaling $16.1 billion, marking a 3% increase in comparable store sales year-over-year. Inventory levels were strategically increased by 9% overall and 15% per store to prepare for the holiday season. The company also opened 36 new Ross Stores and four DD's Discount stores in the quarter, concluding its 2025 expansion with a total of 90 new locations. Looking ahead, Ross Stores expects a 3% to 4% increase in comparable store sales for the fourth quarter, with earnings per share projected between $1.77 and $1.85. The company anticipates negligible tariff-related costs in the fourth quarter, leading to a full-year tariff impact of approximately $0.15 per share.

Ross Stores Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong fundamentals supported by steady multi-year revenue growth, improved profitability (recent net margins ~9–10%), improving leverage (debt-to-equity trending down), and robust free cash flow (~$2.2B in 2026). Main offsets are moderate absolute debt (~$5.2B) and inconsistency in 2026 margin fields, which reduces confidence in the latest-year operating margin detail.
Income Statement
84
Very Positive
Balance Sheet
73
Positive
Cash Flow
78
Positive
BreakdownJan 2026Jan 2025Jan 2024Jan 2023Jan 2022
Income Statement
Total Revenue22.75B21.13B20.38B18.70B18.92B
Gross Profit6.36B5.87B5.58B4.75B5.21B
EBITDA3.58B3.27B2.97B2.46B2.69B
Net Income2.15B2.09B1.87B1.51B1.72B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets15.55B14.91B14.30B13.42B13.64B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.59B4.73B4.87B4.55B4.92B
Total Debt5.21B5.68B5.75B5.71B5.62B
Total Liabilities9.07B9.40B9.43B9.13B9.58B
Stockholders Equity6.48B5.51B4.87B4.29B4.06B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.21B1.64B1.75B1.04B1.18B
Operating Cash Flow3.03B2.36B2.51B1.69B1.74B
Investing Cash Flow-819.27M-637.46M-762.81M-654.07M-557.84M
Financing Cash Flow-2.34B-1.86B-1.43B-1.41B-1.15B

Ross Stores Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price221.16
Price Trends
50DMA
205.64
Positive
100DMA
193.12
Positive
200DMA
169.53
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
4.71
Negative
RSI
60.35
Neutral
STOCH
87.22
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ROST, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 221.16 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 214.84, above the 50-day MA of 205.64, and above the 200-day MA of 169.53, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 4.71 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 60.35 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 87.22 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ROST.

Ross Stores Risk Analysis

Ross Stores disclosed 20 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Ross Stores reported the most risks in the "Ability to Sell" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Ross Stores Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$71.29B23.3536.70%0.90%3.71%0.65%
76
Outperform
$178.86B30.6859.53%1.07%4.53%6.52%
68
Neutral
$5.87B13.7417.66%11.09%51.51%
64
Neutral
$9.80B12.7922.98%2.45%0.29%3.65%
62
Neutral
$21.21B31.0939.79%6.80%20.46%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
54
Neutral
$3.05B11.2212.12%2.09%-1.15%-0.98%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ROST
Ross Stores
221.16
78.92
55.48%
AEO
American Eagle
18.32
8.01
77.62%
GAP
Gap Inc
26.30
7.59
40.56%
TJX
TJX Companies
161.60
32.57
25.25%
URBN
Urban Outfitters
68.60
20.43
42.41%
BURL
Burlington Stores
333.73
94.28
39.37%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Apr 02, 2026