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Ross Stores (ROST)
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Ross Stores (ROST) AI Stock Analysis

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ROST

Ross Stores

(NASDAQ:ROST)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$166.00
▲(10.45% Upside)
Ross Stores' strong financial performance and positive technical indicators are significant strengths. However, valuation concerns and challenges from tariffs and operating margin pressures temper the outlook. The new credit facility adds financial flexibility, supporting future growth.
Positive Factors
Earnings Performance
ROST reported 2Q EPS beating estimates on better sales and gross margins.
Market Position
Ross Stores remains favorably positioned in a growing off-price pie with market share opportunity from department store share loss and white space remaining for unit growth.
Sales Performance
Sales rebounded in July, driven by strong early back-to-school selling, with positive sales in nearly every merchandise category.
Negative Factors
Competitive Performance
Ross Stores continues to underperform compared to its peers and remains the least preferred off-price retailer according to the analyst.
Earnings Guidance
The new guidance is slightly more cautious, particularly on margins, despite management's optimism on current trends.
Strategic Challenges
Ross Stores is grappling with specific challenges, such as a GM-dilutive strategy and exposure to low-income consumers, which may be affecting its performance.

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

Ross Stores Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionRoss Stores, Inc. is a leading off-price retailer in the United States, operating the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts brands. The company is focused on providing a wide variety of apparel, footwear, accessories, and home goods at discounted prices. Ross Stores caters to value-conscious consumers by offering brand-name merchandise at significant savings compared to traditional department stores, primarily targeting customers looking for quality products at lower prices.
How the Company Makes MoneyRoss Stores generates revenue primarily through the sale of discounted apparel and home goods in its retail locations. The company's revenue model is based on purchasing excess inventory and closeout merchandise from manufacturers and wholesalers at reduced prices, which allows them to sell these items at lower prices while maintaining healthy profit margins. Key revenue streams include sales from its Ross Dress for Less stores and dd's Discounts locations. Additionally, Ross benefits from its ability to quickly adapt to changing market trends, stock a rotating selection of products, and attract a loyal customer base seeking value. The company's efficient supply chain and inventory management practices further enhance its profitability, enabling it to minimize markdowns and maximize sales of in-demand items.

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 continues its strategic expansion with a consistent increase in store count, adding 16 new Ross and 3 dd's discount locations recently. Despite flat comparable store sales and a slight decline in net income, the company plans to open 90 new stores by year-end, signaling confidence in growth potential. However, tariff impacts and increased freight costs pose challenges, potentially affecting margins. The withdrawal of annual guidance reflects caution amid uncertainties, but the expansion strategy suggests a long-term focus on market presence and competitive pricing.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Ross Stores Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 21, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 13, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a balanced view with several positive aspects, such as improved sales trends, geographic expansion, and a strong back-to-school season. However, these were offset by challenges related to tariffs, a decrease in operating margin, and a decline in earnings per share. The company remains cautiously optimistic about future sales growth despite ongoing tariff pressures.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Sequential Improvement in Sales Trends
Sales trends showed sequential improvement compared to the first quarter, with positive changes in nearly all major merchandise categories and most regions. Cosmetics were a standout merchandise area, and both traffic and basket size increased.
Geographic Expansion
The company opened 28 new Ross stores and 3 dd's DISCOUNTS locations in Q2, including entries into new markets like the New York Metro area and Puerto Rico, with plans to open 90 new locations this year.
Stock Buyback Program
Repurchased 1.9 million shares of common stock for $262 million in the second quarter, staying on track to buy back a total of $1.05 billion in stock for the year.
Strong Back-to-School Performance
Sales rebounded sharply in July, particularly with early sales performance related to the back-to-school season, indicating strong momentum.
Negative Updates
Operating Margin Decrease
Operating margin decreased by 95 basis points to 11.5%, primarily due to tariff-related costs.
Tariff-Related Challenges
Tariff-related costs had an approximate $0.11 per share negative impact on earnings, with continued pressure anticipated in the upcoming quarters.
Earnings Per Share Decline
Earnings per share for the second quarter were $1.56, down from $1.59 in the previous year, with full-year EPS forecasted to be lower than last year.
Challenges in Hispanic Markets
Stores with a high concentration of Hispanic customers underperformed, especially in June and Southern California, although there was a bounce back in July.
Company Guidance
During the Ross Stores Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release Conference Call, several key metrics and guidance figures were shared. The company reported total sales growth of 5% to $5.5 billion, with comparable store sales up 2%. Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were $1.56 on net income of $508 million, despite a $0.11 per share negative impact from tariff-related costs. For the first half of 2025, EPS were $3.03 on net income of $987 million, with sales for the year-to-date period rising to $10.5 billion. Ross Stores opened 28 new Ross locations and 3 dd's DISCOUNTS stores, contributing to their plan of about 90 new locations for the year. For the third and fourth quarters, the company anticipates comparable store sales growth of 2% to 3%, with EPS expected to range from $1.31 to $1.37 for Q3 and $1.74 to $1.81 for Q4. Overall, for fiscal 2025, EPS is forecasted between $6.08 and $6.21, considering a $0.22 to $0.25 per share impact from tariffs. The company is focused on maintaining a competitive edge through strategic pricing and managing tariff impacts, anticipating that pricing adjustments will help mitigate some challenges in the coming quarters.

Ross Stores Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Ross Stores exhibits strong financial health with consistent revenue growth, solid profitability margins, and efficient cash flow management. The balance sheet shows stable leverage, though monitoring of debt levels is recommended.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Ross Stores has shown strong financial performance with consistent revenue growth. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) data indicates a healthy gross profit margin of 27.8% and a solid net profit margin of 9.8%. The EBIT margin at 12.2% and EBITDA margin at 15.0% reflect efficient operational management. These metrics are indicative of robust profitability and operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a stable financial position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, indicating moderate leverage. The return on equity (ROE) is impressive at 35.6%, highlighting effective use of shareholder investments. An equity ratio of 40.9% suggests a balanced capital structure, though the company should monitor its debt levels to maintain financial health.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Ross Stores demonstrates strong cash flow management with a free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.77, indicating efficient cash generation relative to earnings. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy at 1.15, showcasing effective cash conversion. However, a slight decrease in free cash flow growth rate from previous periods needs attention.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue21.50B21.13B20.38B18.70B18.92B12.53B
Gross Profit5.94B5.87B5.58B4.75B5.21B2.69B
EBITDA2.99B3.27B2.97B2.46B2.69B558.61M
Net Income2.06B2.09B1.87B1.51B1.72B85.38M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets14.50B14.91B14.30B13.42B13.64B12.72B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.85B4.73B4.87B4.55B4.92B4.82B
Total Debt5.07B5.68B5.75B5.71B5.62B5.73B
Total Liabilities8.48B9.40B9.43B9.13B9.58B9.43B
Stockholders Equity6.01B5.51B4.87B4.29B4.06B3.29B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.68B1.64B1.75B1.04B1.18B1.84B
Operating Cash Flow2.47B2.36B2.51B1.69B1.74B2.25B
Investing Cash Flow-712.83M-637.46M-762.81M-654.07M-557.84M-405.43M
Financing Cash Flow-2.58B-1.86B-1.43B-1.41B-1.15B1.70B

Ross Stores Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price150.29
Price Trends
50DMA
137.21
Positive
100DMA
139.04
Positive
200DMA
140.64
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
2.98
Positive
RSI
67.04
Neutral
STOCH
66.13
Neutral
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 150.29 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 145.63, above the 50-day MA of 137.21, and above the 200-day MA of 140.64, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 2.98 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 67.04 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 66.13 is Neutral, 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
79
Outperform
$152.48B30.9259.75%1.17%4.14%
75
Outperform
$48.51B23.4337.98%1.03%1.92%1.50%
74
Outperform
$2.11B12.7912.19%3.78%-0.95%-10.51%
73
Outperform
$17.60B34.2544.13%8.29%38.09%
72
Outperform
$8.05B9.3729.16%2.83%1.07%28.03%
69
Neutral
$14.58B96.799.66%39.16%-14.16%
61
Neutral
$17.75B12.56-5.49%3.02%1.43%-14.12%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ROST
Ross Stores
150.29
0.13
0.09%
AEO
American Eagle
13.22
-6.79
-33.93%
GAP
Gap Inc
22.30
0.18
0.81%
TJX
TJX Companies
137.23
21.32
18.39%
BURL
Burlington Stores
280.30
13.13
4.91%
ONON
On Holding AG
45.18
-1.74
-3.71%

Ross Stores Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Ross Stores Establishes New $1.3 Billion Credit Facility
Positive
Jun 30, 2025

Ross Stores, Inc. announced on June 27, 2025, the establishment of a new senior unsecured revolving credit facility, the 2025 Credit Facility, which provides up to $1.3 billion in borrowing availability. This facility replaces the previous credit facility from February 2022, maintaining similar terms and borrowing capacity limits, and includes options for extension and increased size. The new facility is expected to enhance Ross Stores’ financial flexibility and support its operational needs, with no outstanding borrowings reported on the effective date.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Ross Stores Concludes Annual Stockholders Meeting
Neutral
May 28, 2025

Ross Stores held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 21, 2025, where stockholders voted on three key matters. The election of 11 directors for a one-year term was approved, executive compensation received advisory approval, and Deloitte & Touche LLP was ratified as the independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026.

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: Aug 26, 2025