Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) Announces Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.20 EPS

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) released its earnings results on Thursday. The apparel retailer reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.20, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.38 billion. Ross Stores had a net margin of 9.60% and a return on equity of 37.37%. Ross Stores updated its FY 2025 guidance to 6.380-6.46 EPS and its Q4 2025 guidance to 1.770-1.85 EPS.

Ross Stores Price Performance

ROST traded up $0.08 during trading on Thursday, hitting $160.53. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,835,725 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,917,448. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $154.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $145.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. Ross Stores has a 12 month low of $122.36 and a 12 month high of $165.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 1.16.

Ross Stores Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 9th will be given a dividend of $0.405 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 9th. This represents a $1.62 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Ross Stores’s dividend payout ratio is 25.71%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. BTIG Research initiated coverage on shares of Ross Stores in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Ross Stores from $156.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, August 22nd. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Ross Stores from $147.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. TD Cowen raised their target price on Ross Stores from $170.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Ross Stores from $128.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, August 22nd. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Ross Stores currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $163.53.

Insider Activity at Ross Stores

In related news, CMO Karen Sykes sold 4,000 shares of Ross Stores stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.76, for a total value of $607,040.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 106,413 shares in the company, valued at $16,149,236.88. This trade represents a 3.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO James Grant Conroy sold 39,351 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.00, for a total transaction of $5,745,246.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 157,153 shares in the company, valued at $22,944,338. This represents a 20.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 52,720 shares of company stock valued at $7,761,212 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 2.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Ross Stores

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ROST. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in Ross Stores by 23.5% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 615 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $79,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the period. Laird Norton Wetherby Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ross Stores by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Laird Norton Wetherby Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,979 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $1,673,000 after buying an additional 159 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in shares of Ross Stores by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 11,061 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $1,686,000 after buying an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC raised its stake in Ross Stores by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 5,932 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $904,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the period. Finally, Main Street Financial Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in Ross Stores by 2.2% during the second quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 12,580 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $1,605,000 after acquiring an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. 86.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ross Stores Company Profile

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 in the United States. Its stores primarily offer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions. The company’s Ross Dress for Less stores sell its products at department and specialty stores to middle income households; and dd’s DISCOUNTS stores sell its products at department and discount stores for households with moderate income.