Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) Releases Q1 2026 Earnings Guidance

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) updated its first quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 1.600-1.670 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 1.620. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Ross Stores also updated its FY 2026 guidance to 7.020-7.360 EPS.

Ross Stores Stock Performance

Ross Stores stock opened at $213.52 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $192.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $171.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Ross Stores has a 12-month low of $122.36 and a 12-month high of $216.80.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 3rd. The apparel retailer reported $2.00 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $6.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.42 billion. Ross Stores had a net margin of 9.43% and a return on equity of 37.43%. The company’s revenue was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.65 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Ross Stores will post 6.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ross Stores Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a $0.445 dividend. This represents a $1.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This is a positive change from Ross Stores’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Ross Stores’s dividend payout ratio is 24.51%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ROST has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Ross Stores from $215.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Zacks Research cut Ross Stores from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Ross Stores from $214.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Ross Stores from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein set a $200.00 price target on Ross Stores in a research note on Wednesday. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Ross Stores presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $207.76.

Key Stories Impacting Ross Stores

Here are the key news stories impacting Ross Stores this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat and confident guidance — Ross delivered $2.00 EPS on $6.64B revenue (both above Street estimates) and guided Q1 and FY26 EPS above consensus, signaling momentum into spring. ROSS STORES REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS WELL ABOVE GUIDANCE
• Positive Sentiment: Big shareholder returns — board approved a new two‑year $2.55B repurchase authorization and raised the quarterly dividend ~10% (to $0.445), which supports EPS via buybacks and lifts yield for income investors. ROSS STORES REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS WELL ABOVE GUIDANCE
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts upgrading estimates and raising targets — several firms boosted forecasts and price targets after the print, increasing buy-side conviction and contributing to the rally. Ross Stores Analysts Boost Their Forecasts After Upbeat Q4 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector/strategy tailwind — multiple writeups note a broader “treasure‑hunt” shift to off‑price retail; Ross is benefiting from higher traffic and share gains vs. full‑price peers, which supports longer‑term growth assumptions.
• Neutral Sentiment: Management commentary — CEO said trends improved through the year and the spring season is off to a strong start; this operational color underpins the guidance but will be watched for sustainability. Ross Stores Fourth-Quarter Sales Rise as Traffic Picks Up
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and profit‑taking risk — some analysts and commentators flag that the post‑earnings pop has stretched valuation (ROST is trading near 52‑week highs), raising pullback risk if growth momentum moderates. Ross Stores: Strong Q4 Results Stretch The Valuation
• Negative Sentiment: Near‑term downgrades and insider/institutional flows — Zacks moved to hold (vs. strong‑buy) and public filings show recent insider sales and mixed institutional activity; these can temper upside if selling broadens. Zacks Research Quiver Quantitative

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ross Stores

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Virtus Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Ross Stores during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in shares of Ross Stores by 1,124.0% in the fourth quarter. Quarry LP now owns 306 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 281 shares during the period. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Ross Stores during the fourth quarter worth $60,000. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ross Stores during the fourth quarter worth $70,000. Finally, Johnson Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ross Stores by 189.1% during the fourth quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 396 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $71,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares during the period. 86.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ross Stores Company Profile

Ross Stores, Inc (NASDAQ: ROST) is an American off‑price retailer headquartered in Dublin, California, that operates the Ross Dress for Less and dd’s DISCOUNTS store formats. The company sells a broad assortment of apparel, footwear, home fashions, accessories and other soft goods, positioning itself as a value-oriented destination for brand‑name and fashion merchandise at reduced prices.

Ross’s business model centers on opportunistic buying of excess inventory, closeouts, cancelled orders and overstocks from manufacturers, department stores and other suppliers.