
Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST)
Ross Stores is a US-based off-price retailer that sells brand-name clothing, shoes, and home goods at significant discounts compared to department stores.
Is Ross Stores, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Ross Stores is a US-based off-price retailer that sells brand-name clothing, shoes, and home goods at significant discounts compared to department stores.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in the off-price sector leads to sustained market share gains.
A major shift in consumer shopping habits away from physical stores.
What does Ross Stores, Inc. do?
Ross Stores operates a treasure-hunt style shopping experience where customers browse constantly changing stock to find big-name brands at lower prices. The business runs on buying excess inventory from other retailers and manufacturers, then passing those savings on to shoppers. A lot rides on how they manage their supply chain to keep shelves stocked with appealing items while holding their own costs low.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and growth, and weakest on value.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.7% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 21% over the year
- !High P/E of 35 - big growth is already priced in
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 39%)
- Growth screens high (73/100)
- Momentum screens high (92/100)
- Strong track record of profitability and high return on equity
- Business model thrives when shoppers are looking for value
- Strong recent growth in both revenue and earnings
- Value screens low (24/100)
- Economic downturns could reduce overall consumer spending
- Supply chain disruptions could leave stores with empty shelves
- Intense competition from online marketplaces and other discount chains
What do Ross Stores, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Ross Stores, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Ross Stores, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - Ross Stores, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 0.7% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Ross Stores, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Ross Stores, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-20 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-21 | $1.73 | $2.02 | Beat +17% |
| 2026-03-03 | $1.90 | $2.00 | Beat +5% |
| 2025-11-20 | $1.42 | $1.58 | Beat +11% |
| 2025-08-21 | $1.54 | $1.56 | Beat +1% |
| 2025-05-22 | $1.43 | $1.47 | Beat +3% |
| 2025-03-04 | $1.66 | $1.65 | In line |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Ross Stores, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Consumer Cyclical
What are the scenarios for Ross Stores, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Ross Stores, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong track record of profitability and high return on equity
- Business model thrives when shoppers are looking for value
- Strong recent growth in both revenue and earnings
- High valuation compared to some other retail peers
- Relies heavily on the availability of excess inventory from other brands
- Modest dividend yield may not appeal to income-focused investors
- Economic downturns could reduce overall consumer spending
- Supply chain disruptions could leave stores with empty shelves
- Intense competition from online marketplaces and other discount chains
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained decline in profit margins over several quarters
- A significant drop in same-store sales growth
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.