📊 ROST Key Takeaways
Is Ross Stores, Inc.. (ROST) a Good Investment?
Ross Stores demonstrates exceptional financial health with robust profitability metrics (9.3% net margin, 25.5% ROE), strong cash generation ($1.3B free cash flow), and conservative leverage (0.26x debt/equity). The company maintains solid liquidity (1.52x current ratio) and generates substantial returns on assets (9.7%), indicating efficient capital deployment in a competitive retail environment.
Ross Stores shows strong retail fundamentals, with solid operating and net margins, high ROE, strong free cash flow generation, and a conservative balance sheet supported by significant cash and modest debt. Financial health appears resilient, but the extreme reported revenue YoY change and missing gross profit data reduce confidence in the growth picture and suggest caution around data quality and trend interpretation.
Why Buy Ross Stores, Inc.. Stock? ROST Key Strengths
- Strong net margin at 9.3% with healthy operating margin of 11.7%, indicating pricing power and operational efficiency
- Exceptional return on equity of 25.5% demonstrates effective use of shareholder capital
- Robust free cash flow of $1.3B (8% FCF margin) provides capital flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and debt reduction
- Conservative capital structure with debt/equity of 0.26x and industry-leading interest coverage of 144.1x
- Solid cash position of $4.1B relative to $1.5B long-term debt, ensuring financial flexibility
- Strong operating cash flow of $1.9B nearly covers net income, indicating high-quality earnings
- Strong profitability with 11.7% operating margin, 9.3% net margin, and 25.5% ROE
- Healthy balance sheet with $4.06B cash, low 0.26x debt/equity, and very high 144.1x interest coverage
- Consistent cash generation with $1.91B operating cash flow and $1.29B free cash flow
ROST Stock Risks: Ross Stores, Inc.. Investment Risks
- Extraordinary revenue growth of 12,215% YoY suggests potential data anomaly or accounting change; sustainability unclear
- Gross margin data unavailable, limiting visibility into merchandise mix, pricing strategy, and supply chain cost trends
- Quick ratio of 0.90x indicates potential liquidity stress if operational disruptions occur or inventory becomes less liquid
- Significant insider activity (10 Form 4 filings in 90 days) warrants monitoring for potential signal of insider sentiment
- Retail sector faces structural headwinds from e-commerce competition and consumer spending volatility
- Reported revenue growth of +12215.4% suggests a possible data mismatch or non-comparable period, limiting trend reliability
- Retail apparel demand is cyclical and margins can compress from promotions, shrink, freight, and inventory missteps
- Quick ratio of 0.90x indicates liquidity is partly dependent on inventory conversion rather than purely liquid assets
Key Metrics to Watch
- Gross margin trends and merchandise cost inflation
- Free cash flow sustainability and capital allocation decisions
- Same-store sales growth and comparable store performance
- Inventory turnover and working capital efficiency
- Operating margin expansion or contraction amid pricing pressures
- Comparable sales and revenue growth quality across normalized periods
- Operating margin and free cash flow margin sustainability
Ross Stores, Inc.. (ROST) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
Ross Stores, Inc.. presents a mixed fundamental picture. Review the detailed metrics above to form your own investment thesis.
ROST Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
ROST vs Consumer Sector: How Ross Stores, Inc.. Compares
How Ross Stores, Inc.. compares to Consumer sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Ross Stores, Inc.. Stock Overvalued? ROST Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Ross Stores, Inc.. appears fundamentally strong relative to the Consumer sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Ross Stores, Inc.. Balance Sheet: ROST Debt, Cash & Liquidity
ROST Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Ross Stores, Inc..'s revenue has grown significantly by 20% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $5.56 reflects profitable operations.
ROST Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
ROST Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $5.1B | $479.2M | $1.48 |
| Q2 2025 | $5.3B | $479.2M | $1.56 |
| Q1 2025 | $4.9B | $479.2M | $1.46 |
| Q3 2024 | $4.9B | $371.2M | $1.33 |
| Q2 2024 | $4.9B | $371.2M | $1.32 |
| Q1 2024 | $4.5B | $371.2M | $1.09 |
| Q3 2023 | $4.6B | $338.4M | $1.00 |
| Q2 2023 | $4.6B | $338.4M | $1.11 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Ross Stores, Inc.. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
ROST SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Ross Stores, Inc.. (CIK: 0000745732)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about ROST
What is the AI rating for ROST?
Ross Stores, Inc.. (ROST) has a Combined AI Rating of BUY from Claude (STRONG BUY) and ChatGPT (BUY) with 84% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are ROST's key strengths?
Claude: Strong net margin at 9.3% with healthy operating margin of 11.7%, indicating pricing power and operational efficiency. Exceptional return on equity of 25.5% demonstrates effective use of shareholder capital. ChatGPT: Strong profitability with 11.7% operating margin, 9.3% net margin, and 25.5% ROE. Healthy balance sheet with $4.06B cash, low 0.26x debt/equity, and very high 144.1x interest coverage.
What are the risks of investing in ROST?
Claude: Extraordinary revenue growth of 12,215% YoY suggests potential data anomaly or accounting change; sustainability unclear. Gross margin data unavailable, limiting visibility into merchandise mix, pricing strategy, and supply chain cost trends. ChatGPT: Reported revenue growth of +12215.4% suggests a possible data mismatch or non-comparable period, limiting trend reliability. Retail apparel demand is cyclical and margins can compress from promotions, shrink, freight, and inventory missteps.
What is ROST's revenue and growth?
Ross Stores, Inc.. reported revenue of $16.1B.
Does ROST pay dividends?
Ross Stores, Inc.. pays dividends, with $397.2M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find ROST SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Ross Stores, Inc.. (CIK: 0000745732) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is ROST's EPS?
Ross Stores, Inc.. has a diluted EPS of $4.61.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is ROST a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Ross Stores, Inc.. has a BUY rating with 84% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.
Is ROST stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for ROST: ROE of 25.5% (sector avg: 18%), net margin of 9.3% (sector avg: 8%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.
Should I buy ROST stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Ross Stores, Inc.. a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is ROST's free cash flow?
Ross Stores, Inc..'s operating cash flow is $1.9B, with capital expenditures of $618.4M. FCF margin is 8.0%.
How does ROST compare to other Consumer stocks?
Vs Consumer sector averages: Net margin 9.3% (avg: 8%), ROE 25.5% (avg: 18%), current ratio 1.52 (avg: 1.5).
Why is ROST's return on equity (ROE) so high?
Ross Stores, Inc.. has a return on equity of 25.5%, significantly above the Consumer sector average of 18%. A high ROE indicates the company is efficient at generating profits from shareholder equity. This is supported by a 9.3% net margin.