Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) Releases Q3 2026 Earnings Guidance

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) issued an update on its third quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 1.750-1.830 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 1.740. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Ross Stores also updated its FY 2026 guidance to 8.610-8.770 EPS.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on ROST shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Ross Stores from $262.00 to $272.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Ross Stores from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Ross Stores in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on Ross Stores from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Ross Stores from $245.00 to $248.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $263.76.

Ross Stores Stock Performance

ROST stock opened at $239.04 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The firm has a market cap of $76.68 billion, a PE ratio of 28.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.86. The business has a 50 day moving average of $233.81 and a 200-day moving average of $221.86. Ross Stores has a 12-month low of $143.39 and a 12-month high of $257.00.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The apparel retailer reported $2.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.95 by $0.71. The business had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.16 billion. Ross Stores had a return on equity of 40.28% and a net margin of 10.85%.The business’s revenue was up 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.56 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Ross Stores will post 7.81 earnings per share for the current year.

Ross Stores Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 8th will be given a dividend of $0.445 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 8th. This represents a $1.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Ross Stores’s dividend payout ratio is currently 21.55%.

Ross Stores News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 results exceeded expectations: Ross reported diluted EPS of $2.66 versus the approximately $1.95 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 13.3% year over year to $6.26 billion, ahead of the $6.16 billion forecast. Comparable-store sales increased 10%, supported by stronger customer traffic, improved merchandising and higher margins. Ross Stores Q2 Earnings Top Estimates on Strong Sales Growth Momentum
• Positive Sentiment: Higher outlook signals continued momentum: Management raised fiscal 2026 EPS guidance to $8.61-$8.77, well above the prior outlook and the roughly $7.31 analyst consensus. Third- and fourth-quarter EPS guidance also came in above expectations. The company cited resilient demand for discounted apparel and accessories and raised its fiscal-year store-opening plan to 115 locations. Ross Stores raises annual profit forecast again on discounted apparel demand
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised price targets: JPMorgan increased its target to $272 and maintained an Overweight rating, while Robert W. Baird raised its target to $270 and kept an Outperform rating. These revisions reinforce expectations that Ross is gaining market share from rivals. Analysts Boost Forecasts on Ross Stores
• Neutral Sentiment: Approximately $253 million of tariff refunds benefited second-quarter operating income, creating a potential comparison headwind when assessing underlying profitability. Ross Stores Q2 Sales Rise 13% as Diluted EPS Reaches $2.66
• Negative Sentiment: BTIG analyst Robert Drbul reiterated a Hold rating, indicating that strong execution may already be reflected in ROST’s premium valuation. Recent insider activity also showed sales but no purchases, a modest sentiment caution. Analyst Reiterates Hold on Ross Stores

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ROST. Virtus Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Ross Stores during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Quarry LP boosted its position 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 acquiring an additional 281 shares during the period. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in Ross Stores during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $60,000. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Ross Stores during the 4th quarter worth approximately $70,000. Finally, Johnson Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Ross Stores by 189.1% in the 4th quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 396 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.86% of the company’s stock.

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.