Ross Stores Plans to Open 110 New Locations by 2026
- Expansion Plan Launch: Ross Stores announced a plan to add approximately 110 new locations in fiscal 2026, comprising 85 Ross Dress for Less and 25 dd's DISCOUNTS, indicating a 5% unit growth rate that reflects the company's proactive response to market demand.
- New Store Openings: In February and March, Ross Stores opened 17 new stores nationwide, including 13 Ross and 4 dd's DISCOUNTS, further solidifying its market presence in the Mountain, Midwest, and Northeast regions.
- Community Contributions: In celebration of each new store opening, the company donated to local Boys & Girls Clubs or First Book, demonstrating Ross Stores' long-standing commitment to supporting underprivileged youth while enhancing its brand influence within communities.
- Confidence in Long-Term Growth: Executives expressed confidence in achieving a future target of 2,900 Ross and 700 dd's DISCOUNTS locations, signaling ongoing market expansion and brand strengthening efforts.
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- Expansion Plan Launch: Ross Stores announced a plan to add approximately 110 new locations in fiscal 2026, comprising 85 Ross Dress for Less and 25 dd's DISCOUNTS, indicating a 5% unit growth rate that reflects the company's proactive response to market demand.
- New Store Openings: In February and March, Ross Stores opened 17 new stores nationwide, including 13 Ross and 4 dd's DISCOUNTS, further solidifying its market presence in the Mountain, Midwest, and Northeast regions.
- Community Contributions: In celebration of each new store opening, the company donated to local Boys & Girls Clubs or First Book, demonstrating Ross Stores' long-standing commitment to supporting underprivileged youth while enhancing its brand influence within communities.
- Confidence in Long-Term Growth: Executives expressed confidence in achieving a future target of 2,900 Ross and 700 dd's DISCOUNTS locations, signaling ongoing market expansion and brand strengthening efforts.
- Expansion Plan Launch: Ross Stores announced the opening of 17 new stores nationwide during February and March, including 13 Ross Dress for Less and four dd's DISCOUNTS, marking the first wave of its fiscal 2026 expansion plan to add approximately 110 new stores, achieving a total unit growth of 5%.
- Market Coverage Enhancement: The new stores span 11 states, particularly expanding Ross Dress for Less in the Mountain, Midwest, and Northeast regions, while also increasing dd's locations in core markets of California and Texas, and opening its first store in Utah, thereby strengthening its presence in key markets.
- Historical Growth Review: Since opening its first department store in California in 1950, Ross Stores has undergone three distinct phases of growth, from slow growth from 1950 to 1981, to hyper-growth following its 1982 off-price pivot and 1985 IPO, and then to disciplined, compounding growth from the late 1990s, now boasting 2,270 locations.
- Stock Market Performance Analysis: Although Ross Stores' shares fell 0.6% in premarket trading on Monday, the stock has risen over 50% in the past 52 weeks, reflecting market confidence in its future growth potential, especially following strong quarterly results and upbeat guidance.
- Goldman Sachs Recommendations: Goldman Sachs recently highlighted stocks including Nvidia, Ross Stores, Viking Holdings, Once Upon a Farm, and Dutch Bros as must-buys amid rising market fears, reflecting strong confidence in these companies.
- Dutch Bros. Growth Potential: Analyst Christine Cho upgraded Dutch Bros. from neutral to buy, noting its robust growth potential in the U.S. restaurant sector, particularly driven by solid same-store sales growth and strong unit economics supporting mid-teens store growth.
- Once Upon a Farm Brand Strength: Analyst Leah Jordan initiated coverage on Once Upon a Farm with a buy rating, emphasizing its strong brand power and defensible market position, while the company is well-positioned within the

- Santa's Shopping Spree: Santa has been spotted doing extensive shopping at Burlington, suggesting a festive preparation for the holiday season.
- Burlington's Appeal: The store's variety and discounts likely make it a popular choice for holiday shoppers looking for gifts.
- Holiday Spirit: The image of Santa shopping reflects the joyful and giving spirit associated with the Christmas season.
- Community Engagement: This event may encourage local community members to visit Burlington for their holiday shopping needs.
Consumer Spending Trends: In a challenging economic environment, consumers are becoming more cautious with their spending, particularly delaying non-essential purchases, which has impacted full-price retailers, especially in sectors like electronics and high-end apparel.
Retail Performance: Companies like Ross Stores and TJX have capitalized on the shift in consumer behavior, demonstrating strong financial results with increased traffic and sales, indicating a migration of consumers towards off-price retail sectors.
Strategic Expansion Plans: Both Ross and TJX are planning significant expansions, with Ross aiming to open 110 new locations and TJX targeting approximately 146 new stores, reflecting confidence in their business models and market positioning.
Investment Opportunities: The strong performance and growth strategies of these off-price retailers present attractive investment opportunities, as they continue to thrive in a cautious economic climate, appealing to both consumers and investors seeking reliable growth.
- Market Volatility: The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 800 points yesterday, marking its worst week since October, as investor sentiment is shaken by escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, leading to significant market instability.
- Rising Oil Prices: U.S. crude oil prices surged past $86 per barrel, contributing to higher gas prices and mortgage rates for consumers, which adds further economic pressure amid geopolitical uncertainties.
- Job Report Anticipation: The February jobs report, set to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET today, is expected to show a growth of 50,000 jobs with the unemployment rate steady at 4.3%, although economists express concerns about the labor market's overall health, particularly due to reliance on the healthcare sector for growth.
- Gap's Performance Decline: Gap reported disappointing fourth-quarter results due to historic storms and store closures, narrowly missing analysts' earnings expectations, which resulted in an over 8% drop in premarket trading, highlighting ongoing challenges in the retail sector.











