Ross Stores Projects Strong Earnings Growth for Fiscal 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 8 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy ROST?
Source: stocktwits
- Earnings Forecast: Ross Stores anticipates earnings per share for fiscal 2026 to range between $7.02 and $7.36, significantly up from $6.61 in fiscal 2025, indicating a robust growth trajectory that boosts investor confidence.
- Share Buyback Program: The Board of Directors has approved a $2.55 billion share buyback program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, representing a 21% increase from the $2.1 billion repurchase completed in 2024 and 2025, showcasing the company's strong belief in its future performance.
- Q4 Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company reported a 12% increase in total sales for Q4 to $6.6 billion, surpassing the expected $6.37 billion, with earnings per share hitting $2, well above the analyst estimate of $1.9, highlighting its strong market position.
- Market Sentiment Shift: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around ROST shifted from 'bullish' to 'extremely bullish' in the past 24 hours, with message volume rising from 'normal' to 'extremely high', reflecting heightened investor optimism regarding the company's growth prospects.
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Analyst Views on ROST
Wall Street analysts forecast ROST stock price to fall
16 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 202.300
Low
142.00
Averages
198.93
High
224.00
Current: 202.300
Low
142.00
Averages
198.93
High
224.00
About ROST
Ross Stores, Inc. is engaged in operating two brands of off-price retail apparel and home fashion stores-Ross Dress for Less (Ross) and dds DISCOUNTS. Ross is the off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States, with approximately 1,831 locations in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. Ross offers in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at savings of 20% to 60% off department and specialty store regular prices every day. Ross target customers are primarily from middle-income households. It also operates approximately 355 dds DISCOUNTS stores in 22 states. dds DISCOUNTS features more moderately-priced in- season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at savings of 20% to 70% off moderate department and discount store regular prices every day. It operates a total of approximately 2,186 stores.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Ross Stores Projects Strong Earnings Growth for Fiscal 2026
- Earnings Forecast: Ross Stores anticipates earnings per share for fiscal 2026 to range between $7.02 and $7.36, significantly up from $6.61 in fiscal 2025, indicating a robust growth trajectory that boosts investor confidence.
- Share Buyback Program: The Board of Directors has approved a $2.55 billion share buyback program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, representing a 21% increase from the $2.1 billion repurchase completed in 2024 and 2025, showcasing the company's strong belief in its future performance.
- Q4 Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company reported a 12% increase in total sales for Q4 to $6.6 billion, surpassing the expected $6.37 billion, with earnings per share hitting $2, well above the analyst estimate of $1.9, highlighting its strong market position.
- Market Sentiment Shift: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around ROST shifted from 'bullish' to 'extremely bullish' in the past 24 hours, with message volume rising from 'normal' to 'extremely high', reflecting heightened investor optimism regarding the company's growth prospects.
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Ross Stores Announces 9.9% Increase in Quarterly Dividend
- Dividend Increase: Ross Stores has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.445 per share, representing a 9.9% increase from the previous dividend of $0.405, indicating the company's ongoing improvement in cash flow and profitability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Earnings Performance: The company reported a GAAP EPS of $2.00 for Q4 2026, beating expectations by $0.09, with revenue of $6.64 billion exceeding market forecasts by $200 million, reflecting strong performance during the holiday sales season and boosting overall results.
- Dividend Payment Schedule: The dividend will be payable on March 31, with a record date of March 13 and an ex-dividend date also on March 13, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and further solidifying the relationship between the company and its investors.
- Market Outlook: With strong holiday sales, Ross Stores projects an optimistic growth outlook, demonstrating the company's ability to adapt to market changes and consumer demands, which may attract increased investor interest.
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- Market Recovery: Major indexes rebounded from lows following Trump's announcement that the Navy would escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, indicating a positive market response to government intervention that may alleviate investor concerns over geopolitical risks.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices pared gains in the wake of Trump's statement, reflecting market concerns over supply chain security, which could influence future energy investment decisions.
- Geopolitical Implications: Trump's declaration underscores the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, potentially having far-reaching effects on the international oil market, particularly regarding the security of the crucial shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Investor Confidence: The market's positive reaction to Trump's remarks may bolster investor confidence in future economic stability, especially within the energy and transportation sectors, promoting better performance of related stocks.
See More
Trump States Navy Will Escort Tankers Through Hormuz Strait
- Market Recovery: Major indexes rebounded from lows after Trump announced that the Navy would escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, indicating a positive market reaction to government intervention that may bolster investor confidence.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices pared gains following Trump's statement, reflecting the market's sensitivity to geopolitical risks, which could influence future energy investment decisions.
- Geopolitical Implications: Trump's declaration underscores the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, potentially affecting the safety of international tanker transport and having far-reaching consequences for the global oil market.
- Investor Focus: Market participants will closely monitor U.S. Navy actions and their potential impact on oil prices and the global economy, which may lead to increased market volatility in the short term.
See More
Ross Stores Exceeds Expectations in Q4 Results
- Significant Sales Growth: Ross Stores reported a 9% increase in comparable store sales for Q4, significantly exceeding the expected 4.5%, driving total sales to $6.6 billion, a 12% year-over-year increase, and surpassing market estimates by $200 million, indicating strong market demand and effective marketing strategies.
- Profitability Improvement: The company achieved a net profit of $646 million in Q4, translating to earnings per share of $2.00, which is a 12% increase from the same quarter last year and $0.10 above expectations, reflecting successful cost control and operational efficiency.
- Operating Margin Exceeds Expectations: Ross Stores reported an operating margin of 12.3%, surpassing the company's forecast of 11.5%-11.8% and exceeding the consensus estimate by 30 basis points, indicating ongoing improvements in profitability.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company anticipates a 7% to 8% increase in comparable store sales for Q1, higher than the expected 3.71%, and projects earnings per share between $1.60 and $1.67, demonstrating confidence in future performance, with shares rising over 5% in after-hours trading.
See More
Ross Stores Reports Strong Earnings, Positive Growth Outlook
- Strong Earnings Report: Ross Stores reported a GAAP EPS of $2.00, beating expectations by $0.09, which reflects the company's robust profitability in the current economic climate and boosts investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved fourth-quarter revenue of $6.64 billion, exceeding market expectations by $200 million, indicating sustained strong consumer demand for discount retail, driving sales growth.
- Positive Growth Outlook: As consumers shift towards more cost-effective shopping options, Ross Stores' growth outlook is widely regarded as favorable, with expectations to benefit from trade-down effects amid economic slowdowns, further solidifying its market position.
- Stable Margins: Despite facing cost pressures, Ross Stores maintained stable profit margins, demonstrating effective cost control and operational efficiency, which enhances the company's resilience in a highly competitive retail market.
See More
Ross Stores Projects Strong Earnings Growth for Fiscal 2026
- Earnings Forecast: Ross Stores anticipates earnings per share for fiscal 2026 to range between $7.02 and $7.36, significantly up from $6.61 in fiscal 2025, indicating a robust growth trajectory that boosts investor confidence.
- Share Buyback Program: The Board of Directors has approved a $2.55 billion share buyback program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, representing a 21% increase from the $2.1 billion repurchase completed in 2024 and 2025, showcasing the company's strong belief in its future performance.
- Q4 Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company reported a 12% increase in total sales for Q4 to $6.6 billion, surpassing the expected $6.37 billion, with earnings per share hitting $2, well above the analyst estimate of $1.9, highlighting its strong market position.
- Market Sentiment Shift: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around ROST shifted from 'bullish' to 'extremely bullish' in the past 24 hours, with message volume rising from 'normal' to 'extremely high', reflecting heightened investor optimism regarding the company's growth prospects.
See More
Ross Stores Announces 9.9% Increase in Quarterly Dividend
- Dividend Increase: Ross Stores has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.445 per share, representing a 9.9% increase from the previous dividend of $0.405, indicating the company's ongoing improvement in cash flow and profitability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Earnings Performance: The company reported a GAAP EPS of $2.00 for Q4 2026, beating expectations by $0.09, with revenue of $6.64 billion exceeding market forecasts by $200 million, reflecting strong performance during the holiday sales season and boosting overall results.
- Dividend Payment Schedule: The dividend will be payable on March 31, with a record date of March 13 and an ex-dividend date also on March 13, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and further solidifying the relationship between the company and its investors.
- Market Outlook: With strong holiday sales, Ross Stores projects an optimistic growth outlook, demonstrating the company's ability to adapt to market changes and consumer demands, which may attract increased investor interest.
See More
Trump States Navy Will Escort Tankers Through Hormuz Strait if Necessary
- Market Recovery: Major indexes rebounded from lows following Trump's announcement that the Navy would escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, indicating a positive market response to government intervention that may alleviate investor concerns over geopolitical risks.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices pared gains in the wake of Trump's statement, reflecting market concerns over supply chain security, which could influence future energy investment decisions.
- Geopolitical Implications: Trump's declaration underscores the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, potentially having far-reaching effects on the international oil market, particularly regarding the security of the crucial shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Investor Confidence: The market's positive reaction to Trump's remarks may bolster investor confidence in future economic stability, especially within the energy and transportation sectors, promoting better performance of related stocks.
See More
Trump States Navy Will Escort Tankers Through Hormuz Strait
- Market Recovery: Major indexes rebounded from lows after Trump announced that the Navy would escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, indicating a positive market reaction to government intervention that may bolster investor confidence.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices pared gains following Trump's statement, reflecting the market's sensitivity to geopolitical risks, which could influence future energy investment decisions.
- Geopolitical Implications: Trump's declaration underscores the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, potentially affecting the safety of international tanker transport and having far-reaching consequences for the global oil market.
- Investor Focus: Market participants will closely monitor U.S. Navy actions and their potential impact on oil prices and the global economy, which may lead to increased market volatility in the short term.
See More
Ross Stores Exceeds Expectations in Q4 Results
- Significant Sales Growth: Ross Stores reported a 9% increase in comparable store sales for Q4, significantly exceeding the expected 4.5%, driving total sales to $6.6 billion, a 12% year-over-year increase, and surpassing market estimates by $200 million, indicating strong market demand and effective marketing strategies.
- Profitability Improvement: The company achieved a net profit of $646 million in Q4, translating to earnings per share of $2.00, which is a 12% increase from the same quarter last year and $0.10 above expectations, reflecting successful cost control and operational efficiency.
- Operating Margin Exceeds Expectations: Ross Stores reported an operating margin of 12.3%, surpassing the company's forecast of 11.5%-11.8% and exceeding the consensus estimate by 30 basis points, indicating ongoing improvements in profitability.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company anticipates a 7% to 8% increase in comparable store sales for Q1, higher than the expected 3.71%, and projects earnings per share between $1.60 and $1.67, demonstrating confidence in future performance, with shares rising over 5% in after-hours trading.
See More
Ross Stores Reports Strong Earnings, Positive Growth Outlook
- Strong Earnings Report: Ross Stores reported a GAAP EPS of $2.00, beating expectations by $0.09, which reflects the company's robust profitability in the current economic climate and boosts investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved fourth-quarter revenue of $6.64 billion, exceeding market expectations by $200 million, indicating sustained strong consumer demand for discount retail, driving sales growth.
- Positive Growth Outlook: As consumers shift towards more cost-effective shopping options, Ross Stores' growth outlook is widely regarded as favorable, with expectations to benefit from trade-down effects amid economic slowdowns, further solidifying its market position.
- Stable Margins: Despite facing cost pressures, Ross Stores maintained stable profit margins, demonstrating effective cost control and operational efficiency, which enhances the company's resilience in a highly competitive retail market.
See More
