Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) Receives $162.67 Average PT from Analysts

Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eighteen ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $162.6667.

ROST has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Ross Stores from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Ross Stores from $156.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Ross Stores in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. BTIG Research initiated coverage on Ross Stores in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Ross Stores from $128.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, August 22nd.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ross Stores

In related news, CMO Karen Fleming sold 2,932 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.09, for a total transaction of $437,131.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer owned 88,335 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $13,169,865.15. This represents a 3.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CMO Karen Sykes sold 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.76, for a total transaction of $607,040.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 106,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,149,236.88. This represents a 3.62% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 52,720 shares of company stock worth $7,761,212 in the last quarter. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ross Stores

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. American National Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Ross Stores during the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Ross Stores during the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Aspect Partners LLC increased its position in Ross Stores by 251.7% in the 2nd quarter. Aspect Partners LLC now owns 204 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Ross Stores by 50.7% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 217 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. Finally, E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. increased its position in Ross Stores by 162.6% in the 3rd quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 239 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 148 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.86% of the company’s stock.

Ross Stores Stock Performance

Ross Stores stock opened at $158.07 on Tuesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $151.65 and its 200 day moving average price is $143.37. The company has a market capitalization of $51.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 1.18. Ross Stores has a 12-month low of $122.36 and a 12-month high of $161.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 0.98.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 21st. The apparel retailer reported $1.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $5.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.54 billion. Ross Stores had a net margin of 9.60% and a return on equity of 37.37%. The company’s revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.59 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Ross Stores will post 6.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ross Stores Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 9th were given a dividend of $0.405 per share. This represents a $1.62 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 9th. Ross Stores’s dividend payout ratio is currently 25.71%.

About Ross Stores

Ross Stores, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates off-price retail apparel and home fashion stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd’s DISCOUNTS brand names in the United States. Its stores primarily offer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions. The company’s Ross Dress for Less stores sell its products at department and specialty stores to middle income households; and dd’s DISCOUNTS stores sell its products at department and discount stores for households with moderate income.