Ross Stores (ROST) stock
Consumer Discretionary · Apparel Retail
Ross Stores (ROST) is an Apparel Retail company in the Consumer Discretionary sector, headquartered in Dublin, California. As of October 23, 2026, ROST closed at $229.30, a market capitalization of $73.56 billion, the 175th largest company in the S&P 500. Over the last twelve months it generated $24.51 billion in revenue (+13% year over year) and $2.79 billion in free cash flow. The stock trades at 27.7x trailing earnings and 25.5x forward earnings.
- 1-year total return: +47.6% (dividends reinvested)
- 5-year return: +17.0% a year
- 52-week range: $157.39 – $257.00
- Gross margin 33.4%, operating margin 13.6%
- Dividend yield: 0.78%, 4 straight years of increases
- FI Handbook report card: C+ across 10 metrics
- 14th largest of 47 Consumer Discretionary stocks in the S&P 500
ROST price chart
1Y price change: +46.4% (price only; total returns below include dividends)
| Total return | 1M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROST | -2.0% | +28.1% | +47.6% | +27.3% | +17.0% | +14.8% | +16.6% |
Dividends reinvested. 3Y and longer are annualized; MAX is annualized since 1985.
ROST key statistics
- Market cap
- $73.6B
- #175 in S&P 500
- P/E (TTM)
- 27.7x
- Forward P/E
- 25.5x
- EPS (TTM)
- $8.27
- Revenue (TTM)
- $24.5B
- +13%
- Free cash flow
- $2.8B
- Gross margin
- 33.4%
- Operating margin
- 13.6%
- Return on equity
- 42.6%
- Dividend yield
- 0.78%
- 52-week range
- $157.39 – $257.00
- Beta
- 0.84
- Price / sales
- 3.0x
- EV / EBITDA
- 20.2x
- Debt / equity
- 0.70x
- Employees
- 111,000
ROST report card
C+Ten fundamentals graded A to F against fixed thresholds. Not a buy or sell rating.
- Revenue growth13.3%B
- Gross margin33.4%C
- Operating margin13.6%C
- FCF margin11.4%C
- Return on equity42.6%A
- Net debt / EBITDA0.1xB
- Forward P/E25.5xC
- PEG ratio2.5xD
- Shareholder yield2.2%C
- Share count change / yr-1.8%B
Ross Stores financials
Revenue went from $12.9B in fiscal 2017 to $22.8B in fiscal 2026, growing 6.5% a year.
| Fiscal year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $12.9B | $14.1B | $15.0B | $16.0B | $12.5B | $18.9B | $18.7B | $20.4B | $21.1B | $22.8B |
| Gross profit | $3.7B | $4.1B | $4.3B | $4.5B | $2.7B | $5.2B | $4.7B | $5.6B | $5.9B | $6.3B |
| Operating income | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2.0B | $2.3B | $2.6B | $2.7B |
| Net income | $1.1B | $1.4B | $1.6B | $1.7B | $85.4M | $1.7B | $1.5B | $1.9B | $2.1B | $2.1B |
| EPS (diluted) | $2.83 | $3.55 | $4.26 | $4.60 | $0.24 | $4.87 | $4.38 | $5.56 | $6.32 | $6.61 |
| Free cash flow | $1.3B | $1.3B | $1.7B | $1.6B | $1.8B | $1.2B | $1.0B | $1.8B | $1.6B | $2.2B |
| Buybacks | $700.0M | $875.0M | $1.1B | $1.3B | $132.5M | $650.0M | $950.0M | $950.0M | $1.0B | $1.1B |
| Dividends paid | $214.6M | $247.5M | $337.2M | $369.8M | $101.4M | $405.1M | $431.3M | $454.8M | $488.7M | $528.1M |
| Diluted shares | 395.0M | 384.3M | 372.7M | 361.2M | 354.6M | 353.7M | 345.2M | 337.4M | 331.0M | 324.4M |
Source: SEC filings (10-K XBRL). EPS and share counts are split-adjusted.
What's priced into ROST?
A reverse DCF asks what growth the current price requires. With an enterprise value of $74.0B and $2.8B of trailing free cash flow, Ross Stores needs to grow free cash flow about 17.7% a year for ten years (fading to 3.0% terminal growth) to earn a 10% annual return. For context, free cash flow grew 3.7% a year over the last five years.
P/E ratio history
Current 34.7x vs. median 23.0x (10th–90th percentile 17.3x–32.5x).
A model, not a forecast or advice. Small changes in assumptions move the answer a lot.
ROST dividend
- Dividend yield
- 0.78%
- Annual dividend
- $1.78
- Years of increases
- 4
- 5-yr dividend growth
- 41.6%
- per year
- Payout ratio
- 21%
- Payments per year
- 4
Regular dividends per share by calendar year; special dividends excluded. Current year omitted until complete.
ROST analyst price targets
18 analysts' average 12-month target is $268.00 (+17% vs. $229.30). Targets range from $187.00 to $310.00. 70% rate it a buy.
ROST earnings
Next report: November 19, 2026. Ross Stores has beaten EPS estimates 6 quarters in a row. Last quarter's revenue was $6.3B (+13% year over year).
| Report date | EPS estimate | EPS actual | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2026 | $1.95 | $2.66 | +36.7% |
| May 21, 2026 | $1.73 | $2.02 | +16.7% |
| Mar 3, 2026 | $1.90 | $2.00 | +5.1% |
| Nov 20, 2025 | $1.42 | $1.58 | +11.4% |
| Aug 21, 2025 | $1.54 | $1.56 | +1.4% |
| May 22, 2025 | $1.43 | $1.47 | +2.5% |
| Mar 4, 2025 | $1.66 | $1.65 | -0.4% |
| Nov 21, 2024 | $1.40 | $1.48 | +5.6% |
Stocks like ROST
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 TSLA Tesla | -0.63% | -17% | $1.5T | 409.0x | Compare |
 HD Home Depot | -2.41% | -15% | $319.1B | 21.5x | Compare |
 MCD McDonald's | -1.65% | -17% | $175.8B | 20.2x | Compare |
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 SBUX Starbucks | -1.09% | +21% | $114.9B | 58.3x | Compare |
 LOW Lowe's Companies | -2.78% | -17% | $111.5B | 16.8x | Compare |
ROST news
- DG or ROST: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now? · Oct 23, 2026
- How Ross and On Holding Can Buck That Retail Funk · Oct 22, 2026
- Ross Stores (ROST) Stock Declines While Market Improves: Some Information for Investors · Oct 21, 2026
- Discount Retailer Stocks Q2 Recap: Benchmarking Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) · Oct 21, 2026
- Is Ross Stores (ROST) Stock Outpacing Its Retail-Wholesale Peers This Year? · Oct 19, 2026
ROST stock FAQ
What is ROST's market cap?
Ross Stores's market capitalization is $73.56 billion as of October 23, 2026, ranking 175th in the S&P 500.
What is ROST's P/E ratio?
ROST trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 27.7x and a forward P/E of 25.5x. Its median P/E over the period we track is 23.0x.
Does ROST pay a dividend?
Yes. Ross Stores pays $1.78 per share a year, a 0.78% yield. It has raised its dividend 4 years in a row. Dividends grew 41.6% a year over the last five years.
How much has ROST stock returned?
Including reinvested dividends, ROST returned +47.6% over one year, +17.0% a year over five years, +14.8% a year over ten years through October 23, 2026.
Is ROST stock overvalued?
At today's price, a reverse discounted cash flow model (10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth) implies Ross Stores must grow free cash flow about 18% a year for the next decade. Its free cash flow grew 4% a year over the last five years. Whether that is achievable decides if the stock is cheap or expensive. This is a model, not advice.
What is the ROST price target?
18 analysts cover ROST with an average 12-month price target of $268.00, +17% from the current price. 70% of them rate it a buy.
When does ROST report earnings?
Ross Stores is expected to report earnings on November 19, 2026. It has beaten EPS estimates 6 quarters in a row.
How many employees does Ross Stores have?
Ross Stores has about 111,000 full-time employees, or $220,827 of revenue per employee.
Sources: SEC EDGAR filings, Yahoo Finance market data (delayed), FI Handbook calculations. Last close October 23, 2026. Methodology