Berkeley Inc Has $4.71 Million Stock Holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST)

Berkeley Inc lessened its holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST - Free Report) by 50.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 31,147 shares of the apparel retailer's stock after selling 31,189 shares during the period. Ross Stores comprises approximately 2.4% of Berkeley Inc's holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Berkeley Inc's holdings in Ross Stores were worth $4,712,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Ross Stores by 152.9% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 177 shares of the apparel retailer's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the period. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new position in Ross Stores during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Ross Stores during the 4th quarter worth $44,000. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC acquired a new position in Ross Stores during the 4th quarter worth $48,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Ross Stores during the 4th quarter worth $51,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.86% of the company's stock.

Ross Stores Stock Performance

Ross Stores stock traded up $0.92 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $139.85. 4,225,878 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,712,215. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $139.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $142.88. The firm has a market cap of $45.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.02, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.17. Ross Stores, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $122.36 and a fifty-two week high of $163.60.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 22nd. The apparel retailer reported $1.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $4.98 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.94 billion. Ross Stores had a net margin of 9.95% and a return on equity of 41.83%. Ross Stores's revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.46 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Ross Stores, Inc. will post 6.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Ross Stores Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 10th will be paid a $0.405 dividend. This represents a $1.62 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.16%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 10th. Ross Stores's dividend payout ratio is currently 25.59%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Ross Stores from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Loop Capital decreased their price objective on shares of Ross Stores from $175.00 to $170.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on shares of Ross Stores from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Citigroup raised shares of Ross Stores from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $146.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Ross Stores from $128.00 to $126.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $158.67.

Insider Transactions at Ross Stores

In other news, CMO Karen Fleming sold 5,339 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.73, for a total value of $671,272.47. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 94,063 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,826,540.99. This represents a 5.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Chairman Michael Balmuth sold 11,261 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.60, for a total transaction of $1,481,947.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,790 shares in the company, valued at $7,868,364. The trade was a 15.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 34,398 shares of company stock valued at $4,439,950. Company insiders own 2.20% of the company's stock.

Ross Stores Company Profile

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.