Sarasin & Partners LLP Has $59.15 Million Holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. $ROST

Key Points

• Sarasin & Partners LLP increased its holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. by 0.5% during Q2, owning approximately 463,590 shares worth $59.15 million.
• The company reported earnings of $1.56 EPS for the latest quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate, with revenue of $5.53 billion, a 4.6% year-over-year increase.
• Ross Stores announced a quarterly dividend of $0.405 per share, equating to a 1.1% yield, with an ex-dividend date set for September 9th.

Sarasin & Partners LLP lifted its holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST - Free Report) by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 463,590 shares of the apparel retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 2,510 shares during the period. Sarasin & Partners LLP owned approximately 0.14% of Ross Stores worth $59,145,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. Bayforest Capital Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Ross Stores by 372.5% in the first quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 241 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the period. Banque Transatlantique SA bought a new stake in shares of Ross Stores in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ross Stores by 36.6% in the first quarter. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC now owns 280 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Finally, Putney Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ross Stores in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Institutional investors own 86.86% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Ross Stores

In related news, CMO Karen Sykes sold 4,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.76, for a total value of $607,040.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer owned 106,413 shares in the company, valued at $16,149,236.88. The trade was a 3.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Ross Stores Price Performance

ROST stock opened at $146.45 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $142.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $138.31. The company has a market capitalization of $47.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.25, a PEG ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 1.15. Ross Stores, Inc. has a 52-week low of $122.36 and a 52-week high of $158.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.58.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 21st. The apparel retailer reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $5.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.54 billion. Ross Stores had a return on equity of 37.37% and a net margin of 9.60%.Ross Stores's revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.59 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Ross Stores, Inc. will post 6.17 EPS for the current year.

Ross Stores Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 9th will be issued a $0.405 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 9th. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Ross Stores's payout ratio is presently 25.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ROST has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Ross Stores in a research report on Friday, August 22nd. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed a "market perform" rating and set a $160.00 price objective (up previously from $150.00) on shares of Ross Stores in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Ross Stores from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $135.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Ross Stores from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Ross Stores from $156.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $160.67.

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.

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