Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Shares of Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the seventeen research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $158.94.

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on ROST. Barclays decreased their price objective on Ross Stores from $157.00 to $156.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Wall Street Zen lowered Ross Stores from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Loop Capital decreased their price objective on Ross Stores from $175.00 to $170.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Ross Stores from $128.00 to $126.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their price target on Ross Stores from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 23rd.

Ross Stores Trading Down 0.4%

NASDAQ:ROST opened at $129.94 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.55. Ross Stores has a one year low of $122.36 and a one year high of $163.60. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $136.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $138.48. The stock has a market cap of $42.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 1.11.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 22nd. The apparel retailer reported $1.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.03. Ross Stores had a return on equity of 38.77% and a net margin of 9.79%. The firm had revenue of $4.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.94 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. Ross Stores's revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Ross Stores will post 6.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ross Stores Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 10th were paid a $0.405 dividend. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 10th. Ross Stores's dividend payout ratio is 25.59%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ross Stores

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ROST. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Ross Stores by 50.7% during the first 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 in the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd raised its position in Ross Stores by 372.5% during the first quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 241 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Banque Transatlantique SA acquired a new position in Ross Stores during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC raised its position in Ross Stores by 36.6% during the first quarter. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC now owns 280 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Ross Stores during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Institutional investors own 86.86% 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.

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