We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Here's Why Ross Stores (ROST) is a Solid Investment Option
Read MoreHide Full Article
Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST - Free Report) is worth investing at the moment as its sound fundamentals and growth efforts look impressive. The company is poised to gain from a favorable comparable store sales (comps) trend and higher operating margin. Notably, strength across categories has been aiding its comps for the past few quarters. Moreover, the company’s commitment toward pricing, merchandise initiatives, cost containment and store expansion bodes well.
Further, a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and Growth Score of B increases its odds of success.
Notably, shares of the Dublin, CA-based company have gained 6.8% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 3.2%.
Factors Aiding the Stock
Ross Stores has been witnessing solid comps performance over the past few quarters due to sturdy growth across categories and geographic regions. Notably, comps improved 5% in third-quarter fiscal 2019, driven by higher traffic and increased average basket size. The higher basket size can be attributable to increased units per transaction, offset by slightly lower average unit retail.
Comps also outpaced the company’s guidance of 1-2% growth, benefiting from strength in the children's category, and in the Midwest region. It anticipates 1-2% comps growth for fourth-quarter fiscal 2019.
Moreover, the company’s store expansion plans bode well. It remains focused on increasing penetration in the existing as well as new markets. In the fiscal third quarter, the company successfully reached the target of opening 42 stores, which included 30 Ross and 12 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores. Notably, this also marked the completion of its store opening target for fiscal 2019, with the addition of 98 outlets. Furthermore, the company expects to expand the Ross chain of stores to 2,400 locations alongside operating about 600 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores in the long run.
Upbeat FY19 View Bodes Well
Further, management’s guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2019 remain robust. The company expects earnings per share of $4.52-$4.57 for fiscal 2019, up from $4.41-$4.50 mentioned earlier. Notably, it earned $4.26 per share in fiscal 2018.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, the company expects earnings per share of $1.20-$1.25, whereas it reported $1.20 in the year-ago period. Total sales are expected to increase 5-6% in the fiscal fourth quarter.
Wrapping Up
We believe that the company’s solid fundaments and robust view confirm a robust growth trajectory moving ahead. This is likely to keep the stock in investors’ good books.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) currently has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.1% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Zumiez (ZUMZ - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. It flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 at present.
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020?
Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
Image: Bigstock
Here's Why Ross Stores (ROST) is a Solid Investment Option
Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST - Free Report) is worth investing at the moment as its sound fundamentals and growth efforts look impressive. The company is poised to gain from a favorable comparable store sales (comps) trend and higher operating margin. Notably, strength across categories has been aiding its comps for the past few quarters. Moreover, the company’s commitment toward pricing, merchandise initiatives, cost containment and store expansion bodes well.
Further, a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and Growth Score of B increases its odds of success.
Notably, shares of the Dublin, CA-based company have gained 6.8% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 3.2%.
Factors Aiding the Stock
Ross Stores has been witnessing solid comps performance over the past few quarters due to sturdy growth across categories and geographic regions. Notably, comps improved 5% in third-quarter fiscal 2019, driven by higher traffic and increased average basket size. The higher basket size can be attributable to increased units per transaction, offset by slightly lower average unit retail.
Comps also outpaced the company’s guidance of 1-2% growth, benefiting from strength in the children's category, and in the Midwest region. It anticipates 1-2% comps growth for fourth-quarter fiscal 2019.
Moreover, the company’s store expansion plans bode well. It remains focused on increasing penetration in the existing as well as new markets. In the fiscal third quarter, the company successfully reached the target of opening 42 stores, which included 30 Ross and 12 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores. Notably, this also marked the completion of its store opening target for fiscal 2019, with the addition of 98 outlets. Furthermore, the company expects to expand the Ross chain of stores to 2,400 locations alongside operating about 600 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores in the long run.
Upbeat FY19 View Bodes Well
Further, management’s guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2019 remain robust. The company expects earnings per share of $4.52-$4.57 for fiscal 2019, up from $4.41-$4.50 mentioned earlier. Notably, it earned $4.26 per share in fiscal 2018.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, the company expects earnings per share of $1.20-$1.25, whereas it reported $1.20 in the year-ago period. Total sales are expected to increase 5-6% in the fiscal fourth quarter.
Wrapping Up
We believe that the company’s solid fundaments and robust view confirm a robust growth trajectory moving ahead. This is likely to keep the stock in investors’ good books.
3 Other Stocks to Consider
Nordstorm (JWN - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 6%. It presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) currently has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.1% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Zumiez (ZUMZ - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. It flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 at present.
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020?
Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >>