Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) Shares Sold by Windward Capital Management Co. CA

Windward Capital Management Co. CA decreased its holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) by 7.7% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 2,114 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after selling 177 shares during the period. Windward Capital Management Co. CA’s holdings in Ross Stores were worth $320,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Longboard Asset Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Ross Stores in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $244,000. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Ross Stores by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,511 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $834,000 after buying an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. Willis Investment Counsel grew its holdings in Ross Stores by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Willis Investment Counsel now owns 50,802 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $7,685,000 after buying an additional 887 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ross Stores in the 4th quarter worth $8,508,000. Finally, Greenleaf Trust raised its holdings in shares of Ross Stores by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 5,433 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $822,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares during the period. 86.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ross Stores Price Performance

Ross Stores stock opened at $146.95 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Ross Stores, Inc. has a 52-week low of $127.53 and a 52-week high of $163.60. The firm has a market cap of $48.48 billion, a PE ratio of 23.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.10. The company’s 50 day moving average is $151.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $147.95.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 21st. The apparel retailer reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.07. Ross Stores had a return on equity of 41.83% and a net margin of 9.95%. The business had revenue of $5.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.15 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.33 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Ross Stores, Inc. will post 6.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ross Stores Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 10th were paid a dividend of $0.3675 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 10th. This represents a $1.47 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.00%. Ross Stores’s payout ratio is 23.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on ROST shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Ross Stores from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $165.00 price target on shares of Ross Stores in a research report on Friday, January 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Ross Stores from $171.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating and set a $180.00 target price on shares of Ross Stores in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on Ross Stores from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ross Stores presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $169.06.

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.