Companies /Consumer Cyclical

Ross Stores Inc

NASDAQ: ROST Apparel Retail
$234.10
▲ $0.70 (+0.30%) today
Markets closed · 5:05pm ET

Q4 2024 Earnings

Reported Mar 4, 2025, 4:04pm ET · SEC source
$1.79
Beat +7.92%
EPS · est. $1.66 GAAP

Includes approximately $0.14 per share one-time benefit from the sale of a packaway facility

$5.9B
Miss −0.66%
Revenue · est. $6.0B
+7.3%
Beating market
ROST vs S&P since report
8 quarters
Consecutive EPS beats

Market Reaction

% change · around the report
−4%−2%0+2%Mar 4Mar 5report 4:04pm ETearnings+0.9%+2.8%
−4%−2%0+2%Mar 4Mar 5earnings+0.9%+2.8%
ROST +2.8%S&P 500 +0.9%
−4%−2%0+2%Mar 4Mar 5report 4:04pm ETearnings+0.9%+2.8%
−4%−2%0+2%Mar 4Mar 5earnings+0.9%+2.8%
ROST +2.8%NASDAQ +0.9%
−6%−3%0+3%Mar 3Mar 12report 4:04pm ETearnings−3.6%−7.3%
−6%−3%0+3%Mar 3Mar 12earnings−3.6%−7.3%
ROST −7.3%S&P 500 −3.6%
−6%−3%0+3%Mar 3Mar 12report 4:04pm ETearnings−4.3%−7.3%
−6%−3%0+3%Mar 3Mar 12earnings−4.3%−7.3%
ROST −7.3%NASDAQ −4.3%
+1.96%
Day of report
−0.54%
Next session
−8.74%
One week
−6.01%
30 days

S&P 500 over the same 30 days: −13.34%.

Did ROST Beat Earnings? Q4 2024 Results

Ross Stores delivered a mixed fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 report, posting GAAP diluted EPS of $1.79 that beat the $1.66 consensus by 7.92%, while revenue of $5.91 billion fell just short of the $5.95 billion estimate and declined 1.8% year over year. The EPS figure included a one-time benefit of approximately $0.14 per share from the sale of a packaway facility, which also contributed roughly 105 basis points to operating margin and helped keep Q4 operating margin flat at 12.4% versus the prior-year period. Comparable store sales rose 3%, and CEO Jim Conroy credited improved assortments of branded bargains during the holiday season for driving customer response. The company also announced a 10% quarterly dividend increase and a planned CFO succession, with a long-tenured internal finance executive set to take the role in October 2025. However, management adopted a cautious posture for the year ahead, citing softening sales trends in late January and February alongside macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, with full fiscal year 2025 EPS guided to $5.95 to $6.55 versus $6.32 in fiscal 2024.

Key Takeaways
  • Comparable store sales up 3% on top of 7% gain in prior year Q4
  • Customers' positive response to improved assortments of quality branded bargains during holiday season
  • One-time benefit of approximately $0.14 per share from sale of a packaway facility
  • Operating margin flat at 12.4% as facility sale gain offset planned merchandise margin declines and unfavorable packaway cost timing

“Fourth quarter sales and earnings results were at the high end of our expectations. Sales benefited from customers' positive responses to our improved assortments of quality branded bargains throughout our stores during the critical holiday selling season.”

Ross Stores CEO, on the earnings call

Forward Guidance & Outlook

For Q1 FY2025 (13 weeks ending May 3, 2025), management forecasts comparable store sales of down 3% to flat versus a 3% gain last year, with EPS projected at $1.33 to $1.47 compared to $1.46 in Q1 FY2024. For full fiscal year 2025 (52 weeks ending January 31, 2026), same-store sales are planned at down 1% to up 2% on top of a 3% gain in fiscal 2024, with EPS projected at $5.95 to $6.55 versus $6.32 in fiscal 2024. Management cited softening sales trends from late January into February, driven by unseasonable weather and heightened macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility impacting customer traffic, and noted it is taking a cautious approach given the lack of visibility on these external factors. The company expects to complete the remaining $1.05 billion under its share repurchase authorization in fiscal 2025.

ROST YoY Financials

Q4 2024 vs Q4 2023 · SEC filings Q4 2023 Q4 2024
$0$2.0B$4.0B$6.0B$6.0B$5.9BRevenue$1.6B$1.6BGross Profit$744.0M$731.0MOperating Income$609.7M$586.8MNet Income
$0$2.0B$4.0B$6.0BRevenueGross ProfitOperating IncomeNet Income

Figures from SEC filings and company reports. Not investment advice.