Ross Stores Inc
Q4 2026 Earnings
Market Reaction
S&P 500 over the same 30 days: −3.60%.
Did ROST Beat Earnings? Q4 2026 Results
Ross Stores capped fiscal 2026's fourth quarter with a blowout holiday performance, posting earnings of $2.00 per share against a Wall Street consensus of $1.85 — an 8.11% beat — while revenue climbed 12.2% year over year to $6.64 billion, clearing the $6.44 billion estimate by 3.08%. The engine behind the outperformance was a 9% surge in comparable store sales, which drove operating margins to 12.3%, well above management's own guided range of 11.5% to 11.8%. CEO Jim Conroy credited the acceleration to sharper merchandise assortments and new marketing campaigns that deepened customer engagement during the critical holiday stretch — a dynamic that appears to contrast sharply with <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/03/margins-crack-at-autozone-investors-react-swiftly/">margin pressures seen elsewhere</a> in retail. Shares rose roughly 6% after hours as investors also digested encouraging forward guidance: management flagged a very strong start to the Spring season and projected first-quarter comparable sales growth of 7% to 8%, with full-year fiscal 2026 EPS expected in the range of $7.02 to $7.36, compared to $6.61 in fiscal 2025.
- Comparable store sales increased a robust 9% in Q4 on top of a 3% gain last year
- Operating margin of 12.3% exceeded the company's plan of 11.5% to 11.8%
- Compelling merchandise assortments and higher customer engagement through new marketing campaigns
- In-store initiatives that enhanced the customer experience during holiday season
- Momentum built throughout the back half of the year
“We are pleased to report that business momentum accelerated further in the fourth quarter, with both sales and earnings significantly surpassing our expectations. Throughout the holiday season, we delivered compelling merchandise assortments to our stores, benefited from higher customer engagement through our new marketing campaigns, and executed in‑store initiatives that enhanced the customer experience.”
Ross Stores CEO, on the earnings call
Forward Guidance & Outlook
For Q1 fiscal 2026 (13 weeks ending May 2, 2026), Ross Stores forecasts comparable store sales growth of 7% to 8%, with EPS projected at $1.60 to $1.67, compared to $1.47 in the prior year first quarter. For the full fiscal year 2026 (52 weeks ending January 30, 2027), same-store sales growth is projected at 3% to 4% on top of a 5% gain in fiscal 2025. Full-year fiscal 2026 EPS is projected in the range of $7.02 to $7.36, compared to $6.61 in fiscal 2025. Management noted a very strong start to the Spring season.
ROST YoY Financials
Figures from SEC filings and company reports. Not investment advice.