Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund Sells 2,203 Shares of Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST)

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund lowered its holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) by 22.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,673 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after selling 2,203 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund’s holdings in Ross Stores were worth $1,161,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ROST. Creative Planning raised its position in shares of Ross Stores by 2.5% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 59,913 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $9,017,000 after purchasing an additional 1,442 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in shares of Ross Stores by 2.6% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 284,978 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $42,892,000 after purchasing an additional 7,331 shares during the period. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ross Stores in the third quarter valued at approximately $215,000. OLD National Bancorp IN bought a new stake in shares of Ross Stores in the third quarter valued at approximately $209,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Ross Stores by 1.7% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 168,734 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $25,396,000 after purchasing an additional 2,774 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.86% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ROST has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Ross Stores from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $165.00 target price (down previously from $178.00) on shares of Ross Stores in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $175.00 target price on shares of Ross Stores in a report on Monday, November 18th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $180.00 target price on shares of Ross Stores in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Ross Stores from $185.00 to $177.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $169.06.

Ross Stores Price Performance

ROST stock opened at $139.09 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Ross Stores, Inc. has a one year low of $127.53 and a one year high of $163.60. The stock has a market cap of $45.89 billion, a PE ratio of 21.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.10. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $148.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $147.91.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.07. Ross Stores had a net margin of 9.95% and a return on equity of 41.83%. The company had revenue of $5.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.15 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.33 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Ross Stores, Inc. will post 6.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.