Crystal Rock Capital Management Sells 1,175 Shares of Ross Stores, Inc. $ROST

Crystal Rock Capital Management trimmed its holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) by 7.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,300 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after selling 1,175 shares during the period. Ross Stores makes up 1.1% of Crystal Rock Capital Management’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Crystal Rock Capital Management’s holdings in Ross Stores were worth $1,952,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ROST. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Ross Stores by 50.7% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 217 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new position in Ross Stores in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd grew its stake in Ross Stores by 372.5% in the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 241 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in Ross Stores in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new position in Ross Stores in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $48,000. 86.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ross Stores Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NASDAQ:ROST opened at $158.92 on Friday. Ross Stores, Inc. has a 52-week low of $122.36 and a 52-week high of $161.95. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $151.89 and a 200 day moving average of $143.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.68 billion, a PE ratio of 25.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.58.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 21st. The apparel retailer reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.02. Ross Stores had a net margin of 9.60% and a return on equity of 37.37%. The company had revenue of $5.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.54 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.59 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Ross Stores, Inc. will post 6.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ross Stores Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 9th were given a $0.405 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 9th. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. Ross Stores’s payout ratio is 25.71%.

Insider Activity at Ross Stores

In related news, CMO Karen Fleming sold 2,932 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.09, for a total value of $437,131.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer directly owned 88,335 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,169,865.15. The trade was a 3.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO James Grant Conroy sold 39,351 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.00, for a total transaction of $5,745,246.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 157,153 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $22,944,338. This trade represents a 20.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 52,720 shares of company stock valued at $7,761,212 over the last ninety days. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on ROST shares. BTIG Research started coverage on shares of Ross Stores in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Ross Stores in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Ross Stores from $146.00 to $171.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $160.00 target price (up previously from $150.00) on shares of Ross Stores in a report on Monday, August 18th. Finally, Erste Group Bank started coverage on shares of Ross Stores in a report on Friday. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $162.67.

Ross Stores 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.