Ross Stores' stock surged 6.59% in post-market trading following the release of its fiscal fourth-quarter financial results, which significantly exceeded analyst expectations.
The off-price retailer reported quarterly earnings of $2.00 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $1.90 and representing an 11.7% increase from the $1.79 per share reported a year ago. Revenue for the quarter rose 12% to $6.64 billion, surpassing the estimated $6.41 billion. A key driver was comparable store sales, which jumped 9%, well above the anticipated 5.1% growth.
Investors reacted positively to the company's forward-looking statements and shareholder-friendly initiatives. Ross Stores provided first-quarter earnings per share guidance of $1.60 to $1.67, with comparable store sales growth projected at 7% to 8%. For the full fiscal year 2026, the company forecast earnings per share in the range of $7.02 to $7.36 and same-store sales growth of 3% to 4%. Additionally, the company announced a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend and authorized a new two-year $2.55 billion stock repurchase program, further bolstering shareholder confidence.