Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST) Earnings Call Transcripts

Ross Stores, Inc.'s Latest Earnings Call - Q1 FY2027

In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST:US) reported total sales of $6.0 billion, reflecting a robust 21% year-over-year increase, driven by a 17% rise in comparable store sales. Earnings per share surged 37% to $2.02, significantly exceeding expectations. Management raised full-year guidance, projecting earnings per share in the range of $7.50 to $7.74, up from prior estimates, indicating strong momentum and confidence in the business's growth trajectory.

Reported metrics

Guidance from management

Management raised fiscal 2026 guidance, projecting comparable store sales growth of 6% to 7% and earnings per share in the range of $7.50 to $7.74, reflecting confidence in continued strong performance.

What management said

Thank you, Bill. We are very encouraged by the strong momentum to start the year. I would like to take one more moment and recognize the entire team across the company. We were able to grow sales in the quarter by more than $1 billion and posted the highest same-store sales growth in the company's 40-year history. Thank you all for all of your hard work and for the fantastic execution on our new growth initiatives. A...

So as you mentioned, freight costs did lever 10 bps year-over-year, but higher expected fuel prices did limit some of that leverage that we typically get from that sales outperformance. And then going forward, we're kind of finalizing freight contracts as we speak, and our guidance does reflect the assumption that we will have elevated fuel prices that will pressure freight costs, both ocean and domestic in the secon...

What analysts pressed on

Analysts expressed concerns about the sustainability of the high comp growth rates and potential shifts in consumer behavior due to inflationary pressures. They questioned whether the strong performance could be maintained in the face of tougher comparisons in the second half of the year.

Main topics on the call

• Strong Sales Growth — Ross Stores achieved total sales growth of 21% to $6.0 billion, with comparable store sales up 17%. CEO Jim Conroy noted, "We posted the highest same-store sales growth in the company's 40-year history," highlighting the...
• Earnings Per Share Surge — The company reported earnings per share of $2.02, a 37% increase from $1.47 in the prior year. This significant growth was attributed to strong sales and improved operating margins.
• Inventory Management — Consolidated inventories rose 12%, with packaway inventory decreasing to 36% of total inventory. Management expressed confidence in inventory levels, stating, "I would not be worried about availability of product."
• Store Expansion Plans — Ross opened 13 new Ross and 4 dd's DISCOUNTS locations in Q1, with plans for 110 new stores in fiscal 2026. This expansion reflects management's confidence in growth potential.

Read the full Ross Stores, Inc. transcript (Q1 FY2027) → Summary generated from the call transcript; every figure above is stated by management on the record.

Earnings Call History

EarningsCalls.dev has 26 Ross Stores, Inc. earnings call transcripts on record, spanning March 3, 2020 to May 21, 2026. Based on this history, Ross Stores, Inc. reports quarterly. The most recent call on file is dated May 21, 2026. The full list is below — each row opens the complete, free-to-read transcript.

Ticker

ROST

Exchange

NasdaqGS

Country

US

Sector

Consumer Discretionary

Industry

Specialty Retail

Calls on record

26

First call

March 3, 2020

Most recent

May 21, 2026

Reporting cadence

quarterly