APG Asset Management N.V. Sells 3,618 Shares of Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST)

APG Asset Management N.V. lessened its stake in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST - Free Report) by 11.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 28,911 shares of the apparel retailer's stock after selling 3,618 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V.'s holdings in Ross Stores were worth $4,223,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Ross Stores by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,287,162 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $1,250,423,000 after purchasing an additional 135,117 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of Ross Stores by 11.9% during the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,620,083 shares of the apparel retailer's stock worth $1,152,690,000 after buying an additional 807,850 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Ross Stores during the fourth quarter worth $649,318,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Ross Stores by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,805,427 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $575,647,000 after buying an additional 154,486 shares during the period. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Ross Stores by 4.1% in the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,582,472 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $541,921,000 after buying an additional 142,200 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.86% of the company's stock.

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Ross Stores Stock Performance

Ross Stores stock traded down $2.35 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $138.68. 2,512,407 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,656,185. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.60 billion, a PE ratio of 21.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $133.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $143.04. Ross Stores, Inc. has a one year low of $122.36 and a one year high of $163.60.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 4th. The apparel retailer reported $1.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.95 billion. Ross Stores had a net margin of 9.95% and a return on equity of 41.83%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Ross Stores, Inc. will post 6.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Ross Stores Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th were paid a $0.405 dividend. This is an increase from Ross Stores's previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.17%. Ross Stores's dividend payout ratio is presently 25.63%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Loop Capital lowered their price objective on Ross Stores from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Evercore ISI lowered their target price on Ross Stores from $175.00 to $170.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Barclays set a $150.00 price target on Ross Stores in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Ross Stores from $166.00 to $161.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Ross Stores from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $140.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Five 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, Ross Stores presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $160.87.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Ross Stores news, CMO Karen Sykes sold 5,036 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.48, for a total transaction of $657,097.28. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 110,365 shares of the company's stock, valued at $14,400,425.20. This represents a 4.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Chairman Michael Balmuth sold 11,261 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.60, for a total transaction of $1,481,947.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 59,790 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,868,364. The trade was a 15.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 34,398 shares of company stock valued at $4,439,950 over the last ninety days. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.