Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co Increases Stake in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST)

Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co lifted its holdings in shares of Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST - Free Report) by 15.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 33,859 shares of the apparel retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 4,414 shares during the quarter. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co's holdings in Ross Stores were worth $5,122,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ross Stores by 152.9% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 177 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. purchased a new stake in Ross Stores during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. ORG Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ross Stores by 434.1% in the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 235 shares of the apparel retailer's stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Ross Stores during the fourth quarter valued at $51,000. Finally, Oakworth Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Ross Stores in the fourth quarter worth approximately $57,000. 86.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Ross Stores Trading Up 1.5 %

Shares of NASDAQ:ROST traded up $1.86 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $127.28. 1,543,361 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,887,619. The firm has a market cap of $41.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $137.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $144.77. Ross Stores, Inc. has a 1 year low of $122.36 and a 1 year high of $163.60.

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

Ross Stores Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.405 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 18th. This is an increase from Ross Stores's previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.27%. Ross Stores's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on ROST shares. UBS Group reduced their target price on Ross Stores from $168.00 to $163.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued a "negative" rating on shares of Ross Stores in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Loop Capital decreased their price target on Ross Stores from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Ross Stores from $168.00 to $156.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group decreased their price target on Ross Stores from $175.00 to $150.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $161.40.

Insider Activity at Ross Stores

In related news, COO Michael J. Hartshorn sold 7,492 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.69, for a total transaction of $956,653.48. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 139,091 shares of the company's stock, valued at $17,760,529.79. This represents a 5.11 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CMO Karen Fleming sold 5,339 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.73, for a total transaction of $671,272.47. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 94,063 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,826,540.99. This trade represents a 5.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 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.