Ross Stores beats quarterly estimates on steady demand for discounted products
May 23 (Reuters) -Ross Stores ROST.O on Thursday posted first-quarter results above Wall Street estimates and raised its annual profit forecast, as shoppers pivot to off-price retailers prompted by sticky inflation that have squeezed their budgets.
The California-based company's shares jumped nearly 7% to $141 in extended trading, after the company also posted an increase of 205 basis points in its quarterly operating margin.
Over the last year, Ross's sales have recovered amid moderating inflation and a strong response to its value offerings on branded and designer apparel and footwear among its core lower-income cohort.
Still, the company cautioned on pressures in discretionary spending and said it would continue to manage inventory and expenses tightly in order to maximize sales and earnings growth over the balance of the year.
"Ongoing uncertainty in today's macroeconomic and geopolitical environments, including prolonged inflation, continue to squeeze our low-to-moderate income customers' purchasing power," said Ross CEO Barbara Rentler.
Ross's results echo that of its off-price peer TJX Cos TJX.N which, a day earlier, posted better-than-expected first-quarter results and raised annual profit forecast helped by easing costs and strong demand.
There were concerns around the company's lower income, more price-sensitive shoppers, Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey wrote in a note on May 17.
The company logged sales of $4.86 billion for the quarter ended May 4,above analysts' average estimate of $4.83 billion, according to LSEG data.
It earned $1.46 per share compared to expectations of $1.35.
It maintained fiscal 2024 comparable store sales forecast at 2% to 3% rise and now expects profit per share in the range of $5.79 to $5.98, from prior range of $5.64 to $5.89.
Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
