Ross Stores(ROST) - 2026 Q3 - Quarterly Results

Financial Performance - Earnings per share for Q3 2025 were $1.58, with net income of $512 million, compared to $1.48 and $489 million in Q3 2024, reflecting a 6.8% increase in EPS [4] - Sales for Q3 2025 increased by 10% to $5.6 billion, up from $5.1 billion in the prior year, with comparable store sales rising 7% [4] - For the first nine months of 2025, earnings per share were $4.61, compared to $4.53 in the same period of 2024, with net income remaining stable at $1.5 billion [5] - The operating margin for Q3 2025 was 11.6%, significantly stronger than expected, driven by effective expense control [6] - For Q4 2025, the company raised its comparable store sales forecast to 3% to 4%, with EPS guidance between $1.77 and $1.85 [8] - Full-year EPS guidance for fiscal 2025 is now projected to be between $6.38 and $6.46, including a $0.16 impact from tariff-related costs [8] Shareholder Actions - The company repurchased 1.7 million shares for $262 million during Q3 2025, part of a $2.1 billion buyback program [7] Asset and Store Growth - The total assets as of November 1, 2025, were $15.41 billion, an increase from $14.91 billion a year earlier [16] - The company operates 2,273 stores at the end of Q3 2025, up from 2,192 stores at the end of Q3 2024 [14] - The company reported a 3% increase in comparable store sales year-to-date for 2025 [5] Cash Flow and Expenses - Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $1,905,165 from $1,474,431 year-over-year [18] - Depreciation and amortization expenses rose to $374,524, compared to $329,584 in the previous year [18] - Cash used in investing activities was $618,366, up from $514,122 in the prior year [18] - Net cash used in financing activities increased to $1,955,126 from $1,481,092 year-over-year [18] - The company reported a decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash to $4,128,135 from $4,414,658 [18] - Interest paid decreased to $55,778 from $80,316 in the previous year [18] - Income taxes paid, net, decreased to $442,751 from $546,113 year-over-year [18] - Merchandise inventory change was $(684,458), compared to $(666,886) in the prior year [18] - The company issued $18,910 in common stock related to stock plans, slightly up from $18,769 [18]