Ross Stores (ROST) closed the most recent trading day at $192.32, moving +1.39% from the previous trading session. The stock exceeded the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 1.16% for the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 1.21%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.18%. The discount retailer's stock has climbed by 5.03% in the past month, exceeding the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 3.08% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.42%.The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Ross Store ...

Company Performance - Dollar General (DG) closed at $148.74, reflecting a -1.97% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500 which lost 0.06% [1] - Over the past month, Dollar General shares have increased by 11.01%, while the Retail-Wholesale sector gained 5.39% and the S&P 500 gained 1.99% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Dollar General is projected to report earnings of $1.58 per share, indicating a year-over-year decline of 5.95%, with expected revenue of $10.75 billion, up 4.28% from the prior-year quarter [2] Full-Year Estimates - Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $6.48 per share and revenue of $42.56 billion for the full year, representing year-over-year changes of +9.46% and +4.79% respectively [3] Analyst Sentiment - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Dollar General are linked to stock price performance, with positive revisions indicating analyst optimism about the business [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, currently rates Dollar General as 1 (Strong Buy) [5] Valuation Metrics - Dollar General has a Forward P/E ratio of 23.42, which is lower than the industry average of 29.94, suggesting it is trading at a discount [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 2.76, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 3.28, indicating favorable growth expectations relative to its valuation [7] Industry Ranking - The Retail - Discount Stores industry, part of the Retail-Wholesale sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 18, placing it in the top 8% of over 250 industries [7]

Key Takeaways The TGT stock jumped 22% in three months, outperforming the industry, sector and the broader market.TGT trades at a forward P/E of 14.25, well below peers, despite improving technical indicators.TGT is boosting digital, AI, Target Plus and Roundel, even as store traffic and demand stay weak.Shares of Target Corporation (TGT) have risen 22% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Retail - Discount Stores industry's growth of 9.4%. The company also outpaced the Retail-Wholesale secto ...

Company Performance - Target (TGT) closed at $109.79, with a +1.07% change, outperforming the S&P 500's -0.53% loss on the same day [1] - Over the past month, Target's shares have increased by 11.22%, while the Retail-Wholesale sector gained 5.07% and the S&P 500 gained 2.06% [1] Upcoming Financial Results - Target's upcoming earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $2.16, indicating a 10.37% decrease from the same quarter last year [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is $30.56 billion, down 1.14% from the previous year [2] Full-Year Estimates - Full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $7.3 per share and revenue of $104.89 billion, reflecting year-over-year changes of -17.61% and -1.57%, respectively [3] - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Target are important as they reflect short-term business trends [3] Analyst Ratings and Stock Performance - The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell), has a strong track record, with 1 stocks averaging a +25% annual return since 1988 [5] - Target currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with a recent upward shift of 0.04% in the EPS estimate [5] Valuation Metrics - Target has a Forward P/E ratio of 14.89, compared to the industry average of 29.85, suggesting it is trading at a discount [6] - The PEG ratio for Target is 11.82, while the industry average is 3.32, indicating a significant difference in expected earnings growth [6] Industry Context - The Retail - Discount Stores industry ranks in the top 9% of all industries, with a current Zacks Industry Rank of 20 [7] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Group 1: Company Overview - Dillard's (DDS) is a notable stock within the Retail-Wholesale sector, which consists of 195 companies and currently ranks 5 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - Dillard's has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential for outperforming the market in the near term [3] Group 2: Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, Dillard's has returned 15.5%, outperforming the average gain of 12.8% for the Retail-Wholesale group [4] - The consensus estimate for Dillard's full-year earnings has increased by 7.6% over the past quarter, reflecting positive analyst sentiment [3] Group 3: Industry Comparison - Dillard's is part of the Retail - Regional Department Stores industry, which ranks 1 in the Zacks Industry Rank, but has slightly underperformed its industry with an average gain of 48.3% year-to-date [6] - In contrast, Dollar General, another stock in the Retail-Wholesale sector, has a year-to-date return of 13.9% and belongs to the Retail - Discount Stores industry, which ranks 20 [4][7]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, with the aim of buying high and selling higher, capitalizing on established price movements [1] Company Overview: Ross Stores (ROST) - Ross Stores currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong momentum potential [3] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which historically outperforms the market when combined with a Style Score of A or B [4] Price Performance - Over the past week, ROST shares increased by 4.76%, outperforming the Zacks Retail - Discount Stores industry, which rose by 4.33% [6] - In the last quarter, ROST shares have risen by 22.11%, and over the past year, they have gained 27.19%, compared to the S&P 500's increases of 6.77% and 21.08%, respectively [7] Trading Volume - ROST's average 20-day trading volume is 2,042,110 shares, which serves as a baseline for price-to-volume analysis [8] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, 6 earnings estimates for ROST have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, raising the consensus estimate from $6.20 to $6.47 [10] - For the next fiscal year, 6 estimates have also moved higher, indicating positive sentiment regarding future earnings [10] Conclusion - Given the strong performance metrics and positive earnings outlook, ROST is positioned as a promising investment opportunity with a Momentum Score of A [12]

Core Viewpoint - Dollar General's shares have increased by 12% over the past month, reaching a new 52-week high of $149.06, with a year-to-date gain of 12.1% compared to the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector's 13.2% and the Retail - Discount Stores industry's 12.6% [1] Financial Performance - Dollar General has consistently outperformed earnings expectations, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters. In the latest earnings report on December 4, 2025, the company reported EPS of $1.28 against a consensus estimate of $0.92, and revenue exceeded the consensus estimate by 0.33% [2] - For the current fiscal year, Dollar General is projected to achieve earnings of $6.47 per share on revenues of $42.56 billion, reflecting a 9.29% increase in EPS and a 4.79% increase in revenues. For the next fiscal year, earnings are expected to rise to $7.07 per share on revenues of $44.29 billion, indicating year-over-year changes of 9.21% and 4.06%, respectively [3] Valuation Metrics - The stock currently trades at 23 times the current fiscal year EPS estimates, below the peer industry average of 29.7 times. On a trailing cash flow basis, it trades at 14.4 times compared to the peer group's average of 20 times. The PEG ratio stands at 2.71, which does not position the company among the top value stocks [7] - Dollar General has a Value Score of B, with Growth and Momentum Scores also at B, resulting in a combined VGM Score of A [6] Zacks Rank - Dollar General holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), supported by a favorable earnings estimate revision trend [8] - The company meets the criteria for investment recommendations, as it has a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B, indicating potential for further growth in the coming weeks and months [9]

Company Performance - Costco's stock closed at $924.88, reflecting a +1.05% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.65% [1] - Over the past month, Costco's stock has risen by 3.49%, which is below the Retail-Wholesale sector's increase of 4.29% but above the S&P 500's gain of 1.15% [1] Earnings Forecast - The upcoming earnings report for Costco is anticipated to show an EPS of $4.49, representing an 11.69% increase from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is projected to be $68.88 billion, indicating an 8.1% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year [2] - For the full year, earnings are expected to be $20.09 per share and revenue is forecasted at $296.08 billion, reflecting changes of +11.67% and +7.57% respectively from the prior year [3] Analyst Estimates - Changes in analyst estimates for Costco are crucial as they indicate shifting business trends, with upward revisions suggesting positive sentiment regarding the company's profitability [4] - The consensus EPS projection has increased by 0.48% in the past 30 days, and Costco currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6] Valuation Metrics - Costco's Forward P/E ratio stands at 45.55, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 29.33 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 5.48, higher than the industry average PEG ratio of 3.55, indicating a difference in expected earnings growth [7] Industry Context - The Retail - Discount Stores industry, part of the Retail-Wholesale sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 40, placing it in the top 17% of over 250 industries [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the performance of industry groups based on the average Zacks Rank of individual stocks, with the top 50% rated industries outperforming the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [8]

Company Performance - TJX closed at $158.25, with a daily increase of +2.73%, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.01% [1] - Over the past month, TJX shares have decreased by 1.05%, while the Retail-Wholesale sector gained 1.61% and the S&P 500 increased by 0.86% [1] Earnings Projections - TJX is expected to report earnings of $1.37 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 11.38% [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projected at $17.3 billion, an increase of 5.82% from the previous year [2] Annual Estimates - For the annual period, earnings are anticipated to be $4.66 per share, with revenue expected to reach $59.93 billion, indicating growth of +9.39% and +6.34% respectively [3] - Recent revisions to analyst forecasts for TJX are important as they reflect short-term business trends, with positive revisions suggesting a favorable outlook on business health and profitability [3] Valuation Metrics - TJX has a Forward P/E ratio of 33.03, which is higher than the industry average of 28.98 [5] - The company has a PEG ratio of 3.46, matching the average PEG ratio of the Retail - Discount Stores industry [6] Industry Ranking - The Retail - Discount Stores industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 43, placing it in the top 18% of over 250 industries [6] - The Zacks Rank system indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) demonstrated consistent comparable sales growth in December, appealing to value-conscious consumers through competitive pricing and quality products [1][5] Sales Performance - For the five weeks ending January 4, 2026, Costco reported a 7% year-over-year increase in total comparable sales, with U.S. sales rising 6%, Canada 8.4%, and Other International markets 10.6% [2] - Adjusted for gasoline prices and foreign exchange, U.S. comparable sales increased by 6.3%, while Canada and Other International markets saw gains of 6% and 5.6%, respectively, leading to an overall growth of 6.2% in December [3] - Digitally enabled comparable sales surged 18.9% in December, or 18.3% when adjusted for fuel and currency impacts, continuing a trend of double-digit growth in online sales [4][7] - Costco's net sales for December rose 8.5% to $29.86 billion, up from $27.52 billion in the same period last year, following sales improvements of 8.1% and 8.6% in November and October, respectively [4] Membership Model and Market Position - Costco's membership-based model fosters customer loyalty, supporting consistent sales and stable margins even amid economic uncertainty [5] - The company's ability to leverage bulk purchasing and maintain competitive pricing is crucial in the current inflation-sensitive environment [5]