Ross Stores(ROST) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total sales increased by 3% to $5 billion, with comparable store sales remaining flat compared to the previous year [4] - Earnings per share rose to$ 1.47 from $1.46 last year, while net income decreased to$ 479 million from $488 million [4] - Operating margin was flat year over year at 12.2% [4][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The dd's discount brand continued strong momentum with solid sales and operating profits [5] - Cosmetics emerged as the strongest merchandise area during the quarter [4] - Average store inventories increased by 4%, aligning with company plans, while total consolidated inventories rose by 8% due to opportunistic buys [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Geographic trends showed broad-based performance, with the Southeast region performing the best [4] - The company opened 16 new Ross and three dd's discount locations in the first quarter, with plans for approximately 90 new stores this year [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to maintain a substantial pricing umbrella below traditional retailers to deliver value to customers [7] - Strategies are in place to gain market share while minimizing margin impact from tariffs [9] - The company is focused on providing high-quality branded merchandise at great value despite inflationary pressures [7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed limited visibility into the second half of the fiscal year due to prolonged inflation and fluctuating tariff levels [15] - The company remains cautious and has withdrawn its previously provided annual guidance due to uncertainties in the macroeconomic environment [9] - Management highlighted the importance of a flexible off-price business model to navigate through uncertain times [15] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 2 million shares of common stock for$ 263 million under a $2.1 billion buyback authorization [11] - For the second quarter, comparable store sales are projected to be flat to up 3%, with earnings per share expected in the range of$ 1.40 to $1.55 [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the cadence of comps and drivers of improvement? - Management noted broad-based sequential improvement across merchandise categories, with April showing strong performance [18][19] Question: What strategies are in place to mitigate tariffs? - Strategies include negotiating better costs with vendors, passing along some price increases cautiously, and utilizing closeouts and packaway merchandise [19][20] Question: How do you expect the tariff impact to change throughout the year? - The second quarter impact includes costs from orders already in transit when tariffs were announced, and future impacts will depend on macroeconomic conditions [25][26] Question: What is the outlook for inventory availability? - Management expects availability of closeouts but acknowledges potential receipt risks due to production halts in China [32] Question: How is the branded strategy performing? - The branded strategy is on track, with no expected margin headwinds going forward, particularly in the ladies' business [55] Question: What are the expectations for pricing elasticity? - Pricing elasticity will depend on the category and is influenced by broader inflationary pressures across the retail sector [60] Question: How is the cosmetics category performing? - The cosmetics category is performing well due to strong execution and a favorable brand mix [102]