Handelsbanken Fonder AB Cuts Stock Holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. $ROST

Handelsbanken Fonder AB decreased its holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) by 2.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 192,249 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after selling 4,345 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned about 0.06% of Ross Stores worth $29,297,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Aspect Partners LLC grew its position in Ross Stores by 251.7% in the 2nd quarter. Aspect Partners LLC now owns 204 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the period. American National Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Ross Stores during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Ross Stores in the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Ross Stores by 162.6% in the 3rd quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 239 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the period. Finally, Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ross Stores during the second quarter worth about $38,000. 86.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently weighed in on ROST. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $205.00 target price on shares of Ross Stores in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Ross Stores from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $205.00 target price on shares of Ross Stores in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Ross Stores from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 21st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $221.00 target price on Ross Stores in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ross Stores presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $195.78.

Ross Stores Price Performance

Shares of ROST opened at $205.64 on Friday. Ross Stores, Inc. has a 1-year low of $122.36 and a 1-year high of $206.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.51 billion, a PE ratio of 32.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $190.57 and its 200-day moving average price is $169.91.

Ross Stores Profile

Ross Stores, Inc (NASDAQ: ROST) is an American off‑price retailer headquartered in Dublin, California, that operates the Ross Dress for Less and dd’s DISCOUNTS store formats. The company sells a broad assortment of apparel, footwear, home fashions, accessories and other soft goods, positioning itself as a value-oriented destination for brand‑name and fashion merchandise at reduced prices.

Ross’s business model centers on opportunistic buying of excess inventory, closeouts, cancelled orders and overstocks from manufacturers, department stores and other suppliers.