Stock Pulse
Ross Stores (ROST) received an upgrade from Wells Fargo to Overweight with a $150 price target, citing the company's strong financial position and defensive nature in a potentially worsening macroeconomic environment [5]. Citi also upgraded ROST to a "Buy" rating [8]. Despite these upgrades and positive stock performance against the market [4], Zacks gives ROST a Sell rating due to declining earnings estimates [1], [2], [4], [6]. Q4 2024 results were strong, but the company forecasts conservative growth for fiscal 2025 [10]. Potential benefits exist from new tariffs impacting competitors more heavily [3], [7] and increased consumer interest in off-price retail [9], although the new CEO's strategic shifts are yet to be fully evaluated [7]. Insider stock sales by the Executive Chairman [12] and Vanguard’s large but unchanged stake [11] offer mixed signals.