Ross Stores Inc. Analysis – August 2015 Update $ROST
Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing the 10 Most Undervalued Companies for the Defensive Investor – August 2015. By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a stock analysis showing a specific look at how Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Ross Stores, Inc. is an off-price retailer of name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family. The Company operates two brands of off-price retail apparel and home fashion stores, Ross Dress for Less (Ross) and dd’s DISCOUNTS. As of December 31, 2014, the Company operated 1,210 Ross locations in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam, and 152 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores in 15 states. The Ross and dd’s DISCOUNTS stores are supported by five distribution centers. The Ross brand stores offers its products at savings of 20% to 60% off department and specialty store regular prices every day. Ross’ target customers are primarily from middle income households. The dd’s DISCOUNTS stores offers its products at savings of 20% to 70% off moderate department and discount store regular prices every day. Its target customers typically come from households with moderate incomes.
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Downloadable PDF version of this valuation:
ModernGraham Valuation of ROST
Stage 1: Is this company suitable for the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor?
What kind of Intelligent Investor are you?
| Defensive Investor; must pass 6 out of the following 7 tests. | |||
| 1. Adequate Size of the Enterprise | Market Cap > $2Bil | Pass | |
| 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Current Ratio > 2 | Fail | |
| 3. Earnings Stability | Positive EPS for 10 years prior | Pass | |
| 4. Dividend Record | Dividend Payments for 10 years prior | Pass | |
| 5. Earnings Growth | Increase of 33% in EPS in past 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end | Pass | |
| 6. Moderate PEmg Ratio | PEmg < 20 | Fail | |
| 7. Moderate Price to Assets | PB Ratio < 2.5 OR PB*PEmg < 50 | Fail | |
| Score | |||
| Enterprising Investor; must pass 4 out of the following 5 tests, or be suitable for the Defensive Investor. | |||
| 1. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Current Ratio > 1.5 | Fail | |
| 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Debt to NCA < 1.1 | Pass | |
| 3. Earnings Stability | Positive EPS for 5 years prior | Pass | |
| 4. Dividend Record | Currently Pays Dividend | Pass | |
| 5. Earnings Growth | EPSmg greater than 5 years ago | Pass | |
Stage 2: Determination of Intrinsic Value
| EPSmg | 2.11 |
| MG Growth Estimate | 14.62% |
| MG Value | $79.79 |
| Opinion | Undervalued |
| MG Value based on 3% Growth | $30.66 |
| MG Value based on 0% Growth | $17.97 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 7.57% |
| Current Price | $50.00 |
| % of Intrinsic Value | 62.67% |
Ross Stores Inc. qualifies for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio and the high PEmg and PB ratios.  The Enterprising Investor is only initially concerned with the low current ratio. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.07 in 2012 to an estimated $2.11 for 2016.  This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 7.57% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
The next part of the analysis is up to individual investors, and requires discussion of the company’s prospects.  What do you think?  What value would you put on Ross Stores Inc. (ROST)?  Where do you see the company going in the future?  Is there a company you like better?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page or mention @ModernGraham on Twitter to discuss.
Stage 3: Information for Further Research
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$0.28 |
| PEmg | 23.64 |
| Current Ratio | 1.36 |
| PB Ratio | 8.81 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.84% |
| Number of Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth | 20 |
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| ModernGraham tagged articles | Morningstar |
| Google Finance | MSN Money |
| Yahoo Finance | Seeking Alpha |
| GuruFocus | SEC Filings |
Most Recent Balance Sheet Figures
| Total Current Assets | $2,486,366,000 |
| Total Current Liabilities | $1,825,007,000 |
| Long-Term Debt | $395,677,000 |
| Total Assets | $4,936,049,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $0 |
| Total Liabilities | $2,602,550,000 |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) | 411,386,000 |
Earnings Per Share History
| Next Fiscal Year Estimate | $2.42 |
| Jan15 | $2.21 |
| Jan14 | $1.94 |
| Jan13 | $1.77 |
| Jan12 | $1.43 |
| Jan11 | $1.16 |
| Jan10 | $0.89 |
| Jan09 | $0.58 |
| Jan08 | $0.48 |
| Jan07 | $0.43 |
| Jan06 | $0.34 |
| Jan05 | $0.28 |
| Jan04 | $0.37 |
| Jan03 | $0.31 |
| Jan02 | $0.24 |
| Jan01 | $0.23 |
| Jan00 | $0.21 |
| Jan99 | $0.18 |
| Jan98 | $0.15 |
| Jan97 | $0.10 |
| Jan96 | $0.06 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham History
| Next Fiscal Year Estimate | $2.11 |
| Jan15 | $1.87 |
| Jan14 | $1.62 |
| Jan13 | $1.36 |
| Jan12 | $1.07 |
| Jan11 | $0.83 |
| Jan10 | $0.62 |
| Jan09 | $0.47 |
| Jan08 | $0.40 |
| Jan07 | $0.36 |
| Jan06 | $0.32 |
| Jan05 | $0.30 |
| Jan04 | $0.30 |
| Jan03 | $0.25 |
| Jan02 | $0.21 |
| Jan01 | $0.19 |
| Jan00 | $0.16 |
Recommended Reading:
Other ModernGraham posts about the company
Other ModernGraham posts about related companies
Disclaimer:
The author did not hold a position in any company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.  This article is not investment advice; any reader should speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions.  ModernGraham is not affiliated with the company in any manner.
