Ross Stores Inc. (ROST): Today's Featured Services Winner

Ross Stores (ROST) pushed the Services sector higher today making it today's featured services winner. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.6%. By the end of trading, Ross Stores rose 92 cents (1.4%) to $67.64 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.1 million shares of Ross Stores exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.3 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $66.24-$67.90 after having opened the day at $66.46 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $66.72. Other companies within the Services sector that increased today were: UTEK (INV), up 10.1%, Spar Group (SGRP), up 9.1%, Cambium Learning Group (ABCD), up 8.2%, and China Armco Metals (CNAM), up 8.2%.

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Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates off-price retail apparel and home fashion stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd's DISCOUNTS brand names in the United States. Ross Stores has a market cap of $15.09 billion and is part of the retail industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 21.9, equal to the average retail industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 40.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are nine analysts that rate Ross Stores a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 12 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Ross Stores as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company is trading at a premium valuation based on our review of its current price compared to such things as earnings and book value.

• You can view the full Ross Stores Ratings Report.

On the negative front, SUPERVALU (SVU), down 49.1%, Seven Arts Entertainment (SAPX), down 15.8%, China HGS Real Estate (HGSH), down 15.3%, and Safeway (SWY), down 12.5%, were all losers within the services sector with Las Vegas Sands (LVS) being today's services sector loser.

• Use our services section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the services sector could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Services (IYC) while those bearish on the services sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Consumer Sers (SCC).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Ross Stores Inc. click any of the following:

• Ross Stores Inc. Stock Price

• Ross Stores Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Ross Stores Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Ross Stores Inc. Earnings

• Ross Stores Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Ross Stores Inc. Growth Rates

• Ross Stores Inc. Balance Sheet

• Ross Stores Inc. Cash Flow

• Ross Stores Inc. Income Statement