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

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Ross Stores (ROST) pushed the Services sector lower today making it today's featured Services laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.1%. By the end of trading, Ross Stores fell 90 cents (-1.5%) to $59.41 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.4 million shares of Ross Stores exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.5 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $59.35-$60.44 after having opened the day at $60.32 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $60.31. Other companies within the Services sector that declined today were: Shengkai Innovations (VALV), down 11.3%, FreeSeas (FREE), down 11.1%, Seanergy Maritime Holdings (SHIP), down 9.3%, and New Oriental Education & Technology Group I (EDU), down 8.6%.

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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 $13.59 billion and is part of the retail industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 18.5, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 12.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 12 analysts that rate Ross Stores a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and nine 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 solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, revenue growth, notable return on equity and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full Ross Stores Ratings Report.

On the positive front, School Specialty (SCHS), up 27.8%, USA Truck (USAK), up 19.9%, Point.360 (PTSX), up 10.8%, and Mastech Holdings (MHH), up 10.4%, were all gainers within the services sector with Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) being today's featured services sector leader.

• 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.

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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