New York, Feb 11, 2026, 14:12 EST — Regular session
- Ross Stores shares were little changed in afternoon trading after a fresh round of Wall Street target hikes
- Analysts pointed to momentum into the retailer’s next quarterly report in early March
- Off-price peers traded mixed, leaving investors focused on the next catalyst rather than the tape
Ross Stores shares were little changed on Wednesday, hovering around $192 in afternoon trading as investors weighed a cluster of bullish analyst notes against a choppy day for consumer stocks.
The moves matter because Ross is heading into its quarterly report with expectations already elevated. A few big banks pushed price targets higher this week, and that tends to drag more attention — and more positioning — into the next earnings print.
In the broader market, consumer discretionary stocks lagged even as the S&P 500 held slightly higher, a familiar pattern when traders get picky about where the consumer is holding up and where it is not.
At Citi, analyst Paul Lejuez raised his price target on Ross to $224 from $188 and kept a Buy rating. He wrote that he expects fourth-quarter results due on March 3 to come in above consensus and company guidance, modeling earnings per share of $2.00 and comparable sales growth of 7%. (TipRanks)
Comparable sales, or “comps,” track sales growth at stores open at least a year. They are one of the quickest reads on whether demand is improving or just shifting around the calendar.
Goldman Sachs lifted its price target to $214 from $190 and reiterated its Buy rating, pointing to the “trade down” dynamic — shoppers moving to cheaper retailers — and what it sees as supportive industry structure for off-price chains. The firm also flagged tariff-linked price increases at full-price retailers as a potential tailwind for discounters hunting for deals, and said it sees strong momentum into the quarter. (TipRanks)
Gordon Haskett on Wednesday raised its price target to $235 from $220 and maintained a Buy rating. Ross shares were up about 6.8% so far this year, according to MarketScreener data. (MarketScreener)
Peers were not moving in lockstep. TJX Companies, owner of T.J. Maxx, fell about 1.8% in afternoon trade, while Burlington Stores rose about 1.4%.
Ross stock dipped 1.1% in the previous session and finished within striking distance of a recent 52-week high, a setup that can amplify reactions to incremental analyst shifts and any hint of guidance risk. (MarketWatch)
Still, target hikes are not earnings. If consumer demand softens late in the quarter, or if Ross delivers cautious guidance on margins and inventory, traders could treat the recent run-up as a reason to take chips off the table.
The next hard catalyst is Ross Stores’ quarterly report on March 3, expected after the close, with Wall Street looking for about $1.87 a share and fresh detail on comps and outlook. (Zacks)
