Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. Adds $126M in Ross Stores, Inc. ($ROST)

Vaughan Nelson Investment Management has taken a new position in Ross Stores, Inc. (NasdaqGS: ROST), acquiring 523,250 shares. This new stake is valued at approximately $125.65 million, according to their latest Form 13F filing with the SEC.

What Changed in Vaughan Nelson's Ross Stores Position

Vaughan Nelson's move into Ross Stores marks a fresh investment in the company, with an initial acquisition of 523,250 shares. This position was valued at about $125.65 million as of the filing date. As this is a new buy, there were no previous shares held by Vaughan Nelson in Ross Stores.

Other Institutional Activity in Ross Stores

Among other institutional investors, BlackRock, Inc. increased its holdings by 562,431 shares, bringing its total to 24,856,784 shares worth approximately $5.38 billion. Vanguard Capital Management LLC maintained its position with 21,019,930 shares valued at $4.55 billion. Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC also held steady with 14,180,825 shares valued at $3.07 billion. Meanwhile, State Street Corp made a slight reduction of 2,306 shares, maintaining 13,909,647 shares worth about $3.01 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co added 144,985 shares, totaling 9,865,945 shares valued at $2.06 billion.

Ross Stores Stock Snapshot

Shares of Ross Stores, Inc. (NasdaqGS: ROST) traded near $240.13. The company boasts a market cap of approximately $77.03 billion and a P/E ratio of 33.54, reflecting its current earnings valuation. The stock's 52-week range spans from $124.49 to $242.81, with a 50-day moving average of $224.97 and a 200-day moving average of $189.39. Its beta stands at 0.866, indicating relatively low volatility compared to the market.

Recent Earnings

Ross Stores reported revenue of $23.78 billion with a growth rate of 20.6%. The company achieved a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 38.98%. Earnings per share came in at $7.16. The next earnings report is expected on May 21, 2026.

Dividend

Ross Stores offers an annual dividend rate of $1.78, yielding 0.74%. The payout ratio is 23.18%, suggesting a sustainable dividend policy.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ross Stores, Inc.

Recent insider activity at Ross Stores includes transactions by Patricia Mueller and Sharon Garrett, each buying and selling 1,354 shares on May 29, 2026. Additionally, Doniel Sutton and Edward Cannizzaro each purchased 896 shares on May 21, 2026.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On May 26, 2026, Barclays maintained a 'buy' rating on Ross Stores with a price target of $260. Telsey Advisory Group and Wells Fargo also kept 'buy' ratings with targets of $265 and $245, respectively. UBS rated the stock a 'hold' with a target of $232. The overall analyst consensus remains a 'buy' with a mean target price of $256.18 from 17 analysts.

About Ross Stores, Inc.

Ross Stores, Inc. operates as an off-price retailer offering apparel and home fashion products under the Ross Dress for Less and dd's DISCOUNTS brands. The company caters to middle-income and moderate-income households across the United States. Headquartered in Dublin, California, Ross Stores was incorporated in 1957 and employs about 111,000 people. Its CEO is Mr. James G. Conroy.

Bottom Line

Vaughan Nelson's new position in Ross Stores highlights the fund's interest in the apparel retail sector. With the stock trading near its 52-week high and a solid market cap, Ross Stores continues to attract institutional attention. As always, it's important to remember that 13F filings are backward-looking and may not reflect current positions. Investors keep an eye on such moves to gauge market sentiment and potential future performance.