Q3 Earnings Highlights: Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) Vs The Rest Of The Discount Retailer Stocks

February 18, 2025 at 05:43 AM EST

ROST Cover Image

The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how discount retailer stocks fared in Q3, starting with Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST).

Discount retailers understand that many shoppers love a good deal, and they focus on providing excellent value to shoppers by selling general merchandise at major discounts. They can do this because of unique purchasing, procurement, and pricing strategies that involve scouring the market for trendy goods or buying excess inventory from manufacturers and other retailers. They then turn around and sell these snacks, paper towels, toys, clothes, and myriad other products at highly enticing prices. Despite the unique draw and lure of discounts, these discount retailers must also contend with the secular headwinds of online shopping and challenged retail foot traffic in places like suburban strip malls.

The 5 discount retailer stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.8% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.8% below.

While some discount retailer stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.5% since the latest earnings results.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST)

Selling excess inventory or overstocked items from other retailers, Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST) is an off-price concept that sells apparel and other goods at prices much lower than department stores.

Ross Stores reported revenues of $5.07 billion, up 3% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. Overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but EPS guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations.

Barbara Rentler, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are disappointed with our third quarter sales results as business slowed from the solid gains we reported in the first half of 2024. Although our low-to-moderate income customers continue to face persistently high costs on necessities pressuring their discretionary spending, we believe we should have better executed some of our merchandising initiatives. In addition, a combination of severe weather during the quarter from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, along with unseasonably warm temperatures, also negatively impacted our results.”

Ross Stores delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 2.3% since reporting and currently trades at $139.71.

Is now the time to buy Ross Stores? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Five Below (NASDAQ: FIVE)

Often facilitating a treasure hunt shopping experience, Five Below (NASDAQ: FIVE) is an American discount retailer that sells a variety of products from mobile phone cases to candy to sports equipment for largely $5 or less.

Five Below reported revenues of $843.7 million, up 14.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.8%. The business had a very strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Five Below scored the biggest analyst estimates beat, fastest revenue growth, and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 15.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $88.60.

Is now the time to buy Five Below? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: Burlington (NYSE: BURL)

Founded in 1972 as a discount coat and outerwear retailer, Burlington Stores (NYSE: BURL) is now an off-price retailer that has broadened into general apparel, footwear, and home goods.

Burlington reported revenues of $2.53 billion, up 10.5% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. It was a slower quarter as it posted EPS guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations.

As expected, the stock is down 16.2% since the results and currently trades at $244.55.

Read our full analysis of Burlington’s results here.

TJX (NYSE: TJX)

Initially based on a strategy of buying excess inventory from manufacturers or other retailers, TJX (NYSE: TJX) is an off-price retailer that sells brand-name apparel and other goods at prices much lower than department stores.

TJX reported revenues of $14.06 billion, up 6% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 1%. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but EPS guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 5% since reporting and currently trades at $125.58.

Read our full, actionable report on TJX here, it’s free.

Ollie's (NASDAQ: OLLI)

Often located in suburban or semi-rural shopping centers, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (NASDAQ: OLLI) is a discount retailer that acquires excess inventory then sells at meaningful discounts.

Ollie's reported revenues of $517.4 million, up 7.8% year on year. This number was in line with analysts’ expectations. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but full-year revenue guidance meeting analysts’ expectations.

Ollie's had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is up 11.7% since reporting and currently trades at $109.59.

Read our full, actionable report on Ollie's here, it’s free.

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