ROST (Ross Stores) Moat Score: 6/10 (As of Jul. 02, 2026)


ROST Ross Stores Inc ROST
91 GF Score
Price $211.90
GF Value $174.18
Valuation Modestly Overvalued
View Full Analysis

What is Ross Stores Moat Score?

Ross Stores ROST -0.45% 91 Moat Score is 6 as of Jul. 02, 2026. GuruFocus rates ROST with a GF Score™ of 91/100 and a GF Value™ of $174.18 (Modestly Overvalued). Among 1,118 Retail - Cyclical companies, Ross Stores ranks better than 97.85% on this metric.

Ross Stores has the Moat Score of 6, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

Ross Stores has Narrow Moat: Ross Stores Inc benefits from economies of scale and a strong brand in the discount retail sector. It has a solid distribution network and customer loyalty, but lacks significant pricing power or exclusive licenses that would elevate it to a wide moat.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Ross Stores might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.


Ross Stores  (NAS:ROST) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Ross Stores Moat Score Related Terms


ROST vs BURL, LULU, GAP: Moat Score Comparison

For the Apparel Retail subindustry, Ross Stores's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Ross Stores Moat Score vs Retail - Cyclical Industry

For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Ross Stores's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Ross Stores's Moat Score falls into.


ROST
91GF Score
Ross Stores Inc ROST
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 6 mean?
Ross Stores (ROST) has a Moat Score of 6 as of Jul. 02, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Ross Stores ranks #24 out of 1118 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 2.1%.
Is Ross Stores' Moat Score too high?
Ross Stores' current Moat Score is 6. Based on the distribution chart, Ross Stores ranks #24 out of 1118 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Ross Stores has a GF Score™ of 91/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ross Stores' Moat Score compare to BURL and LULU?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, Ross Stores ranks #24 out of 1118 companies for Moat Score. This places Ross Stores in the top 2% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Retail - Cyclical company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Retail - Cyclical industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Ross Stores's current Moat Score is 6. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Ross Stores stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ross Stores (ROST) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $174.18, compared to a current price of $211.90 — trading 21.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 6. Ross Stores' overall GF Score™ is 91/100. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ross Stores (ROST), the current Moat Score is 6 as of Jul. 02, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Ross Stores (ROST) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ross Stores stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $211.90 is trading 21.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of $174.18. GuruFocus considers Ross Stores to be Modestly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for ROST:

  • Moat Score: 6
  • GF Value™: $174.18 vs. price of $211.90 (21.7% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 91/100

No single metric tells the full story. See the ROST stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Ross Stores Business Description

Address 5130 Hacienda Drive, Dublin, CA, USA, 94568
Ross Stores, founded in 1982, is a US-focused off-price apparel and home fashion retailer operating more than 2,100 stores across 43 states, primarily under the Ross Dress for Less banner, with a smaller footprint through dd's Discounts. In fiscal 2025, the company generated over $22 billion in sales. Ross offers branded apparel, footwear, accessories, and home goods at a 20%-60% discount to department and specialty store prices, sourcing closeouts and excess inventory from vendors worldwide.
91GF Score

Get the complete analysis for ROST

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$211.90
Price
$174.18
GF Value