Ross StoresROST +2.02%91 ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 44.22% as of Apr. 2026, which is 9% above its 10-year median of 40.43. GuruFocus rates ROST with a GF Score™ of 91/100 and a GF Value™ of $174.34 (Modestly Overvalued). Among 1,122 Retail - Cyclical companies, Ross Stores ranks better than 84.05% on this metric.
Joel Greenblatt defined Return on Capital differently in his book The Little Book That Still Beats the Market (Little Books. Big Profits). He defines ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % as EBIT divided by the total of Property, Plant and Equipment and net working capital. Ross Stores's annualized ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 44.22%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Ross Stores's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % or its related term are showing as below:
ROST'
s ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 3.38 Med: 40.43 Max: 87.1
Current: 41.28
During the past 13 years, Ross Stores's highest ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % was 87.10%. The lowest was 3.38%. And the median was 40.43%.
ROST's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is ranked better than 84.05% of 1122
companies
in the Retail - Cyclical industry
Industry Median: 11.5
vs ROST: 41.28
Ross Stores's 5-Year average Growth Rate of ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % was 42.90% per year.
Ross Stores (NAS:ROST) ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % Explanation
The way Joel Greenblatt defines Return on Capital is a more accurate measure of how efficiently the company generates returns onthe capital actually invested in the business. EBIT is used instead of net income because the tax and interest payment may be affected by factors other than the core business operation. Intangible assets are not included in the calculation because they don't need to be replaced.
Ross Stores ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Ross Stores's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
ROST vs BURL, LULU, GAP: ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % Comparison
For the Apparel Retail subindustry, Ross Stores's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) %, along with its competitors' market caps and ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % 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 ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % vs Retail - Cyclical Industry
For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Ross Stores's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Ross Stores's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % falls into.
Joel Greenblatt defined Return on Capital differently in his book The Little Book That Still Beats the Market (Little Books. Big Profits) . He defines Return on Capital as follows:
EBIT stands for Earnings Before Interest and Taxes.
Fixed Assets are also known as non-current assets. They include the Property, Plant and Equipment that the firm needs in its operation.
GuruFocus calculates net working capital as: (Accounts Receivable + Total Inventories + Other Current Assets) - (Accounts Payable & Accrued Expense + Deferred Revenue + Other Current Liabilities). We're trying to account for OPERATING assets and liabilities (part of daily business) when calculating working capital. Cash and marketable securities are considered NON-OPERATING assets and are not included in calculation. We will also back out all interest bearing debt, short term debt and the portion of long term debt that is due in the current period from the current liabilities. This debt will be considered when computing cost of capital and it would be inappropriate to count it twice.
Note:
The EBIT data used here is four times the quarterly (Apr. 2026) EBIT data.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
What does a ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % of 44.22% mean?
Ross Stores (ROST) has a ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % of 44.22% as of Apr. 2026. Joel Greenblatt's return on capital is the ratio of EBIT to average fixed assets and net working capital. View historical data on Ross Stores and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 40.43. Over the past decade, Ross Stores' ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % has ranged from 3.38 to 87.10. According to the industry distribution chart, Ross Stores ranks #179 out of 1122 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 16%.
Is Ross Stores' ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % too high?
Ross Stores' current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % of 44.22% is near median its 10-year median of 40.43. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.38 to a high of 87.10. The Retail - Cyclical industry median ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 11.50. Ross Stores' value of 44.22% is 284.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Ross Stores ranks #179 out of 1122 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' ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % compare to BURL and LULU?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, Ross Stores ranks #179 out of 1122 companies for ROC (Joel Greenblatt) %. This places Ross Stores in the top 16% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 11.50. Ross Stores' value of 44.22% is 284.5% above this benchmark. Historically, Ross Stores' own ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % has ranged from 3.38 to 87.10 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 40.43 vs. the industry median of 11.50, Ross Stores has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % for a Retail - Cyclical company?
The median ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % among Retail - Cyclical companies is 11.50, based on 1,122 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Ross Stores's current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % of 44.22% is 284.5% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % mean?
A high ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Joel Greenblatt's return on capital is the ratio of EBIT to average fixed assets and net working capital. View historical data on Ross Stores and its competitors. For the Retail - Cyclical industry, the median ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 11.50 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Ross Stores's current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 44.22%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 40.43. 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 $174.34, compared to a current price of $215.64 — trading 23.7% above its estimated fair value. The current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 44.22%, which is near median its 10-year median of 40.43 and 284.5% above the Retail - Cyclical industry median of 11.50. 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 ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % calculated?
ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ross Stores (ROST), the current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 44.22% as of Apr. 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 $215.64 is trading 23.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of $174.34.
GuruFocus considers Ross Stores to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for ROST:
ROC (Joel Greenblatt) %: 44.22% (near median its 10-year median of 40.43)
GF Value™: $174.34 vs. price of $215.64 (23.7% above fair value)
Industry Position: 284.5% above the Retail - Cyclical median (#179 of 1122)
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, 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
ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
ROST has been successfully added to your 
