Ross Stores
Ross Stores is the largest U.S. off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating approximately 2,300 Ross Dress for Less and dd's DISCOUNTS stores selling brand-name merchandise at 20-60% below department store prices to value-conscious middle-income, moderate-income, and Gen Z consumers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersDublin, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ross Stores does
Ross Stores, Inc. is the largest off-price apparel and home fashion retailer in the United States, operating two banners, Ross Dress for Less (approximately 1,917 locations) and dd's DISCOUNTS (approximately 365 locations), for a footprint of roughly 2,300 stores across 37 states plus the District of Columbia and Guam as of mid-2026. The company sources overstock, packaway, and closeout merchandise directly from manufacturers and department stores at 20-60% below wholesale and resells it through a deliberately low-frills, treasure-hunt in-store experience without window displays, mannequins, or premium fixtures, with new inventory arriving frequently to drive repeat visits. Ross does not sell merchandise online, instead focusing on physical retail, an Amazon pickup pilot at select locations, gift cards ($10-$150 denominations), and a co-branded Ross Credit Card and Ross Mastercard issued by Comenity Capital Bank that powers a Ross Rewards loyalty program offering 5% back on Ross purchases.
The underlying operating model is built on the buyer expertise of its sourcing organization and a network of 7 distribution centers, supported by approximately 100,000+ associates. The core revenue stream is one-time retail merchandise sales to value-conscious consumers, primarily middle and moderate-income households but increasingly Gen Z shoppers, with the Ross credit card adding a small but high-margin payments revenue layer. Pricing is set per unit at fixed off-price points rather than via subscriptions or contracts, and customer relationships are governed by standard retail credit terms and a no-e-commerce merchandise policy.
Governance, capital allocation, and growth strategy are oriented to shareholder returns and disciplined unit growth. Ross has paid dividends for 33 consecutive years, is a component of the S&P 500, Fortune 500, and Nasdaq 100, and in March 2026 authorized a new $2.55 billion share repurchase program. Management has guided to approximately 110 new store openings in fiscal 2026, against a long-term white-space target of roughly 3,600 total stores, and is opportunistically absorbing retail real estate vacated by drugstore closures via A&G Real Estate Partners. Q1 FY2026 results showed revenue of $6.01 billion (up 20.6% year-over-year), comparable store sales growth of 17% (a 40-year record), and operating margin of 13.4%, materially above the company's planned 11.8-12.1% range.
Ross Stores firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ross Stores
- Legal name
- Ross Stores, Inc.
- Website
- https://rossstores.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Ross Stores is the largest U.S. off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating approximately 2,300 Ross Dress for Less and dd's DISCOUNTS stores selling brand-name merchandise at 20-60% below department store prices to value-conscious middle-income, moderate-income, and Gen Z consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ross Stores industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Off-Price Retail
- NAICS
- Department Stores (45511), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110)
- SIC
- Retail-Department Stores (5311), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Off-Price Department Store Chains (National) (CRAGAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Off-Price Department Stores (Broadline) (CRAGAEAA), Off-Price Department Stores (Apparel-Led) (CRAEABAB), Off-Price Family Apparel & Value Fashion Retailers (CRAEABAF)
Keywords
Where Ross Stores is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ross Stores business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Merchandise Sales: Ross Stores generates revenue through retail sales of off-price apparel, accessories, footwear, and home goods. The company purchases surplus inventory from manufacturers and department stores at significant discounts and sells to consumers at 20-60% below department store prices.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift cards available from $10 to $150 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Ross Credit Card rewards program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ross Stores product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ross Stores operates an off-price retail chain in the United States through two banners: Ross Dress for Less (approximately 1,917 stores) and dd's DISCOUNTS (approximately 365 stores). The company purchases surplus and overstock inventory directly from manufacturers and department stores at significant discounts, then resells brand-name apparel, footwear, accessories, and home goods to consumers at 20-60% below department store prices. A constant flow of new merchandise arrives almost daily to create a treasure-hunt shopping experience.
Product overview
Ross Stores operates as an off-price retail company offering a portfolio of two distinct brands: Ross Dress for Less (the nation's largest off-price retail chain with approximately 1,917 locations) and dd's DISCOUNTS (with 365 stores). The core offering centers on high-quality department and specialty store brand-name merchandise at 20-60% below department store prices, with new buys arriving almost daily. Supplementary offerings include the Ross Credit Card and Ross Mastercard (co-branded payment products issued by Comenity Capital Bank), the Ross Rewards loyalty program, and Ross Gift Cards. The company maintains an 'off-price' business model working directly with manufacturers to negotiate best deals, passing savings to customers without frills like window displays or mannequins.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ross Dress for Less The largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States, offering high-quality department and specialty store brand-name apparel, footwear, accessories, and home fashion at savings of 20-60% below department store prices. Approximately 1,917 store locations as of May 2026.
- dd's DISCOUNTS
Quantifiable outcome
- Comparable store sales increased 17% in Q1 2026, the strongest performance in 40-year history
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ross Stores
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ross Stores technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature1 record
Ross Stores partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- A&G Real Estate PartnersminorRoss Stores utilizes A&G Real Estate Partners for competitive lease auctions and property transactions to expand store footprint. A&G facilitates transactions as millions of square feet become available from U.S. drugstore closures including Rite Aid and Walgreens locations.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericacoreLong-standing national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) spanning over 40 years. Ross has raised and donated over $46 million since 2015 to help children achieve academic success, build confidence, and lead healthy lives. Partnership includes local club collaborations across store communities.
- First BookcoreLong-standing partnership with First Book organization to provide books to children near Ross Stores. Company has provided over 2.5 million books to children through this partnership supporting youth literacy and educational access.
- Comenity Capital BankcoreComenity Capital Bank issues Ross Credit Card and Ross Mastercard through a co-brand partnership. The bank manages credit card approvals, billing, payments, and rewards programs for Ross customers.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ross Stores competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The TJX Companies: The world's largest off-price apparel and home retailer, operating TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Sierra. Direct head-to-head competitor of Ross in the U.S. off-price department-store channel with similar treasure-hunt, opportunistic-buying model.
- Burlington Stores: U.S. off-price apparel and home retailer operating ~1,000+ stores with a similar closeout-buying and value-positioning model. Closest like-for-like competitor to Ross in target customer and merchandise mix.
Broad incumbents
- Nordstrom (Nordstrom Rack): Operates Nordstrom Rack off-price banner alongside full-line department stores. Overlaps with Ross in off-price apparel but with a more fashion-tilted assortment and stronger omni-channel capability.
- Macy's: Iconic U.S. department-store chain and one of the primary suppliers of branded inventory to off-price retailers like Ross. Competes indirectly for value-conscious shoppers via its own promotional pricing and Backstage off-price concept.
- Kohl's: Mid-tier U.S. department-store chain offering national and private-label apparel, footwear, and home at value price points. Targets a similar middle-income consumer to Ross, but through a fixed-price full-line format.
- Walmart: Largest U.S. retailer with broad apparel and home assortments at value price points. Competes for the same budget-conscious shopper, but with a full-price/grocery-anchored format and significant e-commerce scale.
- Costco Wholesale: Membership warehouse club selling apparel, home, and general merchandise at value prices. Overlaps with Ross on discretionary value-driven general merchandise for middle-income households.
- Dollar Tree: Deep-value multi-price discount retailer carrying limited assortment across consumables, household, and seasonal. Competes for the most price-sensitive consumers that also shop dd's DISCOUNTS.
Emerging players
- Five Below: U.S. extreme-value retailer targeting teens and pre-teens with trend-right merchandise priced at $5 and below. Adjacent to Ross's value thesis and Gen Z customer overlap, but in a different price-and-category niche.
- Big Lots: Broadline closeout retailer offering extreme-value merchandise across home, apparel, and consumables. Operates a buying model similar in spirit to Ross's, though with a heavier home and consumables tilt and smaller footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ross Stores social profiles
Digital presenceRoss Stores financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ross Stores leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Ross Stores subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Ross Stores funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ross Stores M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ross Stores
What does Ross Stores do?
Ross Stores operates an off-price retail chain in the United States through two banners: Ross Dress for Less (approximately 1,917 stores) and dd's DISCOUNTS (approximately 365 stores). The company purchases surplus and overstock inventory directly from manufacturers and department stores at significant discounts, then resells brand-name apparel, footwear, accessories, and home goods to consumers at 20-60% below department store prices. A constant flow of new merchandise arrives almost daily to create a treasure-hunt shopping experience.
Is Ross Stores a public or private company?
Ross Stores is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Ross Stores founded?
Ross Stores was founded in 1982. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Ross Stores based?
Ross Stores is headquartered in Dublin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ross Stores make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail Merchandise Sales.
Who are Ross Stores's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The TJX Companies and Burlington Stores. Broad incumbents are Nordstrom (Nordstrom Rack), Macy's, Kohl's, Walmart, Costco Wholesale and Dollar Tree. Emerging players are Five Below and Big Lots.
Does Ross Stores have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ross Stores.
What industry is Ross Stores in?
Ross Stores's product category is Off-Price Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAGAEAG, Off-Price Department Store Chains (National), with a secondary code of CRAGAEAA, Off-Price Department Stores (Broadline). Its NAICS code is 45511 and its SIC code is 5311.