rost-20221117
FALSE000074573200007457322022-11-172022-11-17



UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (date of earliest event reported):
November 17, 2022

ROSS STORES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
0-14678
94-1390387
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)(Commission File No.)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

5130 Hacienda Drive, Dublin, California 94568
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(925) 965-4400
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading symbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $.01ROSTNASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On November 17, 2022, the Company issued a press release regarding the Company’s financial results for its fiscal quarter ended October 29 2022. The full text of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information furnished with this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)     Exhibits.                         
Exhibit
No.
Description
99.1
104Cover Page Interactive Data File. (The cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 17, 2022
ROSS STORES, INC.
Registrant
By:/s/Adam Orvos
Adam Orvos
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, and Principal Accounting Officer

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Document
    
Exhibit 99.1
https://cdn.kscope.io/c418201336dbfcd6a0abdeaf7b904bca-prfinalimagea.jpg__________________________________________________________________


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Adam OrvosConnie Kao
Executive Vice President,Group Vice President, Investor Relations
Chief Financial Officer(925) 965-4668
(925) 965-4550connie.kao@ros.com

ROSS STORES REPORTS THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS,
UPDATES FOURTH QUARTER GUIDANCE

Dublin, California, November 17, 2022 -- Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROST) today reported earnings per share for the third quarter ended October 29, 2022 of $1.00 on net income of $342 million. These results compare to earnings per share of $1.09 on net income of $385 million for the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2021. Sales for the 2022 third quarter were $4.6 billion, in line with the prior year, with comparable store sales down 3% on top of a robust 14% gain for the same period in 2021.

For the nine months ended October 29, 2022, earnings per share were $3.08 on net earnings of $1.1 billion, versus $3.82 per share on net income of $1.4 billion for the same year-to-date period in 2021. Sales for the first nine months of 2022 were $13.5 billion, with comparable store sales down 5% on top of a strong 14% increase last year.

Barbara Rentler, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Third quarter results were above our expectations as we delivered stronger values throughout our stores. Operating margin for the period was 9.8% versus 11.4% last year, reflecting the deleveraging effect from the comparable sales decline as well as pressure from higher markdowns and unfavorable timing of packaway-related costs.”

Ms. Rentler added, “During the third quarter, we repurchased 2.8 million shares of common stock for an aggregate price of $244 million. We remain on track to buy back a total of $950 million in common stock during fiscal 2022 under our two-year $1.9 billion repurchase program that extends through fiscal 2023.”












ROSS STORES, INC. 5130 Hacienda Drive, Dublin, CA 94568 (925) 965-4400



Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2022 Guidance

Looking ahead, Ms. Rentler said, “We continue to expect a very promotional holiday selling season and ongoing inflationary headwinds to pressure our low-to-moderate income customers. That said, we face our easiest sales and earnings comparisons in the fourth quarter and are raising our guidance given our third quarter sales momentum and improved holiday assortments.”

Ms. Rentler continued, “We now expect fourth quarter same store sales to be flat to down 2% on top of a 9% gain in the prior year, with earnings per share forecasted to be in the range of $1.13 to $1.26. Based on our year-to-date results and our fourth quarter forecast, earnings per share for fiscal 2022 are now projected to be in the range of $4.21 to $4.34 versus $4.87 last year.”

Ms. Rentler concluded, “There remains a high level of uncertainty in today’s macroeconomic and geopolitical environment that continues to negatively impact consumer sentiment and demand. However, we remain confident in the off-price business model, which offers both value and convenience. Given consumers’ heightened focus on both of these attributes, it should bode well for our ability to expand our market share and profitability in the future.”

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 4:15 p.m. Eastern time to provide additional details concerning its third quarter results and management’s outlook for the remainder of the year. A real-time audio webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investors section of the Company’s website, located at www.rossstores.com. An audio playback will be available at 201-612-7415, PIN #13733917 until 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 25, 2022, as well as on the Company’s website.

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Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and the related conference call remarks contains forward-looking statements regarding projected sales and earnings, planned new store growth, and other financial results and market conditions in future periods that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from management’s current expectations. The words “plan,” “expect,” “target,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “projected,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “looking ahead,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Risk factors for Ross Dress for Less® (“Ross”) and dd’s DISCOUNTS® include without limitation, the uncertainties and potential for the recurrence of significant business disruptions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, including its unknown duration, the potential for new virus variants and future resurgences, and the potential adverse impact on consumer demand and our business; changes in the level of consumer spending on, or preferences, for apparel and home-related merchandise; impacts from the macro-economic environment, including inflation, interest rates, housing costs, energy and fuel costs, financial and credit market conditions, recession concerns, geopolitical conditions (including the current Russia-Ukraine conflict), unemployment levels or public health issues (such as pandemics) that affect consumer confidence and consumer disposable income; our need to effectively manage our inventories, markdowns, and inventory shortage to achieve planned gross margins; competitive pressures in the apparel and home-related merchandise retailing industry; issues associated with importing and selling merchandise produced in other countries, including risks from supply chain disruptions due to port of exit/entry congestion, shipping delays and ocean freight cost increases, and risks from other supply chain related disruptions, including those due to COVID-19 closures; unseasonable weather that may affect shopping patterns and consumer demand for seasonal apparel and other merchandise, and that may result in temporary store closures and disruptions in deliveries of merchandise to our stores; market availability, quantity, and quality of attractive brand name merchandise at desirable discounts and our buyers’ ability to anticipate consumer preferences and to purchase merchandise that enables us to offer customers a wide assortment of merchandise at competitive prices; potential data security breaches, including cyber-attacks on our transaction processing and computer information systems, which could result in theft or unauthorized disclosure of customer, credit card, employee, or other private and valuable information that we handle in the ordinary course of our business; potential disruptions in our information systems, including from ransomware or other cyberattacks; issues involving the quality, safety, or authenticity of products we sell, which could harm our reputation, result in lost sales, and/or increase our costs; an adverse outcome in various legal, regulatory, or tax matters, or the adoption of new federal or state tax legislation that increases tax rates or adds new taxes, could increase our costs; damage to our corporate reputation or brands; our need to continually attract, train, and retain associates to execute our off-price strategies; our need to effectively advertise and market our business; changes in U.S. tax, tariff, or trade policy regarding apparel and home-related merchandise produced in other countries that could adversely affect our business; volatility in revenues and earnings; an additional pandemic, natural or man-made disaster in California or in another region where we have a concentration of stores, offices, or a distribution center; unexpected issues or costs from expanding in existing markets and entering new geographic markets; obtaining acceptable new store sites with favorable consumer demographics; and maintaining sufficient liquidity to support our continuing operations, new store openings, and ongoing capital expenditure plans. Other risk factors are set forth in our SEC filings including without limitation, the Form 10-K for fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022 Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks on file with the SEC. The factors underlying our forecasts are dynamic and subject to change. As a result, our forecasts speak only as of the date they are given and do not necessarily reflect our outlook at any other point in time. We do not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Ross Stores, Inc. is an S&P 500, Fortune 500, and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company headquartered in Dublin, California, with fiscal 2021 revenues of $18.9 billion. Currently, the Company operates Ross Dress for Less® (“Ross”), the largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States with 1,696 locations in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. Ross offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at savings of 20% to 60% off department and specialty store regular prices every day. The Company also operates 323 dd’s DISCOUNTS® stores in 21 states that feature a more moderately-priced assortment of first-quality, in-season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at savings of 20% to 70% off moderate department and discount store regular prices every day. Additional information is available at www.rossstores.com.
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Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
($000, except stores and per share data, unaudited)October 29, 2022October 30, 2021October 29, 2022October 30, 2021
Sales$4,565,489 $4,574,541 $13,481,598 $13,895,595 
Costs and Expenses
Cost of goods sold3,424,046 3,326,004 10,020,027 9,935,271 
Selling, general and administrative693,367 725,761 2,029,926 2,118,602 
Interest (income) expense, net(2,802)18,744 25,561 56,500 
Total costs and expenses4,114,611 4,070,509 12,075,514 12,110,373 
Earnings before taxes450,878 504,032 1,406,084 1,785,222 
Provision for taxes on earnings108,842 119,002 341,086 429,455 
Net earnings$342,036 $385,030 $1,064,998 $1,355,767 
Earnings per share
Basic$1.00 $1.10 $3.09 $3.85 
Diluted$1.00 $1.09 $3.08 $3.82 
Weighted-average shares outstanding (000)
Basic342,120 351,071 344,686 352,308 
Diluted343,720 353,081 346,212 354,477 
Store count at end of period2,019 1,924 2,019 1,924 
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Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
($000, unaudited)October 29, 2022October 30, 2021
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents$3,906,490 $5,259,595 
Accounts receivable168,483 158,765 
Merchandise inventory2,494,002 2,231,242 
Prepaid expenses and other192,214 195,309 
Total current assets6,761,189 7,844,911 
Property and equipment, net3,008,738 2,784,286 
Operating lease assets3,101,882 3,032,175 
Other long-term assets228,286 254,362 
Total assets$13,100,095 $13,915,734 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable$1,927,757 $2,652,881 
Accrued expenses and other616,753 625,426 
Current operating lease liabilities656,837 620,675 
Accrued payroll and benefits251,479 512,336 
Income taxes payable11,404 — 
Current portion of long-term debt 64,991 
Total current liabilities3,464,230 4,476,309 
Long-term debt2,455,460 2,451,283 
Non-current operating lease liabilities2,596,221 2,551,162 
Other long-term liabilities223,162 296,819 
Deferred income taxes214,022 156,944 
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity4,147,000 3,983,217 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$13,100,095 $13,915,734 

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Ross Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended
($000, unaudited)October 29, 2022October 30, 2021
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net earnings$1,064,998 $1,355,767 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization290,565 262,139 
Stock-based compensation92,367 96,775 
Deferred income taxes76,380 35,077 
Change in assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventory(231,729)(722,260)
Other current assets(72,079)(50,139)
Accounts payable(452,968)422,277 
Other current liabilities (308,202)160,984 
Income taxes3,397 (60,442)
Operating lease assets and liabilities, net8,634 4,767 
Other long-term, net 1,304 (1,292)
Net cash provided by operating activities472,667 1,503,653 
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Additions to property and equipment(417,901)(377,916)
Net cash used in investing activities(417,901)(377,916)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Issuance of common stock related to stock plans18,298 18,626 
Treasury stock purchased(45,372)(57,092)
Repurchase of common stock(718,693)(416,979)
Dividends paid(324,648)(304,520)
Net cash used in financing activities(1,070,415)(759,965)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents(1,015,649)365,772 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period4,982,382 4,953,769 
End of period$3,966,733 $5,319,541 
Reconciliations:
Cash and cash equivalents$3,906,490 $5,259,595 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents included in prepaid expenses and other11,446 10,790 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents included in other long-term assets48,797 49,156 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents:$3,966,733 $5,319,541 
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Interest paid$80,316 $82,209 
Income taxes paid$261,309 $454,821 
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