RO
ROST
Jan 31, 2026
Quarter ended Jan 31, 2026 · FY2025 Q4

Ross Stores, Inc. stock research

Ross Stores (ROST) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Jan 31, 2026

Revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow all improved compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. The free cash flow margin strengthened sequentially and year-over-year.

Free cash flow takeaway

A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.

Revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow all improved compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. The free cash flow margin strengthened sequentially and year-over-year.

  • Operating cash flow as a proportion of revenue was higher than both the preceding quarter and the year-ago quarter. Capital expenditure was slightly lower than the prior quarter but comparable to the year-ago level, supporting a higher free cash flow and an improved free cash flow margin.
  • Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all higher, and the free cash flow margin improved. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, all metrics were also higher, with a stronger free cash flow margin.

FCF snapshot

Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.

TTM free cash flow

$2.2B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$920.8M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$1.1B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$200.9M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

13.9%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2025-05-03$5.0B$409.7M$207.4M$202.3M4.1%
2025-08-02$5.5B$668.4M$201.7M$466.6M8.4%
2025-11-01$5.6B$827.1M$209.3M$617.8M11.0%
2026-01-31$6.6B$1.1B$200.9M$920.8M13.9%

Cash conversion quality

Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.

FCF / net income142.6%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue3.0%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash$3.1BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Supportive

Operating Cash Flow Growth

Operating cash flow was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, and its ratio to revenue improved. This was the strongest observable driver of the increase in free cash flow.

Higher operating cash flow, combined with a slightly lower capital expenditure, resulted in a higher free cash flow and an improved free cash flow margin.

What the cash flow says

How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.

Operating cash flow as a proportion of revenue was higher than both the preceding quarter and the year-ago quarter. Capital expenditure was slightly lower than the prior quarter but comparable to the year-ago level, supporting a higher free cash flow and an improved free cash flow margin.

Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all higher, and the free cash flow margin improved. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, all metrics were also higher, with a stronger free cash flow margin.

Monitor the level of capital expenditure relative to operating cash flow, as it remained stable while operating cash flow increased.