RO

Ross Stores, Inc. stock research

Feb 3, 2024

FY2023 Q4

Ross Stores (ROST) Gross Margin — Quarter Ended Feb 3, 2024

Revenue and gross profit both increased compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. Gross margin weakened slightly from the prior quarter but improved versus the year-ago period, as cost of revenue grew at a slower pace than revenue on a year-over-year basis.

Gross margin takeaway

Quarter ended Feb 3, 2024 · FY2023 Q4

Revenue and gross profit both increased compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. Gross margin weakened slightly from the prior quarter but improved versus the year-ago period, as cost of revenue grew at a slower pace than revenue on a year-over-year basis.

  • The strongest observable margin driver is the year-over-year improvement in gross margin, which rose from the prior year's level. This reflects a favorable relationship between revenue growth and cost of revenue changes.
  • Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, gross margin was slightly lower despite higher revenue and gross profit. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, gross margin was higher, with revenue and gross profit both higher and cost of revenue lower relative to revenue.

Gross margin snapshot

The selected quarter's reported revenue, gross profit, direct costs, and margin comparisons.

Gross margin

27.3%

Gross profit

$1.6B

Revenue

$6.0B

Cost of revenue

$4.4B

Quarter-over-quarter change

-0.3 pts

Year-over-year change

+2.6 pts

Quarterly gross margin trend

A four-quarter view of the revenue and direct-cost bridge behind gross margin.

PeriodRevenueGross profitCost of revenueGross margin
Apr 29, 2023$4.5B$1.2B$3.3B26.7%
Jul 29, 2023$4.9B$1.4B$3.6B27.7%
Oct 28, 2023$4.9B$1.4B$3.6B27.6%
Feb 3, 2024$6.0B$1.6B$4.4B27.3%

Quarterly comparisons

Compare the selected margin with the preceding quarter and the same fiscal quarter one year earlier.

Previous-quarter change

Oct 28, 2023

-0.3 pts

Year-over-year change

Jan 28, 2023

+2.6 pts

What the margin says

Filing-constrained interpretation of margin direction, comparisons, and what to monitor next.

The strongest observable margin driver is the year-over-year improvement in gross margin, which rose from the prior year's level. This reflects a favorable relationship between revenue growth and cost of revenue changes.

Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, gross margin was slightly lower despite higher revenue and gross profit. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, gross margin was higher, with revenue and gross profit both higher and cost of revenue lower relative to revenue.

Monitor the trajectory of cost of revenue relative to revenue, as the slight sequential margin decline suggests cost growth may be accelerating.

ROST Gross Margin — Quarter Ended Feb 3, 2024