Yield Theory

Consumer Discretionary stock comparison

ROST vs TJX: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare Ross Stores, Inc. with The TJX Companies, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Consumer
Industry
Same SIC
Shared themes
1
Updated
2026-03-31

ROST vs TJX: quick comparison

Company factROSTTJX
CompanyRoss Stores, Inc.The TJX Companies, Inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNYSE
Headquarters—Framingham, Massachusetts
Founded—1956
SEC industryRetail-Family Clothing StoresRetail-Family Clothing Stores
Fiscal year-endFebruary 1February 1
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-03-3110-K · 2026-03-31

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

ROST and TJX share the SEC industry classification “Retail-Family Clothing Stores,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST)

Ross Stores runs off-price retail chains Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts selling discounted apparel and home goods.

The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX)

TJX runs off-price retail chains such as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, selling brand-name merchandise at a discount. Its treasure-hunt model tends to draw shoppers even during periods of tighter consumer budgets.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. ROST is classified by the SEC as Retail-Family Clothing Stores, while TJX is classified as Retail-Family Clothing Stores. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study ROST when…

  • Real wage growth and consumer confidence
  • Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
  • Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
  • The trade-down between premium and value

Study TJX when…

  • Comparable-store sales and customer traffic across its off-price banners
  • Opportunistic merchandise buying and inventory flexibility versus full-price retailers
  • Store growth and international expansion, including HomeSense and European banners
  • Markdown discipline and freight/wage costs as margin levers

Shared research themes

Economic trends

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.ROST's fiscal year ends February 1, while TJX's ends February 1. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 8matched transaction rows for ROSTand 14 for TJX. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

ROST vs TJX FAQs

Are ROST and TJX direct competitors?

Ross Stores, Inc. and The TJX Companies, Inc. share the SEC industry classification “Retail-Family Clothing Stores.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.

Which is better, ROST or TJX?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this ROST vs TJX comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Ross Stores, Inc. and The TJX Companies, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.

ROST vs TJX shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.

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