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.
Consumer Discretionary stock comparison
ROST vs TSCO: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Ross Stores, Inc. with Tractor Supply Company 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
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-03-31
ROST vs TSCO: quick comparison
| Company fact | ROST | TSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Ross Stores, Inc. | Tractor Supply Company |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| SEC industry | Retail-Family Clothing Stores | Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply |
| Fiscal year-end | February 1 | December 28 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-03-31 | 10-K · 2026-02-19 |
ROST vs TSCO: audited financials
ROST reported about 1.5× the revenue of TSCO in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, ROST converted a larger share of revenue into net income (9.4% versus 7.1%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | ROST | TSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $22.8B | $15.5B |
| Net income | $2.1B | $1.1B |
| Operating cash flow | $3.0B | $1.6B |
| Diluted EPS | $6.61 | $2.06 |
| Net margin | 9.4% | 7.1% |
ROST: FY ending 2026-01-31 · TSCO: FY ending 2025-12-27. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
ROST and TSCO have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Economic trends research theme inside the Consumer Discretionary sector. 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.
Tractor Supply Company (TSCO)
Tractor Supply is a rural-lifestyle retailer selling farm supplies, pet products, tools, and equipment.
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 TSCO is classified as Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich 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 TSCO 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
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 TSCO's ends December 28. 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 31 for TSCO. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
ROST primary filings
TSCO primary filings
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 TSCO FAQs
Are ROST and TSCO direct competitors?
Ross Stores, Inc. and Tractor Supply Company sit in the same Consumer Discretionary sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
Which is better, ROST or TSCO?
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 TSCO 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 Tractor Supply Company 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 TSCO 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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