Is Ross Stores (ROST) a 'Buy' Ahead of Its Upcoming Earnings Announcement?

Leading off-price retailer Ross Stores ROST is set to report third-quarter earnings results on Thursday after the closing bell. A Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), Ross surpassed the earnings mark in each of the past four quarters. But with markets experiencing volatility lately, is ROST stock a buy ahead of the release?Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.Analysts are expecting the company to post a profit of $1.40 per share, reflecting negative growth of -5.4% versus the same quarter last year. Sales are projected to have increased 6.7% to $5.4 billion during the quarter.Ross Stores delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 5.1%. The discount retailer continues to draw value-conscious shoppers with competitive bargains.Yet margin compression remains a key concern amid tariff pressures and higher expenses. ROST shares are up roughly 7% year-to-date and are underperforming the major indexes. Investors would be wise to exercise caution ahead of the upcoming announcement.#1 Semiconductor Stock to Buy (Not NVDA)The incredible demand for data is fueling the market's next digital gold rush. As data centers continue to be built and constantly upgraded, the companies that provide the hardware for these behemoths will become the NVIDIAs of tomorrow.One under-the-radar chipmaker is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. It specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.See This Stock Now for Free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks