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PAG vs. ROST: Penske Automotive vs. Ross Stores Stock Comparison

How do Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though PAG is classified under Automotive Retail while ROST falls under Apparel Retail.

Company profile comparison for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Profile ItemPAGROST
NamePenske Automotive Group Inc.Ross Stores Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustrySpecialty RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryAutomotive RetailApparel Retail
Market Capitalization13.94 billion USD74.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateOctober 23, 1996August 8, 1985
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAG
ROST
GSPC
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
MetricPAGROST
Total Return (1Y)39.10%49.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)16.11%26.07%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.74%16.09%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PAG
ROST
GSPC
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
MetricPAGROST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.55%27.67%
Beta (5Y)0.900.83
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.03%-40.66%
Avg. Volume (3M)450.08K2.30M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PAG and ROST are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
MetricPAGROST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.261.62
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.272.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 42.63% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 15.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ROST.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

15.47%

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
PAG
15.47%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

42.63%

Max
62.17%
ROST
42.63%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 10.85% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.77%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.77%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
PAG
2.77%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.85%

Max
16.94%
ROST
10.85%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 13.58% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Penske Automotive (PAG) at 3.60%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.60%

Max
21.45%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
PAG
3.60%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.58%

Max
21.45%
ROST
13.58%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
MetricPAGROST
ROE (TTM)15.47%42.63%
ROA (TTM)4.25%12.79%
Net Margin (TTM)2.77%10.85%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.60%13.58%
Gross Margin (TTM)16.05%33.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ross Stores (ROST) at 7.67% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at -0.18% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.84% and Ross Stores (ROST) at 4.59% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
MetricPAGROST
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.18%7.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.57%6.76%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.84%4.59%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-8.67%14.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 1.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.98 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PAG.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.98

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
Q1
1.00
PAG
0.98
Min
0.48

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.61

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
ROST
1.61
Median
1.35
Q1
1.00
Min
0.48
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 0.70 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 1.53 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.53

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
PAG
1.53
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.70

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
ROST
0.70
Min
0.01
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
MetricPAGROST
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.981.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.530.70
Net Debt / EBITDA6.530.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.70% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ross Stores (ROST) at 0.72% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PAG the richer one.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.70%

Max
5.84%
PAG
2.70%
Q3
2.50%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.72%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
ROST
0.72%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 20.56% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 41.11% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.11%

Max
72.73%
PAG
41.11%
Q3
32.44%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

20.56%

Max
72.73%
Q3
32.44%
ROST
20.56%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
MetricPAGROST
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.70%0.72%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)41.11%20.56%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 14.80 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ross Stores (ROST) at 27.94 sits in the richer quartile — ROST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.80

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
PAG
14.80
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

27.94

Max
40.50
ROST
27.94
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.43 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ross Stores (ROST) at 3.02 sits in the pricier quartile — ROST costs more per dollar of sales.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.43

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
PAG
0.43
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.02

Max
4.32
ROST
3.02
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.35 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Ross Stores (ROST) at 10.96 carries an above-peer premium to book — ROST is pricier on assets.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.35

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
PAG
2.35
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.96

ROST
10.96
Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ross Stores (ROST)
MetricPAGROST
P/E Ratio (TTM)14.8027.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.433.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.3510.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.69%2.70%