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ROST vs. W: Ross Stores vs. Wayfair Stock Comparison

How do Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W) 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

Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though ROST is classified under Apparel Retail while W falls under Homefurnishing Retail.

Company profile comparison for Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
Profile ItemROSTW
NameRoss Stores Inc.Wayfair Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustrySpecialty RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryApparel RetailHomefurnishing Retail
Market Capitalization74.13 billion USD15.29 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 8, 1985October 2, 2014
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ROST
W
GSPC
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W), 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 Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
MetricROSTW
Total Return (1Y)49.04%11.13%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.07%40.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.09%-13.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ROST
W
GSPC
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W), 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 Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Wayfair (W) carries a highly aggressive beta of 3.07, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Ross Stores (ROST) is closer to market-like at 0.83 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
MetricROSTW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.67%69.34%
Beta (5Y)0.833.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.66%-91.36%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.30M2.27M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ROST and W 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 Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
MetricROSTW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.620.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.700.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Ross Stores (ROST) earns 42.63% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Wayfair (W) has no ROE this period.

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%

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%
W
--
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): W does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ROST is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Wayfair (W) reports a negative net margin of -1.21%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Ross Stores (ROST) reports 10.85%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-1.21%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
W
-1.21%
Min
-9.41%
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): 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 Wayfair (W) at 3.10%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.10%

Max
21.45%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
W
3.10%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
MetricROSTW
ROE (TTM)42.63%--
ROA (TTM)12.79%5.86%
Net Margin (TTM)10.85%-1.21%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.58%3.10%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.39%29.95%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 7.67% and Wayfair (W) at 5.11% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Ross Stores (ROST) reports EPS growth of 4.59%, ranked against its industry; Wayfair (W) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
MetricROSTW
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.67%5.11%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.76%0.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.59%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.70%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 1.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Wayfair (W) at 0.67 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for W.

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

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.67

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
Q1
1.00
W
0.67
Min
0.48
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Ross Stores (ROST) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70 against its industry range, while Wayfair (W) reports no figure this period.

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

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01
W
--
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): W does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; ROST is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
MetricROSTW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.610.67
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.70--
Net Debt / EBITDA0.126.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Wayfair (W) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Ross Stores (ROST) reports a yield of 0.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Wayfair (W) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Ross Stores (ROST) reports a payout of 20.56%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
MetricROSTW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.72%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.56%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Ross Stores (ROST) trades at 27.94 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Wayfair (W) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67
W
--
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): W does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ROST is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Wayfair (W) at 1.16 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.

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

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.16

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
W
1.16
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Wayfair (W) reports a negative P/B ratio of -5.43, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Ross Stores (ROST) reports 10.96, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

W

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-5.43

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45
W
-5.43
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Wayfair (W): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Wayfair (W)
MetricROSTW
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.94--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.021.16
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.96-5.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.70%3.12%