Burlington Stores (BURL) vs Ross Stores (ROST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ross Stores (ROST) has outperformed Burlington Stores (BURL) over the past year, gaining 50.0% versus a gain of 4.9%. Over five years, ROST leads with a +107.5% price change compared with +1.3% for BURL. Ross Stores is the larger company by market cap ($72.24 billion vs $17.39 billion), about 4.2 times the size, while Burlington Stores is growing revenue faster (+8.8% vs +7.7%).
On valuation, Burlington Stores trades at a lower forward P/E (20.2x vs 25.1x for Ross Stores). Ross Stores pays a dividend yielding 0.75%, while Burlington Stores does not currently pay one. Ross Stores converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.4% versus 5.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BURL | ROST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $276.84 | $225.20 |
| Market cap | $17.39B | $72.24B |
| 1-day change | +1.57% | -0.15% |
| YTD return | -5.64% | +25.20% |
| 1-year return | +4.87% | +50.01% |
| 5-year return | +1.35% | +107.46% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 24.87 | 27.23 |
| Forward P/E | 20.24 | 25.10 |
| EPS (TTM) | $11.13 | $8.27 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.75% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.70 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.57B | $22.75B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.76% | +7.67% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $610.15M | $2.15B |
| Gross margin | 43.92% | 27.71% |
| Operating margin | — | 11.90% |
| Net margin | 5.27% | 9.43% |
| 52-week high | $378.33 | $257.00 |
| 52-week low | $226.85 | $147.49 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -26.83% | -12.37% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.75% | +20.14% |
| Average volume | 1.24M | 2.31M |
| Shares outstanding | 62.82M | 320.78M |
| Employees | 17,495 | 111,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Apparel Retail | Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ross Stores is about 4.2 times larger than Burlington Stores by market value ($72.24B vs $17.39B).
- ROST has outperformed BURL by 45.1 percentage points over the past year.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Burlington Stores in Consumer Cyclical and Ross Stores in Consumer Discretionary.
About Burlington Stores
BURL stock →Burlington Stores, Inc. operates as a retailer of branded merchandise in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Consumer Cyclical · Apparel Retail · 17,495 employees
About Ross Stores
ROST stock →Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates off-price retail apparel and home fashion stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd's DISCOUNTS brands in the United States. The company offers designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home-fashioned products for the entire family.
Consumer Discretionary · Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores · 111,000 employees
BURL vs ROST FAQ
Which is bigger, Burlington Stores or Ross Stores?
Ross Stores (ROST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $72.24B compared with $17.39B for Burlington Stores (BURL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BURL or ROST?
ROST returned +50.01% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.87% for BURL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BURL or ROST?
BURL has the lower trailing P/E at 24.9, versus 27.2 for ROST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Burlington Stores or Ross Stores?
Ross Stores pays a dividend yielding 0.75%, while Burlington Stores does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Burlington Stores and Ross Stores in the same industry?
No. Burlington Stores is in the Consumer Cyclical sector, while Ross Stores is in Consumer Discretionary.