Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) vs Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST)
LOW leads on 10 of 16 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Lowe's Companies, Inc. and Ross Stores, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 14, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
LOW
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
$220.78Consumer Cyclical
ROST
Ross Stores, Inc.
$240.13Consumer Cyclical
Total return — LOW vs ROST
growth of $100 · last 30yLOW +4720.5%ROST +20964.0%ROST compounded faster
LOW ROST
LOW vs ROST: by the numbers
- •LOW is the larger company ($123.79B vs $77.03B market cap).
- •LOW trades at the lower earnings multiple (18.66 vs 33.54 P/E).
- •ROST converts more revenue to profit (9.74% vs 7.51% net margin).
- •ROST grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.35% vs -1.28% CAGR).
- •LOW pays the higher dividend yield (2.17% vs 0.71%).
Which is better, LOW or ROST?
Metric tally: LOW 10 · ROST 6It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueLOW(lower P/E)
GrowthROST(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeLOW(higher dividend yield)
QualityLOW(higher ROIC)
Valuation
| Metric | LOW | ROST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 18.66● | 33.54 |
| Forward P/E | 16.43● | 30.68 |
| P/S ratio | 1.40● | 3.24 |
| P/B ratio | — | 12.24 |
| PEG ratio | 1.36● | 5.96 |
| EV / EBITDA | 13.61● | 20.31 |
| FCF yield | 6.16%● | 3.41% |
Profitability
| Metric | LOW | ROST |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 33.80%● | 28.33% |
| Operating margin | 11.55% | 12.22%● |
| Net margin | 7.51% | 9.74%● |
| ROE | -67.10% | 36.73%● |
| ROIC | 20.42%● | 17.10% |
Dividends
| Metric | LOW | ROST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.17%● | 0.71% |
| Payout ratio | 40.44% | 25.53% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | LOW | ROST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -1.28% | 9.35%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 13.72% | 94.40%● |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -3.63%● | -6.35% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 4.93% | 16.14%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, LOW or ROST?
- It depends on your goal. value: LOW (lower P/E); growth: ROST (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: LOW (higher dividend yield); quality: LOW (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, LOW leads 10 to 6.
- Is LOW or ROST cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, LOW is cheaper: LOW trades at a 18.66 P/E and ROST at 33.54.
- Which has grown faster, LOW or ROST?
- Over the past five years, ROST grew revenue faster — LOW at a -1.28% CAGR versus ROST at 9.35%.
- Does LOW or ROST pay a bigger dividend?
- LOW yields 2.17% and ROST yields 0.71% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is LOW or ROST more profitable?
- ROST runs the higher net margin — LOW at 7.51% versus ROST at 9.74%.
- Which has been the better investment, LOW or ROST?
- Over the past 10-year, ROST delivered the higher annualized total return — LOW at 12.99% versus ROST at 17.31%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Lowe's Companies P/E ratioRoss Stores P/E ratioLowe's Companies dividend yieldRoss Stores dividend yieldLowe's Companies ROERoss Stores ROELowe's Companies operating marginRoss Stores operating marginLowe's Companies revenue growthRoss Stores revenue growthLowe's Companies free cash flowRoss Stores free cash flow
Lowe's Companies & Ross Stores appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 14, 2026.