Alcon AG vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Alcon AG trades at $73.03 (market cap $36.44B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $249.1 (market cap $80.78B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 2.2× Alcon AG's market cap, and Ross Stores, Inc. pays the higher dividend (0.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALC | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.44B | $80.78B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $90.12 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $62.02 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $40.28B | $81.37B |
Dividend Yield | 0.48% | 0.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALC trades at $73.63, up 2.53% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong recent earnings beats. Revenue growth is steady, reaching $10.40B in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 5.92%. Positive news includes raised 2026 profit guidance and new product launches driving investor optimism.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $86.67 implying 17.7% upside, supported by analyst buy ratings. Risks include elevated P/E of 57.52 and potential tariff impacts, but operational cash flow strength and strategic collaborations provide a solid foundation for growth.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $254.83, near its consensus price target of $259.00, with a slight 0.16% decline. The stock shows strong fundamentals, including a 9.74% net income margin and 38.98% ROE for 2025, with recent quarterly earnings consistently beating estimates. Technical indicators are bullish, supported by positive moving averages and recent store expansion news.
The outlook remains positive due to robust earnings growth and analyst buy ratings (63.83% consensus). Key risks include high valuation multiples (P/E of 35.17) and competitive pressures in discount retail. Upside potential exists if Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, but macroeconomic headwinds could pressure consumer spending.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Alcon, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the global eyecare leader with a diverse portfolio in ophthalmology including contact lenses, eye drops, surgical equipment, and related surgical products. Novartis purchased Alcon from Nestle in 2010 and, following nine years as a Novartis subsidiary, the company was spun off as a public company in April 2019. The company reports five distinct segments: implantables (16% of revenue), consumables (31%), equipment (9%), contact lenses (27%), and ocular health (17%). The company is geographically diversified, with only about 40% of revenue from the U.S. market, and the firm has a strong presence in the European Union and Japan.
Read more on ALC →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →