Compare A O Smith Corp (AOS) vs Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
A O Smith Corp vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $63.65 (market cap $8.65B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $248.31 (market cap $80.78B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 9.3× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays the higher dividend (2.26%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $80.78B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | $81.37B |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 0.71% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A.O. Smith Corporation (AOS) trades at $62.53, showing modest daily gains of 0.19%. The stock maintains strong profitability with 13.15% net margins and 27.13% ROE, though recent Q1 2026 earnings missed expectations. Technical indicators suggest a bullish trend with the current price near key support at $62. Recent leadership transition with Kevin Wheeler's retirement and Stephen Shafer assuming chairman role adds management continuity.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a $67.25 consensus price target offering 7.5% upside potential. Strong North American performance and dividend growth provide support, but higher input costs and weaker China demand present headwinds. The stock's valuation appears reasonable at 17.74 P/E, though recent Zacks Strong Sell ratings warrant monitoring.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $248.48, down 2.49% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong support near $247. The company reported robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 results expected on August 20, 2026. Revenue grew to $21.13B in 2025, and net income reached $2.09B, reflecting a 9.74% margin. Expansion continues with 47 new stores opened in mid-2026, signaling growth momentum.
ROST offers solid growth potential with high ROE of 38.98% and analyst consensus favoring a buy rating (63.83% of 47 analysts), targeting $259.00. Risks include elevated P/E of 35.17 and sensitivity to consumer spending shifts. The stock's proximity to its 52-week high suggests cautious optimism, but execution on store expansions and margin maintenance are key for sustained upside.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About A O Smith Corp
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →About Ross Stores, Inc.
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 →
