Ross Stores, Inc. vs Star Bulk Carriers Corp — how do they compare? Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $248.34 (market cap $80.78B), while Star Bulk Carriers Corp trades at $27.79 (market cap $3.09B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 26.1× Star Bulk Carriers Corp's market cap, and Star Bulk Carriers Corp pays the higher dividend (6.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ROST | SBLK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $80.78B | $3.09B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Industrials |
52-Week High | $255.23 | $29.15 |
52-Week Low | $144.67 | $16.79 |
Enterprise Value | $81.37B | $3.77B |
Dividend Yield | 0.71% | 6.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ROST trades at $250.45, down 1.72% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $259.00. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.02 exceeding the $1.73 forecast. Strong fundamentals include a net income margin of 9.74% and ROE of 38.98%, supported by revenue growth to $21.13 billion in 2025 and recent expansion with 47 new stores opened in mid-2026.
The outlook remains positive given earnings momentum and store growth, but elevated valuation ratios like a P/E of 35.17 pose a risk if growth slows. Analyst sentiment is bullish with 64% buy ratings, though technical indicators show mixed signals with RSI near overbought levels. Investors should weigh robust profitability against high multiples in a competitive retail sector.
Star Bulk Carriers (SBLK) trades at $27.81, down 2.15% on the day, but maintains a bullish technical outlook with strong support at $27. Fundamentally, the company reported robust Q2 2026 earnings of $1.21 per share, beating estimates, with net income surging to $144.9 million. Revenue growth accelerated to $1.2 billion in 2026, driving a net margin of 23.86%. Recent news highlights the termination of a vessel sale agreement with Diana Shipping, though operations remain unaffected.
The outlook for SBLK is positive, supported by strong profitability, a healthy balance sheet with a debt-to-asset ratio of 27.84%, and a shareholder-friendly dividend policy. Risks include exposure to volatile dry bulk shipping rates and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is bullish with 58.34% buy ratings, indicating confidence in continued earnings momentum and valuation appeal at a P/E of 10.85.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Star Bulk Carriers Corp. is a global shipping company specializing in the seaborne transportation of dry bulk commodities. The company owns and operates a large fleet of bulk carriers, primarily transporting major commodities such as iron ore, coal, and grain. SBLK focuses on the Capesize, Post Panamax, and Kamsarmax vessel segments, providing critical logistical services to commodity producers and consumers worldwide.
Read more on SBLK →