Who Owns Ross Stores in 2026? Parent Company & Shareholders

Sebastian Hartwell
May 1
4 min read

Who Owns Ross? (The Fast Answer)

As of 2026, Ross Stores, Inc. is a publicly traded company, meaning it is owned by thousands of individual and institutional shareholders rather than a single person or family. It trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol ROST.

The company operates two major retail brands:

Ross Dress for Less: The largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the U.S.
dd’s DISCOUNTS: A more moderately priced off-price chain targeting a different customer segment.

In the corporate world, "ownership" is measured by who holds the most stock. Today, the most significant "owners" are massive investment firms like The Vanguard Group and BlackRock, who manage the retirement funds and savings of millions of everyday people.

The Institutional Titans of 2026

Because Ross is part of the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ 100, it is a staple in many index funds. Here is the current breakdown of the major power players holding the most weight in Ross Stores, Inc. as of January 2026:

Shareholder	Estimated 2026 Stake	Approximate Shares
The Vanguard Group	11.9%	38.5 Million
BlackRock, Inc.	5.07%	16.4 Million
State Street Corporation	4.27%	13.8 Million
JP Morgan Asset Management	3.38%	10.9 Million

What This Means for the Everyday Shopper

When you hunt for a bargain at Ross, you aren't supporting a "mom-and-pop" shop; you are contributing to a massive, $62 billion retail machine.

However, because the company is public, their financial health is transparent. In early 2026, Ross reported record revenues of over $21 billion, driven by its expansion to more than 2,270 locations across 44 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

The New 2026 Leadership & Institutional Owners

The Power Shift: Ross Leadership in 2026

To understand "who owns Ross" today, we have to look at the people steering the ship. The company is currently undergoing one of its most significant leadership transitions in decades.

The New Chairman: Effective February 1, 2026, K. Gunnar Bjorklund has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board. He succeeds Michael Balmuth, who led the company for nearly 30 years and transformed it from a regional chain into a national powerhouse.
The CEO: James (Jim) G. Conroy continues to serve as the CEO. Since taking the reins in early 2025, Conroy has focused on aggressive physical expansion and strengthening the "treasure hunt" inventory model that shoppers love.

The Institutional "Owners"

Since Ross Stores, Inc. is a public entity (NASDAQ: ROST), the real "owners" are the institutions that hold the majority of its stock. In 2026, institutional ownership remains high at over 85%.

Top Shareholder (2026)	Ownership %	Role in the Company
The Vanguard Group	~11.9%	Passive index fund ownership
BlackRock, Inc.	~5.1%	Institutional investment management
State Street Corp	~4.3%	Major global asset manager

The 76-Year History & Debunking Common Myths

The Journey: From Morris Ross to Global Retailer

The history of who owns Ross is a classic story of American retail evolution:

1950 – The Founder: Morris "Morrie" Ross opened the first Ross Department Store in San Bruno, California. He ran the store himself, working 85 hours a week as the primary buyer and bookkeeper.
1958 – The First Sale: Morrie sold the store to William Isackson, who expanded the brand into a small six-store chain in the Bay Area.
1982 – The "Off-Price" Pivot: A group of investors led by Stuart Moldaw (the founder of Mervyn's) bought the chain. They realized that shoppers wanted high-end brands at "throwaway" prices. They renamed the stores Ross Dress for Less and scaled the company from 6 to 107 stores in just three years.
1985 – The IPO: Ross went public on the NASDAQ. This was the moment "ownership" transferred from private individuals to the public market.

Ownership Myths: Clearing the Air

Because Ross is so similar to its rivals, there is a lot of misinformation about who owns it. Let's set the record straight for 2026:

Is Ross owned by TJ Maxx or Marshalls? No. TJ Maxx and Marshalls are both owned by The TJX Companies. Ross is their primary independent competitor.
Is Ross owned by Burlington? No. Burlington (formerly Burlington Coat Factory) is another independent public company.
Who owns dd's DISCOUNTS? Ross Stores, Inc. does. Ross launched dd’s in 2004 to capture a more moderate price point. As of 2026, there are over 360 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores across the country.

Ross Stores 2026 Store Count: A New Milestone

As of January 2026, Ross Stores, Inc. has reached a total of 2,273 locations across 44 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. This growth is proof that even in an age of online shopping, the "off-price" model—where you have to physically visit the store to find the best deal—is thriving under its current ownership structure.

Conclusion: Public Ownership for Public Savings

In short, the answer to "who owns Ross" is you—or at least, the public market. Through its listing as ROST on the NASDAQ, Ross remains a transparent, shareholder-driven company. Under the new leadership of K. Gunnar Bjorklund and Jim Conroy, Ross is positioned to continue its reign as the king of off-price retail.