ROST vs TGT Stock Comparison

Compare ROST and TGT across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.

Market data as of Sep 11, 2026 market close· AIQ score gap 5 points
ROST
Consumer Cyclical
vs
TGT
Consumer Defensive
ROST
Ross Stores, Inc.
Price
$231
Day move
+2.33%
AIQ Score
50/100
Best edge
Quality
Sector
Consumer Cyclical
TGT
Target Corporation
Leads
Price
$156
Day move
+0.06%
AIQ Score
55/100
Best edge
Value
Sector
Consumer Defensive

What is the main difference between ROST and TGT?

TGT leads the current stock comparison as Target Corporation, with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.

AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison

Ross Stores, Inc. vs Target Corporation

Data as of Sep 11, 2026· market close· Cross-sector · Consumer Cyclical vs Consumer Defensive · both in Retail — Specialty & Discount· Coverage 66/66 fields· High confidence
AIQ VerdictFragileAIQ Comparison Conviction 4/10

TGT leads

TGT leads by 5 AIQ points, primarily on Value and Momentum, but the lead has narrowed from 12 points over 30 sessions. Wall Street currently favors ROST on target upside.

Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support TGT, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.

Evidence agreement: 3 of 6Comparison trend: Weakening
ROST

Ross Stores, Inc.

AIQ Score
50/100
AIQ Edge Score
8/10
TGT

Target Corporation

Leads
AIQ Score
55/100
AIQ Edge Score
9/10

The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors TGT over ROST, 55 versus 50 as of Sep 11, 2026. TGT's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value and momentum, while ROST holds the stronger quality profile. TGT also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors ROST. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor TGT today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. TGT lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 12 to 5 points over 30 sessions.

Compare Ross Stores, Inc. and Target Corporation across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.

Currently unavailable

Performance over time

Price-return comparison using available daily close history.

ROST
+98.6%
TGT
-35.9%

Total return comparison

Growth of $10,000

ROST $19,857 · TGT $6,406

Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.

Compare ROST and TGT against another ticker

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AIQ Factor Divergence

Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.

ROST advantage
0
TGT advantage
  • Value28 vs 58
    TGT +30
  • Quality73 vs 54
    ROST +19
  • Momentum41 vs 54
    TGT +13
  • Risk Resilience64 vs 56
    ROST +8

3 of 6 evidence groups favor TGT. TGT’s edge is concentrated in value and momentum; ROST keeps a meaningful quality edge.

What changed since the last close

Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.

ROST+1 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum +6

No new signals fired.

TGT-1 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum -2

No new signals fired.

TGT's lead narrowed by 2 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.

Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — ROST and TGT both carry a full feed there.

The central trade-off

TGT (Target Corporation): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value and momentum.

ROST (Ross Stores, Inc.): the counter-case, on quality, risk resilience, fundamentals.

The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.

Which one fits your objective

The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.

Balanced

TGT

TGT on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.

Growth

TGT

TGT on combined revenue and EPS growth.

Value

TGT

TGT on the peer-relative Value factor, by 30 points.

Momentum

TGT

TGT on the Momentum factor, by 13 points.

Lower downside

ROST

ROST on Risk Resilience, by 8 points.

Analyst upside

ROST

ROST on implied upside to the consensus price target.

AIQ vs Wall Street

The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors TGT, analyst targets favor ROST. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.

MeasureROSTTGTNote
Implied upside to target+14.8%-2.9%ROST has more room
Target dispersion+31.3%+56.8%Lower is tighter analyst agreement
ConsensusBuyHoldContext, not a primary driver
Analysts covering1421Higher coverage generally improves confidence

The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.

Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

AIQ Agreement Matrix

3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor TGT. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.

Evidence groupFavorsReading
AIQ ScoreTGT50 vs 55
FundamentalsROSTon balancerevenue growth 4.2% vs 4.3%; EPS growth 31.4% vs 140.1%; TTM ROE 42.3% vs 26.7%; gross margin 29.9% vs 29.3%; operating margin 13.7% vs 5.6% — ROST takes 3 of 4 decided legs, not all of them
ValuationTGTValue 28 vs 58
TechnicalsTGTPrice vs 50-day -2% vs 5%; vs 200-day 5.8% vs 26%
Risk ResilienceROSTRisk Resilience 64 vs 56
Analyst expectationsROSTTarget upside 14.8% vs -2.9%

✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of ROST and TGT and are excluded from the count.

AIQ Decision Stability

Fragile

The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.

  • The AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
  • The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)

Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on TGT.

How the comparison changed

119 daily snapshots · May 4 Sep 10

TGT lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 12 to 5 points over 30 sessions.

May 4ROST leads above the line · TGT leads belowSep 10
Today
TGT +5
50 vs 55
7 sessions ago
TGT +11
50 vs 61
30 sessions ago
TGT +12
47 vs 59
90 sessions ago
TGT +4
44 vs 48

The lead changed hands 5 times in this window, most recently on Jun 10 when TGT moved ahead of ROST.

AIQ Signal Divergence

Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.

ROSTConflicted

1 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted

  • Golden Cross Active bullish, trend, long horizon (10.21%)
  • MACD Bearish Crossover bearish, momentum, short horizon
TGTConflicted

3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted

  • Golden Cross Active bullish, trend, long horizon (20.12%)
  • EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish bullish, trend, medium horizon
  • Uptrend Structure Active bullish, trend, long horizon

TGT leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.

Price vs model alignment

Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.

ROSTConfirmed strength

Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +2.33%, AIQ +1 points).

TGTNo material change

Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +0.06%, AIQ -1 points).

What would flip this result

A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.

  1. 1ROST closes the Value gap — currently 30 points behind, the largest single contributor to TGT's edge.
  2. 2ROST's MACD Bearish Crossover resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it.
  3. 3TGT's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
  4. 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 7 points over 30 sessions, and a further 5-point move would eliminate TGT's advantage entirely.

The full evidence

Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.

Fundamentals

ROST leads on balance
MetricROSTTGT
Revenue growth (YoY)4.2%4.3%
EPS growth (YoY)31.4%140.1%
Gross margin29.9%29.3%
Operating margin13.7%5.6%
Return on equity (TTM)42.3%26.7%
Debt to equity0.71.05

Performance

TGT leads 5 of 6 windows
MetricROSTTGT
1 week (5 sessions)-2.3%-4.7%
1 month (20 sessions)-9.2%1.1%
3 months (63 sessions)-2.8%21.7%
6 months (126 sessions)7.5%31.1%
Year to date25.2%59.3%
1 year (252 sessions)49%70.2%

Technicals

TGT has the stronger structure
MetricROSTTGT
RSI (14)4546.7
ADX (14)21.230.5
Price vs 50-day-2%5%
Price vs 200-day5.8%26%
Volatility (1M, annualized)27.6%34.6%

Risk

ROST is the more resilient
MetricROSTTGT
Beta0.620.43
Sharpe ratio1.561.8
Sortino ratio2.512.95
Max drawdown-13%-13.8%
Current drawdown-11.7%-8.3%
Annualized volatility26.4%30.4%
Value at risk (95%)-2.2%-3.1%

Straight answers

Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.

Which is better, ROST or TGT?

On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, TGT is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 55 against ROST's 50. The edge comes from value and momentum. ROST is not without a case — it holds the better quality profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.

Is ROST or TGT the better buy right now?

TGT carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. Treat the lead as provisional.

Why does the AIQ Score favor TGT over ROST?

The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. TGT leads Value by 30 points; ROST leads Quality by 19 points; TGT leads Momentum by 13 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.

Which has more analyst upside, ROST or TGT?

Analyst price targets imply +14.8% upside for ROST and -2.9% for TGT, so the Street currently favors ROST. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors TGT. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

Which is better value, ROST or TGT?

TGT is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. TGT on the peer-relative Value factor, by 30 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.

Which has stronger growth, ROST or TGT?

TGT on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.

Which has stronger momentum, ROST or TGT?

TGT on the Momentum factor, by 13 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.

Which is riskier, ROST or TGT?

ROST is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. ROST on Risk Resilience, by 8 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.

Is ROST more profitable than TGT?

ROST leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 29.9% vs 29.3%; operating margin 13.7% vs 5.6%; ttm roe 42.3% vs 26.7%.

Is TGT's lead over ROST getting stronger or weaker?

TGT lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 12 to 5 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has changed hands 5 times in that window, most recently on 2026-06-10, when TGT moved ahead of ROST.

What would change the ROST vs TGT verdict?

The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: ROST closes the Value gap — currently 30 points behind, the largest single contributor to TGT's edge; ROST's MACD Bearish Crossover resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it; TGT's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 7 points over 30 sessions, and a further 5-point move would eliminate TGT's advantage entirely.

What do the current signals say about ROST and TGT?

ROST: 1 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. TGT: 3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on ROST is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On TGT it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).

Compare ROST and TGT with others

Continue your research

This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.

How this comparison is scored

The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.

The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.

How to use side-by-side comparison →

This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.