ROST vs TJX vs BURL vs OLLI vs KSS

For growth investors, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is the stronger pick with 16. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 3% for Kohl's Corporation (KSS). Kohl's Corporation (KSS) offers the better valuation at 6. 1x trailing P/E (10. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST) a "Buy" — based on 47 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Kohl's Corporation (KSS) is the cheapest at 6.

1x versus Ross Stores, Inc. at 34. 0x. On forward P/E, Kohl's Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The TJX Companies, Inc. wins at 0. 25x versus Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. 's 18. 93x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The TJX Companies, Inc.

(TJX) delivered a total return of +118. 5%, compared to -64. 8% for Kohl's Corporation (KSS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BURL returned +440. 2% versus KSS's -25. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The TJX Companies, Inc.

(TJX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Kohl's Corporation's 2. 32β — meaning KSS is approximately 488% more volatile than TJX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 2% for The TJX Companies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is pulling ahead at 16. 6% versus -4. 3% for Kohl's Corporation (KSS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kohl's Corporation grew EPS 144. 3% year-over-year, compared to 4. 6% for Ross Stores, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OLLI leads at 13. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Ross Stores, Inc.

(ROST) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 4% net margin versus 1. 8% for Kohl's Corporation — meaning it keeps 9. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OLLI leads at 12. 2% versus 3. 3% for KSS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OLLI leads at 40. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 25x versus Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. 's 18. 93x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Kohl's Corporation (KSS) trades at 10. 3x forward P/E versus 34. 4x for Ross Stores, Inc. — 24. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OLLI: 70. 8% to $139. 67.

In this comparison, KSS (3.

4% yield), TJX (1. 1% yield), ROST (0. 7% yield) pay a dividend. BURL, OLLI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The TJX Companies, Inc.

(TJX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 1. 1% yield, +322. 5% 10Y return). Kohl's Corporation (KSS) carries a higher beta of 2. 32 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TJX: +322. 5%, KSS: -25. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (ROST (Consumer Cyclical) and TJX (Consumer Cyclical) and BURL (Consumer Cyclical) and OLLI (Consumer Defensive) and KSS (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ROST is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; TJX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BURL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; OLLI is a small-cap high-growth stock; KSS is a small-cap deep-value stock. ROST, TJX, KSS pay a dividend while BURL, OLLI do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.