Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Michael Hartshorn: On the AUR, it was a combination of mix-shift and us providing better values to the customer. The way we think about it going forward is we really don’t plan the business on traffic or transactions. We think if we offer the best values that will have an impact on both traffic and basket size AURs will fundamentally be dependent on the mix of sales in the business.

Barbara Rentler: And then in terms of home and we feel like we what I said, we have opportunity in home. And so that compared to the company is there upsides versus other businesses I think over time. Home is longer lead-time type businesses and things, but I do believe there is an upside to home.

Operator: And the next question comes from the line of Marni Shapiro with Retail Tracker. Please proceed with your question.

Marni Shapiro: Thanks, guys. Congratulations on a great quarter. I’m curious in most of your regions or a lot of your regions students are back-to-school. Curious if you saw early pickup for traffic for back-to-school and what the trends are looking like? And just in general, I’m curious if you guys are seeing sort of the peaks and valleys in your traffic around holidays where holiday weekends or holiday events, the traffic is much higher and when it’s in the valley, it’s lower or has it evened out a little bit?

Michael Hartshorn: Hi, Marni, we wouldn’t talk about intra-quarter trends for back-to-school. In terms of traffic, I would say, in our business, it’s been very steady versus peaks and valleys that you mentioned.

Operator: And the next question comes from the line of Laura Champine with Loop Capital Markets. Please proceed with your question.

Laura Champine: Thanks for taking my question. I noted that this was the third quarter in a row of inventory is down double-digits, which seems just to be normalization, but do you have enough inventory in your opinion, given the current improvement in sales trend?

Michael Hartshorn: Hi Laura. Yes, the reduction in inventory, it was down 15%, as we mentioned in the release and that was really about the comparison versus last year where we had as Barbara mentioned, substantial amount of early receipts that we had to store in our packaway facilities and also higher in-transit inventory. So we’re up against those larger numbers last year. We feel good about our overall inventory levels. We actually ended up 4% in our stores. So I would say overall the level and content of the inventory we are happy with.

Operator: And the next question comes from the line of Edward Yruma with Piper Sandler. Please proceed with your question.

Edward Yruma: Hey, thanks for taking the questions. I’m just quickly I know you cited strengthened cosmetics and accessories. Kind of curious on inventory availability there if you are chasing there. Obviously, there’s the proposed M&A in the space. So that impact in your opinion, kind of accessory availability long term. And then just a model housekeeping question. I noticed that accrued payrolls were up pretty materially year-over-year and sequentially. Any drive you’d like to call out there would be great. Thanks.

Michael Hartshorn: On the last piece, accrued payroll, it’s really our financial performance and incentive around and when you look at that this year versus last year’s comparison.

Barbara Rentler: And then just want to make sure on the cosmetic and accessory question you want to know what the availability is?

Edward Yruma: Yeah, just kind of curious if you’re seeing good product in the market and if you’re willing to opine on this M&A that may happen in the space, like would that hamper your availability in accessories based longer-term?

Barbara Rentler: Look, there is availability in almost every market, as I’ve said in the beginning. I mean, not every class and every business and every market has availability, but both cosmetic clinics as we have availability, just depending upon what it is you’re looking for. The second piece of the question, I’m not sure what it is?

Michael Hartshorn: We wouldn’t comment on the M&A in the market.