ross stores inc rost shares rose more than 7 in the extended session tuesday after the retailer topped wall street expectations for its fourth quarter said it plans to open more stores and announced a dividend increase ross said it earned 367 million or 104 a share in the quarter compared with 456 million or 128 a share in the yearago period sales rose to 5 billion from 44 billion a year ago ross said factset consensus called for eps of 95 cents on sales of 495 billion we achieved strong sales results in the fourth quarter despite the negative impact from both the surge in omicron cases during the peak holiday selling period and continued supplychain congestion chief executive barbara rentler said in a statement ross also said its board authorized a 19 billion share buyback program and increased the companys dividend by 9 to 31 cents a share the dividend is payable march 31 to stockholders of record march 15 rentler said that 2022 is extremely difficult to predict and not only because of the ongoing pandemic ross will be up against last years record government stimulus and the lifting of covid restrictions that led to unprecedented consumer demand which fueled extraordinary sales gains in the spring of 2021 she said consumers remain focused on value and convenience however and ross has seen favorable sales trends leading it to plan a store expansion to 2900 locations up from a prior target of 2400 for 2023 and beyond it targeted a return to doubledigit eps growth