American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) vs Burlington Stores (BURL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has outperformed Burlington Stores (BURL) over the past year, gaining 14.1% versus a gain of 4.9%. Over five years, BURL leads with a +1.3% price change compared with -27.9% for AEO. Burlington Stores is the larger company by market cap ($17.39 billion vs $3.01 billion), about 5.8 times the size.
On valuation, American Eagle Outfitters trades at a lower forward P/E (9.3x vs 20.2x for Burlington Stores). American Eagle Outfitters pays a dividend yielding 2.78%, while Burlington Stores does not currently pay one. Burlington Stores converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.3% versus 3.5%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AEO | BURL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $17.97 | $276.84 |
| Market cap | $3.01B | $17.39B |
| 1-day change | +1.76% | +1.57% |
| YTD return | -33.03% | -5.64% |
| 1-year return | +14.08% | +4.87% |
| 5-year return | -27.86% | +1.35% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 9.22 | 24.87 |
| Forward P/E | 9.35 | 20.24 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.95 | $11.13 |
| Dividend yield | 2.78% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.50 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.55B | $11.57B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.10% | +8.76% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $191.98M | $610.15M |
| Gross margin | 36.51% | 43.92% |
| Operating margin | 4.08% | — |
| Net margin | 3.46% | 5.27% |
| 52-week high | $28.46 | $378.33 |
| 52-week low | $14.06 | $226.85 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.86% | -26.83% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +3.23% | +31.75% |
| Average volume | 5.63M | 1.24M |
| Shares outstanding | 167.57M | 62.82M |
| Employees | 10,000 | 17,495 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores | Department/Specialty Retail Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Burlington Stores is about 5.8 times larger than American Eagle Outfitters by market value ($17.39B vs $3.01B).
- Burlington Stores trades at a higher earnings multiple (24.9x vs 9.2x trailing P/E).
- American Eagle Outfitters offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.78% vs 0.00%).
About American Eagle Outfitters
AEO stock →American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. operates as a multi-brand specialty retailer in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores · 10,000 employees
About Burlington Stores
BURL stock →Burlington Stores, Inc. operates as a retailer of branded merchandise in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Consumer Discretionary · Department/Specialty Retail Stores · 17,495 employees
AEO vs BURL FAQ
Which is bigger, American Eagle Outfitters or Burlington Stores?
Burlington Stores (BURL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $17.39B compared with $3.01B for American Eagle Outfitters (AEO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AEO or BURL?
AEO returned +14.08% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.87% for BURL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AEO or BURL?
AEO has the lower trailing P/E at 9.2, versus 24.9 for BURL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Eagle Outfitters or Burlington Stores?
American Eagle Outfitters pays a dividend yielding 2.78%, while Burlington Stores does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Eagle Outfitters and Burlington Stores in the same industry?
Both are in the Consumer Discretionary sector, but in different industries: Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores for American Eagle Outfitters and Department/Specialty Retail Stores for Burlington Stores.