American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) vs Cato (CATO)
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 Cato (CATO) over the past year, gaining 14.1% versus a loss of 45.0%. Over five years, AEO leads with a -27.9% price change compared with -86.1% for CATO. American Eagle Outfitters is the larger company by market cap ($2.96 billion vs $47.2 million), about 62.7 times the size.
On valuation, Cato trades at a lower forward P/E (1.8x vs 9.2x for American Eagle Outfitters). American Eagle Outfitters pays a dividend yielding 2.83%, while Cato does not currently pay one.
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 | CATO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $17.66 | $2.37 |
| Market cap | $2.96B | $47.19M |
| 1-day change | -1.29% | -0.84% |
| YTD return | -33.03% | -23.30% |
| 1-year return | +14.08% | -45.01% |
| 5-year return | -27.86% | -86.10% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 9.06 | — |
| Forward P/E | 9.19 | 1.82 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.95 | $-0.31 |
| Dividend yield | 2.83% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.50 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.55B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.10% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $191.98M | — |
| Gross margin | 36.51% | — |
| Operating margin | 4.08% | — |
| Net margin | 3.46% | — |
| 52-week high | $28.46 | $4.59 |
| 52-week low | $14.06 | $2.30 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -37.95% | -48.37% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +5.04% | — |
| Average volume | 5.65M | 128.38K |
| Shares outstanding | 167.57M | 18.15M |
| Employees | 10,000 | — |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores | Clothing/Shoe/Accessory 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
- American Eagle Outfitters is about 62.7 times larger than Cato by market value ($2.96B vs $47.19M).
- AEO has outperformed CATO by 59.1 percentage points over the past year.
- American Eagle Outfitters offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.83% 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
AEO vs CATO FAQ
Which is bigger, American Eagle Outfitters or Cato?
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.96B compared with $47.19M for Cato (CATO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AEO or CATO?
AEO returned +14.08% over the past 12 months, compared with -45.01% for CATO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Eagle Outfitters or Cato?
American Eagle Outfitters pays a dividend yielding 2.83%, while Cato does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Eagle Outfitters and Cato in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.