American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) vs Designer Brands (DBI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Designer Brands (DBI) has outperformed American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) over the past year, gaining 65.9% versus a gain of 15.4%. Over five years, AEO leads with a -26.6% price change compared with -55.9% for DBI. American Eagle Outfitters is the larger company by market cap ($3.01 billion vs $296.0 million), about 10.2 times the size.
On valuation, Designer Brands trades at a lower forward P/E (8.3x vs 9.3x for American Eagle Outfitters). Designer Brands offers the higher dividend yield (3.45% vs 2.78%).
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 | DBI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $17.97 | $5.79 |
| Market cap | $3.01B | $296.00M |
| 1-day change | +1.76% | -1.70% |
| YTD return | -31.85% | -22.07% |
| 1-year return | +15.41% | +65.90% |
| 5-year return | -26.59% | -55.90% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 9.22 | 19.97 |
| Forward P/E | 9.35 | 8.27 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.95 | $0.29 |
| Dividend yield | 2.78% | 3.45% |
| Annual dividend | $0.50 | $0.20 |
| 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 | $9.17 |
| 52-week low | $14.06 | $3.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.86% | -36.86% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +3.23% | +16.58% |
| Average volume | 5.63M | 572.72K |
| Shares outstanding | 167.57M | 43.39M |
| Employees | 10,000 | 13,000 |
| 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 10.2 times larger than Designer Brands by market value ($3.01B vs $296.00M).
- DBI has outperformed AEO by 50.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Designer Brands trades at a higher earnings multiple (20.0x vs 9.2x trailing P/E).
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 Designer Brands
DBI stock →Designer Brands Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, production, and retailing of footwear and accessories in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through two segments: Retail and Brand Portfolio.
Consumer Discretionary · Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores · 13,000 employees
AEO vs DBI FAQ
Which is bigger, American Eagle Outfitters or Designer Brands?
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.01B compared with $296.00M for Designer Brands (DBI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AEO or DBI?
DBI returned +65.90% over the past 12 months, compared with +15.41% for AEO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AEO or DBI?
AEO has the lower trailing P/E at 9.2, versus 20.0 for DBI. 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 Designer Brands?
Designer Brands has the higher yield at 3.45%, compared with 2.78% for American Eagle Outfitters.
Are American Eagle Outfitters and Designer Brands in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.