Burlington Stores (BURL) vs Macy's (M)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Macy's (M) has outperformed Burlington Stores (BURL) over the past year, gaining 28.2% versus a gain of 4.9%. Over five years, BURL leads with a +1.3% price change compared with -5.2% for M. Burlington Stores is the larger company by market cap ($17.12 billion vs $5.95 billion), about 2.9 times the size.
On valuation, Macy's trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 19.9x for Burlington Stores). Macy's pays a dividend yielding 3.28%, 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 2.8%.
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 | BURL | M |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $272.56 | $22.79 |
| Market cap | $17.12B | $5.95B |
| 1-day change | -1.40% | +1.47% |
| YTD return | -5.64% | +3.36% |
| 1-year return | +4.87% | +28.25% |
| 5-year return | +1.35% | -5.20% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 24.85 | 8.23 |
| Forward P/E | 19.92 | 9.53 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.97 | $2.77 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 3.28% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.748 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.57B | $22.62B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.76% | -1.67% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $610.15M | $642.00M |
| Gross margin | 43.92% | 40.33% |
| Operating margin | — | 4.55% |
| Net margin | 5.27% | 2.84% |
| 52-week high | $378.33 | $26.59 |
| 52-week low | $226.85 | $16.41 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.96% | -14.29% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.82% | +2.50% |
| Average volume | 1.24M | 5.66M |
| Shares outstanding | 62.82M | 261.18M |
| Employees | 17,495 | 90,134 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Department/Specialty Retail 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 2.9 times larger than Macy's by market value ($17.12B vs $5.95B).
- M has outperformed BURL by 23.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Burlington Stores trades at a higher earnings multiple (24.8x vs 8.2x trailing P/E).
- Macy's offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.28% vs 0.00%).
- Burlington Stores grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+8.76% vs -1.67%).
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
About Macy's
M stock →Macy's, Inc., an omni-channel retail organization, operates stores, websites, and mobile applications in the United States. The company sells various merchandise, such as apparel and accessories for men, women, and kids; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods under the Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Bluemercury brands.
Consumer Discretionary · Department/Specialty Retail Stores · 90,134 employees
BURL vs M FAQ
Which is bigger, Burlington Stores or Macy's?
Burlington Stores (BURL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $17.12B compared with $5.95B for Macy's (M).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BURL or M?
M returned +28.25% 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, BURL or M?
M has the lower trailing P/E at 8.2, versus 24.8 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, Burlington Stores or Macy's?
Macy's pays a dividend yielding 3.28%, while Burlington Stores does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Burlington Stores and Macy's in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Department/Specialty Retail Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.