Columbia Sportswear (COLM) vs lululemon athletica inc. (LULU)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Columbia Sportswear (COLM) has outperformed lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) over the past year, gaining 11.0% versus a loss of 45.5%. Over five years, COLM leads with a -41.0% price change compared with -77.0% for LULU. lululemon athletica inc. is the larger company by market cap ($10.95 billion vs $2.92 billion), about 3.7 times the size.
On valuation, lululemon athletica inc. trades at a lower forward P/E (10.9x vs 13.6x for Columbia Sportswear). Columbia Sportswear pays a dividend yielding 2.10%, while lululemon athletica inc. does not currently pay one. lululemon athletica inc. converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 14.2% versus 5.2%.
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 | COLM | LULU |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $57.04 | $94.50 |
| Market cap | $2.92B | $10.95B |
| 1-day change | +0.49% | +1.96% |
| YTD return | +3.54% | -54.53% |
| 1-year return | +10.99% | -45.53% |
| 5-year return | -41.01% | -77.03% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.82 | 7.63 |
| Forward P/E | 13.63 | 10.89 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.85 | $12.38 |
| Dividend yield | 2.10% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.20 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.40B | $11.10B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.85% | +4.86% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $177.22M | $1.58B |
| Gross margin | 50.53% | 56.60% |
| Operating margin | 6.09% | 19.91% |
| Net margin | 5.22% | 14.22% |
| 52-week high | $69.06 | $225.98 |
| 52-week low | $47.47 | $90.38 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.41% | -58.18% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.42% | +11.02% |
| Average volume | 679.24K | 4.74M |
| Shares outstanding | 51.19M | 105.59M |
| Employees | 9,620 | 39,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Apparel | Apparel |
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
- lululemon athletica inc. is about 3.7 times larger than Columbia Sportswear by market value ($10.95B vs $2.92B).
- COLM has outperformed LULU by 56.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Columbia Sportswear trades at a higher earnings multiple (14.8x vs 7.6x trailing P/E).
- Columbia Sportswear offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.10% vs 0.00%).
- lululemon athletica inc. is more profitable, keeping 14.2 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 5.2 cents for Columbia Sportswear.
About Columbia Sportswear
COLM stock →Columbia Sportswear Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, marketing, and distribution of outdoor, active, and lifestyle products in the United States, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Canada. It provides apparel, accessories, and equipment for hiking, trail running, snow, fishing, hunting, and outdoor activities.
Consumer Discretionary · Apparel · 9,620 employees
About lululemon athletica inc.
LULU stock →lululemon athletica inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, distributes, and retails technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories for women and men under the lululemon brand in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Greece, and internationally. It offers pants, shorts, tops, and jackets for athletic activities, such as yoga, running, training, and other activities.
Consumer Discretionary · Apparel · 39,000 employees
COLM vs LULU FAQ
Which is bigger, Columbia Sportswear or lululemon athletica inc.?
lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.95B compared with $2.92B for Columbia Sportswear (COLM).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, COLM or LULU?
COLM returned +10.99% over the past 12 months, compared with -45.53% for LULU (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, COLM or LULU?
LULU has the lower trailing P/E at 7.6, versus 14.8 for COLM. 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, Columbia Sportswear or lululemon athletica inc.?
Columbia Sportswear pays a dividend yielding 2.10%, while lululemon athletica inc. does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Columbia Sportswear and lululemon athletica inc. in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Apparel industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.