Gildan Activewear (GIL) 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
Gildan Activewear (GIL) has outperformed lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) over the past year, losing 31.9% versus a loss of 47.0%. Over five years, GIL leads with a +14.5% price change compared with -77.0% for LULU. lululemon athletica inc. is the larger company by market cap ($10.95 billion vs $7.77 billion), about 1.4 times the size, while Gildan Activewear is growing revenue faster (+10.7% vs +4.9%).
On valuation, Gildan Activewear trades at a lower forward P/E (7.7x vs 10.9x for lululemon athletica inc.). Gildan Activewear pays a dividend yielding 2.26%, 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 11.0%.
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 | GIL | LULU |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $41.97 | $94.50 |
| Market cap | $7.77B | $10.95B |
| 1-day change | +0.17% | +1.96% |
| YTD return | -32.92% | -55.40% |
| 1-year return | -31.89% | -46.99% |
| 5-year return | +14.51% | -77.03% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 32.04 | 7.78 |
| Forward P/E | 7.71 | 10.89 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.31 | $12.15 |
| Dividend yield | 2.26% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.95 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.62B | $11.10B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.66% | +4.86% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $398.88M | $1.58B |
| Gross margin | 31.22% | 56.60% |
| Operating margin | 17.13% | 19.91% |
| Net margin | 11.02% | 14.22% |
| 52-week high | $73.70 | $225.98 |
| 52-week low | $39.93 | $90.38 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -43.05% | -58.18% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +95.38% | +11.02% |
| Average volume | 1.52M | 4.74M |
| Shares outstanding | 185.19M | 105.59M |
| Employees | 75,000 | 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
- GIL has outperformed LULU by 15.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Gildan Activewear trades at a higher earnings multiple (32.0x vs 7.8x trailing P/E).
- Gildan Activewear offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.26% vs 0.00%).
- Gildan Activewear grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+10.66% vs +4.86%).
About Gildan Activewear
GIL stock →Gildan Activewear Inc. manufactures and sells various apparel products.
Consumer Discretionary · Apparel · 75,000 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
GIL vs LULU FAQ
Which is bigger, Gildan Activewear or lululemon athletica inc.?
lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.95B compared with $7.77B for Gildan Activewear (GIL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, GIL or LULU?
GIL returned -31.89% over the past 12 months, compared with -46.99% for LULU (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, GIL or LULU?
LULU has the lower trailing P/E at 7.8, versus 32.0 for GIL. 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, Gildan Activewear or lululemon athletica inc.?
Gildan Activewear pays a dividend yielding 2.26%, while lululemon athletica inc. does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Gildan Activewear and lululemon athletica inc. in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Apparel industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.