American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) vs Carter's, Inc. (CRI)
AEO leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and Carter's, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
AEO
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
$18.79Consumer Cyclical
CRI
Carter's, Inc.
$42.79Consumer Cyclical
Total return — AEO vs CRI
growth of $100 · last 23yAEO +269.2%CRI +247.3%AEO compounded faster
AEO CRI
AEO vs CRI: by the numbers
- •AEO is the larger company ($3.15B vs $1.58B market cap).
- •AEO trades at the lower earnings multiple (11.60 vs 16.87 P/E).
- •AEO converts more revenue to profit (5.01% vs 3.07% net margin).
- •AEO grew revenue faster over the past five years (5.72% vs -1.35% CAGR).
- •AEO pays the higher dividend yield (2.66% vs 2.34%).
Which is better, AEO or CRI?
Metric tally: AEO 9 · CRI 7It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueAEO(lower P/E)
GrowthAEO(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeAEO(higher dividend yield)
QualityAEO(higher ROIC)
Valuation
| Metric | AEO | CRI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 11.60● | 16.87 |
| Forward P/E | 13.62 | 12.92● |
| P/S ratio | 0.58 | 0.51● |
| P/B ratio | 1.97 | 1.63● |
| PEG ratio | — | 26.78 |
| EV / EBITDA | 8.46● | 10.86 |
| FCF yield | 0.46% | 8.38%● |
Profitability
| Metric | AEO | CRI |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 34.76% | 44.66%● |
| Operating margin | 7.57%● | 4.80% |
| Net margin | 5.01%● | 3.07% |
| ROE | 17.05%● | 9.76% |
| ROIC | 6.98%● | 5.29% |
Dividends
| Metric | AEO | CRI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.66%● | 2.34% |
| Payout ratio | 44.64% | 38.61% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | AEO | CRI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 5.72%● | -1.35% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -0.15% | 0.63%● |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -44.42% | -24.78%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -8.81%● | -13.10% |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, AEO or CRI?
- It depends on your goal. value: AEO (lower P/E); growth: AEO (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: AEO (higher dividend yield); quality: AEO (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, AEO leads 9 to 7.
- Is AEO or CRI cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, AEO is cheaper: AEO trades at a 11.60 P/E and CRI at 16.87.
- Which has grown faster, AEO or CRI?
- Over the past five years, AEO grew revenue faster — AEO at a 5.72% CAGR versus CRI at -1.35%.
- Does AEO or CRI pay a bigger dividend?
- AEO yields 2.66% and CRI yields 2.34% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is AEO or CRI more profitable?
- AEO runs the higher net margin — AEO at 5.01% versus CRI at 3.07%.
- Which has been the better investment, AEO or CRI?
- Over the past 10-year, AEO delivered the higher annualized total return — AEO at 4.74% versus CRI at -5.79%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
American Eagle Outfitters P/E ratioCarter's P/E ratioAmerican Eagle Outfitters dividend yieldCarter's dividend yieldAmerican Eagle Outfitters ROECarter's ROEAmerican Eagle Outfitters operating marginCarter's operating marginAmerican Eagle Outfitters revenue growthCarter's revenue growthAmerican Eagle Outfitters free cash flowCarter's free cash flow
American Eagle Outfitters & Carter's appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 13, 2026.