BURL vs OLLI

For growth investors, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is the stronger pick with 16. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 9% for Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL). Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI) offers the better valuation at 21. 0x trailing P/E (21. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL) a "Buy" — based on 35 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is the cheapest at 21. 0x versus Burlington Stores, Inc. at 32. 2x. On forward P/E, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) delivered a total return of -3. 8%, compared to -7. 4% for Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BURL returned +440. 2% versus OLLI's +221. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 03β versus Burlington Stores, Inc. 's 1. 30β — meaning BURL is approximately 27% more volatile than OLLI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 103% for Burlington Stores, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is pulling ahead at 16. 6% versus 8. 9% for Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Burlington Stores, Inc. grew EPS 21. 9% year-over-year, compared to 20. 4% for Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OLLI leads at 13. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 1% net margin versus 5. 3% for Burlington Stores, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OLLI leads at 12. 2% versus 7. 3% for BURL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OLLI leads at 40. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) trades at 21. 1x forward P/E versus 31. 3x for Burlington Stores, Inc. — 10. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OLLI: 70. 8% to $139. 67.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 03), +221. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OLLI: +221. 8%, BURL: +440. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (BURL (Consumer Cyclical) and OLLI (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: BURL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; OLLI is a small-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.