ASO vs CATO vs VFC vs DKS

For growth investors, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.

(DKS) is the stronger pick with 28. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 1% for V. F. Corporation (VFC). Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (ASO) offers the better valuation at 9. 7x trailing P/E (9. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (ASO) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

(ASO) is the cheapest at 9. 7x versus DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. at 22. 3x. On forward P/E, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. wins at 0. 88x versus DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. 's 1. 32x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.

(DKS) delivered a total return of +173. 8%, compared to -72. 9% for V. F. Corporation (VFC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DKS returned +450. 0% versus CATO's -72. 3%. 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), The Cato Corporation (CATO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

88β versus V. F. Corporation's 2. 36β — meaning VFC is approximately 167% more volatile than CATO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 4% for V. F. Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.

(DKS) is pulling ahead at 28. 1% versus -9. 1% for V. F. Corporation (VFC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: V. F. Corporation grew EPS 80. 3% year-over-year, compared to -29. 0% for DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, DKS leads at 11. 7% 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.

DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.

(DKS) is the more profitable company, earning 49. 3% net margin versus -2. 9% for The Cato Corporation — meaning it keeps 49. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ASO leads at 8. 5% versus -4. 2% for CATO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VFC leads at 53. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (ASO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 88x versus DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. 's 1. 32x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (ASO) trades at 9. 1x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for V. F. Corporation — 14. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DKS: 13. 1% to $251. 43.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Cato Corporation (CATO) offers the highest yield at 18. 7%, versus 1. 0% for Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (ASO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Cato Corporation (CATO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

88), 18. 7% yield). V. F. Corporation (VFC) carries a higher beta of 2. 36 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CATO: -72. 3%, VFC: -45. 4%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ASO is a small-cap deep-value stock; CATO is a small-cap income-oriented stock; VFC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DKS is a mid-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.