CAL vs NKE

For growth investors, Caleres, Inc.

(CAL) is the stronger pick with 1. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 8% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). NIKE, Inc. (NKE) offers the better valuation at 20. 6x trailing P/E (29. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Caleres, Inc. (CAL) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 forward P/E, Caleres, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 25. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Caleres, Inc.

(CAL) delivered a total return of -44. 9%, compared to -62. 7% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NKE returned -5. 6% versus CAL's -33. 9%. 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), NIKE, Inc.

(NKE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 14β versus Caleres, Inc. 's 2. 30β — meaning CAL is approximately 101% more volatile than NKE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Caleres, Inc. (CAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 83% for NIKE, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caleres, Inc.

(CAL) is pulling ahead at 1. 3% versus -9. 8% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NIKE, Inc. grew EPS -42. 1% year-over-year, compared to -107. 1% for Caleres, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NKE leads at -0. 3% 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.

NIKE, Inc.

(NKE) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 0% net margin versus -0. 3% for Caleres, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NKE leads at 8. 0% versus 1. 0% for CAL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CAL leads at 43. 0%, 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, Caleres, Inc.

(CAL) trades at 25. 5x forward P/E versus 29. 6x for NIKE, Inc. — 4. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NKE: 54. 7% to $68. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NIKE, Inc. (NKE) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 2. 2% for Caleres, Inc. (CAL).

For long-horizon retirement investors, NIKE, Inc.

(NKE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 14), 3. 5% yield). Caleres, Inc. (CAL) carries a higher beta of 2. 30 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NKE: -5. 6%, CAL: -33. 9%), 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: CAL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NKE is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.