COLM
Columbia Sportswear Company
Apparel - Manufacturers
Market Cap$3.32B
5Y Perf.-13.2%
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Stock Comparison
COLM vs VFC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
VFC
V.F. Corporation
Apparel - Manufacturers
Market Cap$7.59B
5Y Perf.-65.4%
COLM vs VFC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | COLM | VFC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel - Manufacturers | Apparel - Manufacturers |
| Market Cap | $3.32B | $7.59B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.40B | $9.58B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $169M | $223M |
| Gross Margin | 50.3% | 53.8% |
| Operating Margin | 6.1% | 4.6% |
| Forward P/E | 18.4x | 23.5x |
| Total Debt | $867M | $5.37B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $442M | $429M |
COLM vs VFC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
COLM
VFC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Sportswear… (COLM) | 100 | 86.8 | -13.2% |
| V.F. Corporation (VFC) | 100 | 34.6 | -65.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: COLM vs VFC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: COLM leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. V.F. Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
COLM
Columbia Sportswear Company
The Income Pick
COLM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.17, yield 1.9%
- Rev growth 0.8%, EPS growth -15.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -0.7%
- 26.1% 10Y total return vs VFC's -44.3%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
VFC
V.F. Corporation
The Momentum Pick
VFC is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +61.9% vs COLM's +2.3%
Best for: momentum
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COLM | 0.8% revenue growth vs VFC's -9.1% |
| Value | COLM | Lower P/E (18.4x vs 23.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | COLM | 5.0% margin vs VFC's 2.3% |
| Stability / Safety | COLM | Beta 1.17 vs VFC's 2.36, lower leverage |
| Dividends | COLM | 1.9% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs VFC's 1.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | VFC | +61.9% vs COLM's +2.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COLM | 6.1% ROA vs VFC's 2.1%, ROIC 8.0% vs 2.7% |
COLM vs VFC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
COLM vs VFC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCOLMLAGGINGVFC
VFCV.F. Corporation
0leads
COLMColumbia Sportswear C…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VFCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
COLM4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
COLM6/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
COLM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
COLM2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — COLM and VFC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VFC is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.6B annually — 2.8x COLM's $3.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 5.0% (COLM) to 2.3% (VFC).
| Metric | COLMColumbia Sportswe… | VFCV.F. Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.4B | $9.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $251M | $748M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $169M | $223M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $174M | -$666M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +50.3% | +53.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.1% | +4.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.0% | +2.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.1% | -6.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.0% | +1.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.3% | +76.7% |
Evenly matched — COLM and VFC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
COLM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, COLM's 14.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VFC's 22.3x.
| Metric | COLMColumbia Sportswe… | VFCV.F. Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.3B | $7.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.7B | $12.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.58x | -39.61x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.36x | 23.51x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.32x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.36x | 22.29x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.98x | 0.80x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.03x | 5.12x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.33x | 22.38x |
COLM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
COLM leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VFC delivers a 12.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $10 for COLM. COLM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.51x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VFC's 3.61x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VFC scores 7/9 vs COLM's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | COLMColumbia Sportswe… | VFCV.F. Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.3% | +12.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.1% | +2.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.0% | +2.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.3% | +3.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.51x | 3.61x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $425M | $4.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $442M | $429M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $867M | $5.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 3.79x |
COLM leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — COLM and VFC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in COLM five years ago would be worth $6,447 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,767 for VFC. Over the past 12 months, VFC leads with a +61.9% total return vs COLM's +2.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VFC at -2.0% vs COLM's -6.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | COLMColumbia Sportswe… | VFCV.F. Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.8% | +7.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +2.3% | +61.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -18.2% | -5.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.5% | -72.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.1% | -44.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -6.5% | -2.0% |
Evenly matched — COLM and VFC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
COLM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
COLM is the less volatile stock with a 1.17 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than VFC's 2.36 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | COLMColumbia Sportswe… | VFCV.F. Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.17x | 2.36x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $71.68 | $22.16 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $47.47 | $11.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.5% | +87.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.3 | 45.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 595K | 6.0M |
COLM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
COLM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COLM as "Hold" and VFC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 4.4% upside for VFC (target: $20) vs -0.2% for COLM (target: $63). For income investors, COLM offers the higher dividend yield at 1.89% vs VFC's 1.84%.
| Metric | COLMColumbia Sportswe… | VFCV.F. Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $63.33 | $20.27 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 58 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | +1.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.20 | $0.36 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.1% | +0.0% |
COLM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
COLM leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallColumbia Sportswear Company (COLM)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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COLM vs VFC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COLM or VFC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) is the stronger pick with 0.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 1% for V. F. Corporation (VFC). Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) offers the better valuation at 19. 6x trailing P/E (18. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) a "Hold" — based on 28 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.
02Which has the better valuation — COLM or VFC?
On forward P/E, Columbia Sportswear Company is actually cheaper at 18.
4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COLM or VFC?
Over the past 5 years, Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) delivered a total return of -35.
5%, compared to -72. 3% for V. F. Corporation (VFC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COLM returned +26. 1% versus VFC's -44. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — COLM or VFC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
17β versus V. F. Corporation's 2. 36β — meaning VFC is approximately 102% more volatile than COLM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 4% for V. F. Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — COLM or VFC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) is pulling ahead at 0.
8% 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 -15. 2% for Columbia Sportswear Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, COLM leads at -0. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — COLM or VFC?
Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) is the more profitable company, earning 5.
2% net margin versus -2. 0% for V. F. Corporation — meaning it keeps 5. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: COLM leads at 6. 0% versus 3. 2% for VFC. 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.
07Is COLM or VFC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) trades at 18.
4x forward P/E versus 23. 5x for V. F. Corporation — 5. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VFC: 4. 4% to $20. 27.
08Which pays a better dividend — COLM or VFC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) offers the highest yield at 1. 9%, versus 1. 8% for V. F. Corporation (VFC).
09Is COLM or VFC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
17), 1. 9% 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 (COLM: +26. 1%, VFC: -44. 3%), 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.
10What are the main differences between COLM and VFC?
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.
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.
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(COLM: 0.0% · VFC: 1.5%)Net Margin>
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