FIVE vs OLLI

For growth investors, Five Below, Inc.

(FIVE) is the stronger pick with 22. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 6% for Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI). 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 Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) a "Buy" — based on 50 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 Five Below, Inc. at 34. 2x. On forward P/E, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Five Below, Inc. wins at 1. 44x versus Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. 's 18. 93x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Five Below, Inc.

(FIVE) delivered a total return of +12. 6%, compared to -3. 8% for Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FIVE returned +453. 3% 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 Five Below, Inc. 's 1. 91β — meaning FIVE is approximately 86% 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 93% for Five Below, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Five Below, Inc.

(FIVE) is pulling ahead at 22. 9% versus 16. 6% for Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Five Below, Inc. grew EPS 40. 4% year-over-year, compared to 20. 4% for Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FIVE leads at 15. 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.

Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

(OLLI) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 1% net margin versus 7. 5% for Five Below, 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 9. 6% for FIVE. 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.

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, Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 44x versus Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. 's 18. 93x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI) trades at 21. 1x forward P/E versus 34. 7x for Five Below, Inc. — 13. 6x 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). Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) carries a higher beta of 1. 91 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (OLLI: +221. 8%, FIVE: +453. 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.

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

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.