GCO vs CAL

For growth investors, Caleres, Inc.

(CAL) is the stronger pick with 1. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 0% for Genesco Inc. (GCO). 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.

Over the past 5 years, Genesco Inc.

(GCO) delivered a total return of -40. 2%, compared to -44. 9% for Caleres, Inc. (CAL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAL returned -34. 9% versus GCO's -49. 4%. 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), Genesco Inc.

(GCO) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 99β versus Caleres, Inc. 's 2. 34β — meaning CAL is approximately 17% more volatile than GCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Caleres, Inc. (CAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 89% for Genesco 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 0. 0% for Genesco Inc. (GCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Genesco Inc. grew EPS -20. 0% year-over-year, compared to -107. 1% for Caleres, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GCO leads at -1. 4% 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.

Caleres, Inc.

(CAL) is the more profitable company, earning -0. 3% net margin versus -0. 8% for Genesco Inc. — meaning it keeps -0. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CAL leads at 1. 0% versus 0. 6% for GCO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GCO leads at 47. 2%, 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. 0x forward P/E versus 25. 4x for Genesco Inc. — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAL: 35. 9% to $18. 00.

In this comparison, CAL (2.

2% yield) pays a dividend. GCO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Caleres, Inc.

(CAL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2. 2% yield). Genesco Inc. (GCO) carries a higher beta of 1. 99 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAL: -34. 9%, GCO: -49. 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.

CAL pays a dividend while GCO does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.