GCO vs DECK

For growth investors, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) is the stronger pick with 16.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 0% for Genesco Inc. (GCO). Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) offers the better valuation at 16. 2x trailing P/E (14. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) a "Buy" — based on 54 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, Deckers Outdoor Corporation is actually cheaper at 14.

9x.

Over the past 5 years, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) delivered a total return of +80.

6%, compared to -40. 2% for Genesco Inc. (GCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DECK returned +986. 8% 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), Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

46β versus Genesco Inc. 's 1. 99β — meaning GCO is approximately 36% more volatile than DECK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 89% for Genesco Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) is pulling ahead at 16.

3% versus 0. 0% for Genesco Inc. (GCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Deckers Outdoor Corporation grew EPS 30. 2% year-over-year, compared to -20. 0% for Genesco Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, DECK leads at 16. 5% 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.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) is the more profitable company, earning 19.

4% net margin versus -0. 8% for Genesco Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DECK leads at 23. 6% versus 0. 6% for GCO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DECK leads at 57. 9%, 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, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) trades at 14.

9x forward P/E versus 25. 4x for Genesco Inc. — 10. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DECK: 18. 2% to $121. 38.

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, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+986.

8% 10Y return). 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 (DECK: +986. 8%, 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.

In terms of investment character: GCO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DECK 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.