LEVI vs PVH

For growth investors, Levi Strauss & Co.

(LEVI) is the stronger pick with -1. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 1% for PVH Corp. (PVH). PVH Corp. (PVH) offers the better valuation at 8. 4x trailing P/E (8. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, PVH Corp.

(PVH) is the cheapest at 8. 4x versus Levi Strauss & Co. at 15. 7x. On forward P/E, PVH Corp. is actually cheaper at 8. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Levi Strauss & Co.

(LEVI) delivered a total return of -16. 5%, compared to -24. 8% for PVH Corp. (PVH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LEVI returned +14. 1% versus PVH's -1. 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), Levi Strauss & Co.

(LEVI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 40β versus PVH Corp. 's 1. 48β — meaning PVH is approximately 6% more volatile than LEVI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PVH Corp. (PVH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% versus 101% for Levi Strauss & Co. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Levi Strauss & Co.

(LEVI) is pulling ahead at -1. 2% versus -6. 1% for PVH Corp. (PVH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Levi Strauss & Co. grew EPS 178. 8% year-over-year, compared to -1. 9% for PVH Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LEVI leads at 0. 6% 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.

Levi Strauss & Co.

(LEVI) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 2% net margin versus 6. 9% for PVH Corp. — meaning it keeps 9. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LEVI leads at 10. 8% versus 8. 5% for PVH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LEVI leads at 61. 7%, 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, PVH Corp.

(PVH) trades at 8. 1x forward P/E versus 15. 2x for Levi Strauss & Co. — 7. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LEVI: 23. 0% to $28. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 0. 2% for PVH Corp. (PVH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Levi Strauss & Co.

(LEVI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LEVI: +14. 1%, PVH: -1. 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.

LEVI pays a dividend while PVH 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.