LEVI vs VFC vs HBI vs PVH

For growth investors, Levi Strauss & Co.

(LEVI) is the stronger pick with -1. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 1% for V. F. Corporation (VFC). 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 -72. 9% for V. F. Corporation (VFC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LEVI returned +14. 1% versus HBI's -62. 6%. 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 V. F. Corporation's 2. 36β — meaning VFC is approximately 69% 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 75% for Hanesbrands Inc. — 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 -9. 1% for V. F. Corporation (VFC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Levi Strauss & Co. grew EPS 178. 8% year-over-year, compared to -1698. 4% for Hanesbrands Inc.. 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 -9. 1% for Hanesbrands Inc. — 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 3. 2% for VFC. 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 23. 1x for V. F. Corporation — 15. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LEVI: 23. 0% to $28. 00.

In this comparison, LEVI (2.

3% yield), VFC (1. 9% yield), PVH (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. HBI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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). Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) carries a higher beta of 1. 72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LEVI: +14. 1%, HBI: -62. 6%), 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: LEVI is a small-cap deep-value stock; VFC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HBI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PVH is a small-cap deep-value stock. LEVI, VFC pay a dividend while HBI, PVH do 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.