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LULU vs AMZN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Retail
LULU vs AMZN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel - Retail | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $14.71B | $2.96T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11.10B | $742.78B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.58B | $90.80B |
| Gross Margin | 56.6% | 50.6% |
| Operating Margin | 19.8% | 11.5% |
| Forward P/E | 10.1x | 35.3x |
| Total Debt | $1.80B | $152.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.81B | $86.81B |
LULU vs AMZN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lululemon Athletica… (LULU) | 100 | 44.0 | -56.0% |
| Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) | 100 | 225.1 | +125.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LULU vs AMZN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LULU has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in sleep-well-at-night and valuation efficiency.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.61, Low D/E 35.8%, current ratio 2.26x
- PEG 0.42 vs AMZN's 1.26
- Lower P/E (10.1x vs 35.3x), PEG 0.42 vs 1.26
AMZN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.51
- Rev growth 12.4%, EPS growth 29.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.7%
- 7.2% 10Y total return vs LULU's 110.2%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 12.4% revenue growth vs LULU's 4.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.1x vs 35.3x), PEG 0.42 vs 1.26 | |
| Quality / Margins | 14.2% margin vs AMZN's 12.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.51 vs LULU's 1.61 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +48.6% vs LULU's -51.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 20.1% ROA vs AMZN's 11.5%, ROIC 37.2% vs 14.7% |
LULU vs AMZN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LULU vs AMZN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LULU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AMZN is the larger business by revenue, generating $742.8B annually — 66.9x LULU's $11.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.2% (LULU) to 12.2% (AMZN). On growth, AMZN holds the edge at +16.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11.1B | $742.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.7B | $155.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.6B | $90.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $922M | -$2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +56.6% | +50.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.8% | +11.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.2% | +12.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | -0.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.8% | +16.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -19.1% | +74.8% |
Valuation Metrics
LULU leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.0x trailing earnings, LULU trades at a 74% valuation discount to AMZN's 38.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), LULU offers better value at 0.41x vs AMZN's 1.37x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $14.7B | $2.96T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $14.7B | $3.02T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.96x | 38.35x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.12x | 35.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.41x | 1.37x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.43x | 20.74x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.32x | 4.12x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.13x | 7.24x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.96x | 384.26x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LULU leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LULU delivers a 34.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $35 in annual profit, vs $23 for AMZN. LULU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.36x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AMZN's 0.37x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AMZN scores 6/9 vs LULU's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +34.7% | +23.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +20.1% | +11.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +37.2% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +35.8% | +15.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.36x | 0.37x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$9M | $66.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.8B | $86.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.8B | $153.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 39.96x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AMZN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AMZN five years ago would be worth $16,632 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,110 for LULU. Over the past 12 months, AMZN leads with a +48.6% total return vs LULU's -51.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AMZN at 37.5% vs LULU's -29.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -37.4% | +21.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -51.2% | +48.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.4% | +159.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -58.9% | +66.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +110.2% | +715.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -29.8% | +37.5% |
Risk & Volatility
AMZN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AMZN is the less volatile stock with a 1.51 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LULU's 1.61 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AMZN currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs LULU's 38.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.61x | 1.51x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $340.25 | $278.56 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $127.82 | $183.85 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +38.8% | +98.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 28.6 | 80.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.9M | 45.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LULU as "Hold" and AMZN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 58.4% upside for LULU (target: $209) vs 11.6% for AMZN (target: $307).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $209.14 | $306.77 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 70 | 94 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.0% | 0.0% |
LULU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). AMZN leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility).
LULU vs AMZN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LULU or AMZN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Amazon.
com, Inc. (AMZN) is the stronger pick with 12. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 9% for Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU). Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) offers the better valuation at 10. 0x trailing P/E (10. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Amazon. com, Inc. (AMZN) a "Buy" — based on 94 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.
02Which has the better valuation — LULU or AMZN?
On trailing P/E, Lululemon Athletica Inc.
(LULU) is the cheapest at 10. 0x versus Amazon. com, Inc. at 38. 3x. On forward P/E, Lululemon Athletica Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Lululemon Athletica Inc. wins at 0. 42x versus Amazon. com, Inc. 's 1. 26x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LULU or AMZN?
Over the past 5 years, Amazon.
com, Inc. (AMZN) delivered a total return of +66. 3%, compared to -58. 9% for Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMZN returned +715. 9% versus LULU's +110. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LULU or AMZN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Amazon.
com, Inc. (AMZN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 51β versus Lululemon Athletica Inc. 's 1. 61β — meaning LULU is approximately 7% more volatile than AMZN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 37% for Amazon. com, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LULU or AMZN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Amazon.
com, Inc. (AMZN) is pulling ahead at 12. 4% versus 4. 9% for Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Amazon. com, Inc. grew EPS 29. 7% year-over-year, compared to -9. 4% for Lululemon Athletica Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMZN leads at 11. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — LULU or AMZN?
Lululemon Athletica Inc.
(LULU) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 2% net margin versus 10. 8% for Amazon. com, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LULU leads at 19. 9% versus 11. 2% for AMZN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LULU leads at 56. 6%, 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.
07Is LULU or AMZN more undervalued right now?
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, Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 42x versus Amazon. com, Inc. 's 1. 26x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) trades at 10. 1x forward P/E versus 35. 3x for Amazon. com, Inc. — 25. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LULU: 58. 4% to $209. 14.
08Which pays a better dividend — LULU or AMZN?
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.
09Is LULU or AMZN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Amazon.
com, Inc. (AMZN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+715. 9% 10Y return). Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) carries a higher beta of 1. 61 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMZN: +715. 9%, LULU: +110. 2%), 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.
10What are the main differences between LULU and AMZN?
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: LULU is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AMZN is a mega-cap quality compounder 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.
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