NKE vs PVH

For growth investors, PVH Corp.

(PVH) is the stronger pick with -6. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 8% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). 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 NIKE, Inc. (NKE) a "Buy" — based on 71 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 NIKE, Inc. at 20. 6x. On forward P/E, PVH Corp. is actually cheaper at 8. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PVH Corp. wins at 0. 60x versus NIKE, Inc. 's 4. 82x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, PVH Corp.

(PVH) delivered a total return of -24. 8%, compared to -62. 7% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PVH returned -1. 9% versus NKE's -5. 2%. 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), NIKE, Inc.

(NKE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 17β versus PVH Corp. 's 1. 48β — meaning PVH is approximately 26% more volatile than NKE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PVH Corp. (PVH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% versus 83% for NIKE, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), PVH Corp.

(PVH) is pulling ahead at -6. 1% versus -9. 8% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PVH Corp. grew EPS -1. 9% year-over-year, compared to -42. 1% for NIKE, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NKE leads at -0. 3% 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.

NIKE, Inc.

(NKE) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 0% net margin versus 6. 9% for PVH Corp. — meaning it keeps 7. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PVH leads at 8. 5% versus 8. 0% for NKE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PVH leads at 59. 4%, 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.

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, PVH Corp. (PVH) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 60x versus NIKE, Inc. 's 4. 82x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, PVH Corp. (PVH) trades at 8. 1x forward P/E versus 29. 8x for NIKE, Inc. — 21. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NKE: 57. 4% to $69. 88.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NIKE, Inc. (NKE) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 0. 2% for PVH Corp. (PVH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, NIKE, Inc.

(NKE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 17), 3. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NKE: -5. 2%, 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.

In terms of investment character: NKE is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PVH is a small-cap deep-value stock. NKE 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.