TLYS vs NKE

For growth investors, Tilly's, Inc.

(TLYS) is the stronger pick with -2. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 8% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). NIKE, Inc. (NKE) offers the better valuation at 20. 3x trailing P/E (29. 5x 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.

Over the past 5 years, Tilly's, Inc.

(TLYS) delivered a total return of -50. 0%, compared to -61. 9% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TLYS returned +61. 9% versus NKE's -5. 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), Tilly's, Inc.

(TLYS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 79β versus NIKE, Inc. 's 1. 17β — meaning NKE is approximately 48% more volatile than TLYS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NIKE, Inc. (NKE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 83% versus 2% for Tilly's, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Tilly's, Inc.

(TLYS) is pulling ahead at -2. 8% versus -9. 8% for NIKE, Inc. (NKE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Tilly's, Inc. grew EPS 62. 3% 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 -3. 2% for Tilly's, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NKE leads at 8. 0% versus -3. 5% for TLYS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NKE leads at 42. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TLYS: 124.

1% to $9. 50.

In this comparison, NKE (3.

5% yield) pays a dividend. TLYS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 6%, TLYS: +61. 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: TLYS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NKE is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. NKE pays a dividend while TLYS 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.