Zacks Investment Research·6d ago
Will American Eagle's Brand Expansion and Strategic Efforts Pay Off?AEO's Aerie momentum, brand investments and cost discipline support growth as it works to reignite its namesake brand.
American Eagle Outfitters appears to be at a pivotal operational inflection, driven by the Aerie brand's structural pricing power and disciplined cost control, as evidenced by the Q2 2026 gross margin surge to 44.9%. This has unlocked significant operating lev...
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Trailing total returns as of 9/24/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Sep 9, 2026 | $0.79+257.3% vs $0.22 | $1.4B+0.8% vs $1.4B |
Q2 2026 May 28, 2026 | $0.14+15.6% vs $0.12 | $1.2B+0.9% vs $1.2B |
Q2 2026 Mar 4, 2026 | $0.50-29.6% vs $0.71 | $1.8B+1.2% vs $1.7B |
Q4 2025 Dec 2, 2025 | $0.53+21.2% vs $0.44 | $1.4B+3.0% vs $1.3B |
AEO's Aerie momentum, brand investments and cost discipline support growth as it works to reignite its namesake brand.
PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share. The dividend was declared on September 15, 2026 and is payable on October 28, 2026 to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 9, 2026. About American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer with a portfolio of beloved apparel brands including American Eagle, Aerie, OFFL/NE by Aerie,.
American Eagle (AEO) has been one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com users lately. So, it is worth exploring what lies ahead for the stock.
American Eagle Outfitters reported Q2 revenue growth of 9.4% y/y, but headline profitability was distorted by $179M in tariff refunds. The Aerie and OFFLINE brands are the primary growth levers, with Aerie comp sales up 19%, while the mainline AE brand continues to struggle with fashion missteps and margin pressure. Core operations remain weak: underlying gross and operating margins declined, free cash flow stayed negative even with tariff refunds, and inventory levels swelled.
Benchmark AEO against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.92 | $2.67B | 14.61 | 3.16% | 3.49% | 11.1% | — | |
| $132.25 | $5.94B | 12.64 | 6.42% | 10.04% | 39.16% | — | |
| $74.82 | $6.71B | 14.79 | 11.07% | 8.79% | 20.72% | — | |
| $29.77 | $1.1B | 11.49 | 1.91% | 6.55% | 20.84% | — | |
| $75.39 | $3.48B | 142.25 | 3.44% | -0.98% | -1.76% | — | |
| $6.47 | $2.29B | -7.11 | -3.63% | 9.59% | 73.92% | — |
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Sep 9, 2026·SEC
May 28, 2026·SEC
Mar 4, 2026·SEC
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American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) reported $5.70B in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 1646% increase from $326.4M in 1996.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) grew revenue by 3.2% over the past year. Growth has been modest.
Yes, American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) is profitable, generating $336.9M in net income for fiscal year 2025 (3.5% net margin).
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) has a return on equity (ROE) of 11.1%. This is reasonable for most industries.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) generated $168.5M in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.
