Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 14.6x · EV/EBITDA 7.7x · ROE 11.1%. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $2.7B | $4.1B | $3.2B | $4.1B | $3.2B | $4.6B | $3.8B | $2.5B | $3.7B | $3.2B | $2.7B |
| Enterprise Value | $4.2B | $5.6B | $4.3B | $4.9B | $4.4B | $6.0B | $4.7B | $3.7B | $3.4B | $2.7B | $2.3B |
| P/E Ratio → | 14.61 | 21.39 | 9.61 | 24.15 | 24.47 | 11.03 | — | 12.86 | 14.24 | 15.54 | 12.65 |
| P/S Ratio | 0.49 | 0.75 | 0.59 | 0.78 | 0.64 | 0.92 | 1.00 | 0.57 | 0.92 | 0.83 | 0.75 |
| P/B Ratio | 1.66 | 2.43 | 1.79 | 2.35 | 2.01 | 3.25 | 3.48 | 1.97 | 2.89 | 2.54 | 2.24 |
| P/FCF | 5.85 | 9.00 | 12.47 | 10.06 | 22.02 | 66.26 | 50.68 | 12.00 | 13.92 | 14.06 | 13.31 |
| P/OCF | 5.85 | 9.00 | 6.65 | 7.04 | 7.91 | 15.23 | 18.65 | 5.92 | 8.16 | 8.02 | 7.38 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 1.02 | 0.81 | 0.94 | 0.88 | 1.20 | 1.26 | 0.86 | 0.84 | 0.72 | 0.64 |
| EV / EBITDA | 7.71 | 10.37 | 6.47 | 8.15 | 9.07 | 7.78 | 27.55 | 7.46 | 6.69 | 5.58 | 4.55 |
| EV / EBIT | 12.70 | 17.08 | 9.71 | 20.41 | 22.95 | 10.12 | — | 15.08 | 9.83 | 9.58 | 6.91 |
| EV / FCF | — | 12.28 | 16.94 | 12.11 | 30.23 | 85.90 | 63.46 | 18.04 | 12.68 | 12.22 | 11.44 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 33.0% | 33.0% | 35.3% | 34.4% | 30.9% | 36.5% | 26.2% | 31.2% | 32.7% | 31.7% | 33.5% |
| Operating Margin | 6.0% | 6.0% | 8.4% | 7.0% | 5.5% | 12.1% | 0.2% | 7.3% | 8.4% | 8.6% | 9.8% |
| Net Profit Margin | 3.5% | 3.5% | 6.2% | 3.2% | 2.5% | 8.4% | -5.6% | 4.4% | 6.5% | 5.4% | 5.9% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 11.1% | 11.1% | 18.8% | 10.2% | 8.3% | 33.4% | -17.9% | 15.1% | 20.7% | 16.7% | 18.8% |
| ROA | 4.9% | 4.9% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 3.5% | 11.6% | -6.2% | 7.3% | 14.1% | 11.3% | 12.5% |
| ROIC | 8.1% | 8.1% | 12.3% | 10.3% | 7.3% | 18.8% | 0.3% | 13.7% | 28.4% | 29.4% | 32.7% |
| ROCE | 10.7% | 10.7% | 16.0% | 13.8% | 9.8% | 22.0% | 0.3% | 15.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 28.9% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 1.02 | 1.02 | 0.82 | 0.68 | 0.86 | 1.27 | 1.66 | 1.28 | — | — | — |
| Debt / EBITDA | 3.21 | 3.21 | 2.17 | 1.96 | 2.81 | 2.34 | 10.50 | 3.23 | — | — | — |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.88 | 0.64 | 0.48 | 0.75 | 0.96 | 0.88 | 0.99 | -0.26 | -0.33 | -0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.77 | 2.77 | 1.71 | 1.38 | 2.46 | 1.78 | 5.55 | 2.50 | -0.66 | -0.84 | -0.74 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 3.28 | 4.47 | 2.05 | 8.20 | 19.65 | 12.78 | 6.04 | -1.25 | -1.84 | -1.87 |
| Interest Coverage | 79.72 | 79.72 | 369.53 | — | 2.43 | 17.12 | -10.89 | — | — | — | — |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.52 | 1.52 | 1.53 | 1.61 | 1.43 | 1.66 | 1.77 | 1.39 | 1.93 | 2.00 | 1.83 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.71 | 0.71 | 0.81 | 0.89 | 0.67 | 1.00 | 1.30 | 0.80 | 1.15 | 1.18 | 1.10 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.28 | 0.28 | 0.41 | 0.51 | 0.22 | 0.52 | 0.99 | 0.55 | 0.78 | 0.85 | 0.77 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 1.36 | 1.39 | 1.48 | 1.46 | 1.32 | 1.09 | 1.29 | 2.12 | 2.09 | 2.02 |
| Inventory Turnover | 5.25 | 5.25 | 5.41 | 5.38 | 5.89 | 5.75 | 6.84 | 6.64 | 6.40 | 6.51 | 6.69 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 17.17 | 17.97 | 17.20 | 17.73 | 20.88 | 14.19 | 10.09 | 8.45 | 7.53 | 8.76 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | — | — | 3.0% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.5% | 0.6% | 3.8% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | 29.3% | 49.3% | 51.8% | 27.2% | — | 48.5% | 37.1% | 43.4% | 42.7% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 6.8% | 4.7% | 10.4% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 9.1% | — | 7.8% | 7.0% | 6.4% | 7.9% |
| FCF Yield | 17.1% | 11.1% | 8.0% | 9.9% | 4.5% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 8.3% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 7.5% |
| Buyback Yield | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.5% | 0.8% | 6.5% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 4.9% | 4.4% | 3.2% | 0.3% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9.5% | 2.8% | 8.5% | 3.0% | 1.3% | 8.7% | 7.0% | 6.0% | 3.6% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $176M | $196M | $197M | $205M | $207M | $166M | $171M | $178M | $180M | $184M |
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying AEO stock.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 14.6x. The historical average is 17.4x. This places it at the 38th percentile of its historical range.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 7.7x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 7.8x.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 11.1%. The historical average is 18.6%.
Based on historical data, American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. is trading at a P/E of 14.6x. This is at the 38th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. has 33.0% gross margin and 6.0% operating margin.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 3.2x, indicating high leverage. A ratio between 2-4x is manageable but warrants monitoring.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Margin sustainability & seasonal volatility
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Valuation Gap Reflects Aerie Discount
American Eagle trades at a significant discount on EV/EBITDA (7.4x vs. the peer median of ~8.7x) and P/B (1.56x vs. 4.96x for ANF), suggesting the market is undervaluing the Aerie segment's growth potential relative to its profitability contribution.
The forward P/E of 10.9x and P/S of 0.46x indicate the stock is priced for modest earnings, not the accelerating profit growth demonstrated in Q2 2026. This valuation gap appears to stem from a persistent 'mall retailer' discount that fails to fully appreciate the structural margin advantage of the Aerie brand and the potential for the Quiet Logistics platform to improve capital efficiency. Relative to peers, the P/B multiple suggests investors are not pricing in the significant equity growth generated by retained earnings over the past two years.
Gross Margin Surge Masks Core Brand Challenges
The company's gross margin expanded to an exceptional 44.9% in Q2 2026, a ~1,100 bps YoY improvement, but this dramatic figure likely reflects the mix shift toward higher-margin Aerie products and reduced promotional activity rather than a broad-based improvement across the entire portfolio.
Operating margin jumped to 15.3% and net margin to 9.7%, demonstrating powerful operating leverage on the fixed-cost base. However, investors should be cautious: the prior ten quarters show highly volatile profitability, with net margin swinging from -6.0% to 9.7%. This volatility suggests the current surge may be cyclical, tied to successful inventory management and a strong denim cycle, rather than a permanent shift in the company's earning power. The profitability profile appears bifurcated, with the high-growth Aerie segment likely driving the majority of the margin expansion while the mature AE brand faces persistent promotional headwinds.
ROIC Recovery Remains Incomplete
Despite a sharp recovery to 4.6% ROIC in Q2 2026, the 10-quarter trend shows returns have only recently returned to positive territory after a loss-making Q1 2025, indicating the business's ability to compound capital remains fragile and inconsistent.
The ROIC trajectory is critical: after hitting a low of -1.7% in Q1 2025, the metric has rebounded but has not yet consistently exceeded the 4% threshold over a full year. This suggests the significant increase in the asset base from the Quiet Logistics integration has not yet been matched by a proportional increase in operating profits. The current ROIC is also substantially below the returns generated by more efficient peers like ANF (31.2%), highlighting a potential structural gap in capital efficiency for AEO's mall-based and logistics-heavy model.
Inventory Build Strains Working Capital
Days Sales of Inventory spiked to 98 in Q2 2026 from 62 in Q4 2025, a massive increase that signals a significant pre-positioning for the back-to-school season but also introduces substantial markdown risk if consumer demand softens.
The cash conversion cycle has lengthened dramatically to 85 days, driven almost entirely by the surge in inventory days. This pattern reveals the core tension in AEO's model: it must invest heavily in seasonal inventory to capture peak demand, but this creates immense working capital pressure and margin risk. While Days Payable Outstanding is relatively stable (26-29 days), the company lacks significant leverage to stretch supplier payments, forcing it to absorb the inventory carrying costs. The efficiency metrics show a company operating with a delicate, highly seasonal working capital cycle rather than one with structural advantages in cash conversion.
Leverage Rising With Coverage Weakening
Debt-to-equity has risen from 0.75 in Q1 2024 to 1.09 in Q2 2026, while interest coverage deteriorated significantly to 4.49x from a peak of over 600x in Q4 2025, suggesting debt service is becoming less comfortable as the company leverages up to fund strategic acquisitions.
The tripling of total debt to $1.9 billion has materially altered the balance sheet risk profile. While coverage of 4.49x is still adequate, the trend is concerning as it moves in the opposite direction of the recent profitability surge. The increase in D/EBITDA to 7.28x indicates the company is using more debt relative to its earnings power. This leverage build-up makes AEO more vulnerable to a potential downturn in consumer discretionary spending or a prolonged period of weak denim demand, as debt obligations become a larger fixed cost.
The Peril of Using ROE During Leverage Shifts
The most commonly misapplied ratio for AEO is currently Return on Equity (ROE), which surged to 7.9% in Q2 2026 and may be misleadingly optimistic as it reflects the benefits of increased financial leverage rather than pure operational improvement.
ROE has recovered sharply from -4.0% in Q1 2025, but this improvement is partially attributable to the decline in the equity multiplier as debt has grown faster than equity. An analyst using ROE as the primary measure of management's effectiveness would overstate the progress, because a significant portion of the return is generated by borrowed capital. A more accurate assessment of true operational performance would require isolating the impact of leverage, such as by using ROIC or analyzing operating margin trends separately. Given the company's recent strategic shift to a more capital-intensive model with logistics investments, ROE becomes an increasingly noisy signal that blends operational and financing decisions.