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BURL vs. LOW: Burlington Stores vs. Lowe's Stock Comparison

How do Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though BURL is classified under Apparel Retail while LOW falls under Home Improvement Retail.

Company profile comparison for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
Profile ItemBURLLOW
NameBurlington Stores Inc.Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustrySpecialty RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryApparel RetailHome Improvement Retail
Market Capitalization15.50 billion USD125.98 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 2, 2013March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BURL
LOW
GSPC
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBURLLOW
Total Return (1Y)-9.83%1.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.64%9.02%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-3.29%1.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BURL
LOW
GSPC
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBURLLOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.03%30.08%
Beta (5Y)1.480.78
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.32%-36.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.46M3.23M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BURL and LOW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBURLLOW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.34-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.48-0.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Burlington Stores (BURL) earns 41.41% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's (LOW) has no ROE this period.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.41%

Max
62.17%
BURL
41.41%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%
LOW
--
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; BURL is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Burlington Stores (BURL) at 5.85% and Lowe's (LOW) at 7.35% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

5.85%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
BURL
5.85%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.35%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
LOW
7.35%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 13.37% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Burlington Stores (BURL) at 6.72%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.72%

Max
21.45%
Q3
10.89%
BURL
6.72%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.37%

Max
21.45%
LOW
13.37%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBURLLOW
ROE (TTM)41.41%--
ROA (TTM)6.15%12.52%
Net Margin (TTM)5.85%7.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)6.72%13.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.08%32.99%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Burlington Stores (BURL) at 8.76% and Lowe's (LOW) at 3.12% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Burlington Stores (BURL) at 21.92% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Lowe's (LOW) at -3.11% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for BURL.

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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBURLLOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.76%3.12%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.95%-3.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)21.92%-3.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)39.67%5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Burlington Stores (BURL) at 1.17 and Lowe's (LOW) at 1.11 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.17

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
BURL
1.17
Q1
1.00
Min
0.48

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
LOW
1.11
Q1
1.00
Min
0.48
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Burlington Stores (BURL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 2.95 against its industry range, while Lowe's (LOW) reports no figure this period.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.95

Max
3.93
BURL
2.95
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01
LOW
--
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; BURL is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBURLLOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.171.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.95--
Net Debt / EBITDA3.823.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Burlington Stores (BURL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Lowe's (LOW) reports a yield of 2.13%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
BURL
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.13%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
LOW
2.13%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Burlington Stores (BURL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Lowe's (LOW) reports a payout of 41.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
72.73%
Q3
32.44%
BURL
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.00%

Max
72.73%
LOW
41.00%
Q3
32.44%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBURLLOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.13%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%41.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Burlington Stores (BURL) at 22.17 and Lowe's (LOW) at 18.98 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

22.17

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
BURL
22.17
Median
19.23
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

18.98

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
LOW
18.98
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Burlington Stores (BURL) at 1.27 and Lowe's (LOW) at 1.39 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.27

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
BURL
1.27
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.39

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
LOW
1.39
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -16.94, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Burlington Stores (BURL) reports 7.74, ranking against industry peers normally.

BURL

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.74

Max
10.96
BURL
7.74
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-16.94

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45
LOW
-16.94
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Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBURLLOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)22.1718.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.271.39
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.74-16.94
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.69%3.66%