BURL vs. PAG: Burlington Stores vs. Penske Automotive Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG) 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though BURL is classified under Apparel Retail while PAG falls under Automotive Retail.

Company profile comparison for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Profile Item	BURL	PAG
Name	Burlington Stores Inc.	Penske Automotive Group Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Specialty Retail	Specialty Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Apparel Retail	Automotive Retail
Market Capitalization	15.50 billion USD	13.94 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	October 2, 2013	October 23, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BURL

PAG

GSPC

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG), 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BURL	PAG
Total Return (1Y)	-9.83%	39.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.64%	16.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-3.29%	16.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BURL

PAG

GSPC

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG), 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

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BURL	PAG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.03%	27.55%
Beta (5Y)	1.48	0.90
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-63.32%	-24.03%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.46M	450.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BURL and PAG 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 Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BURL	PAG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.34	1.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.48	2.27

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Burlington Stores (BURL) at 41.41% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 15.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BURL.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

15.47%

Max: 62.17%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
PAG: 15.47%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Burlington Stores (BURL) at 5.85% and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.77% 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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.77%

Max: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
PAG: 2.77%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Burlington Stores (BURL) at 6.72% and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 3.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.60%

Max: 21.45%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
PAG: 3.60%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BURL	PAG
ROE (TTM)	41.41%	15.47%
ROA (TTM)	6.15%	4.25%
Net Margin (TTM)	5.85%	2.77%
Operating Margin (TTM)	6.72%	3.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.08%	16.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Burlington Stores (BURL) at 8.76% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at -0.18% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.84% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for BURL.

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BURL	PAG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.76%	-0.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.95%	4.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)	21.92%	2.84%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	39.67%	-8.67%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Burlington Stores (BURL) at 1.17 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.98 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PAG.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.98

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
PAG: 0.98
Min: 0.48

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 1.53 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Burlington Stores (BURL) at 2.95 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.53

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
PAG: 1.53
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BURL	PAG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.17	0.98
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.95	1.53
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.82	6.53

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 Penske Automotive (PAG) reports a yield of 2.70%, 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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.70%

Max: 5.84%
PAG: 2.70%
Q3: 2.50%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) reports a payout of 41.11%, 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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.11%

Max: 72.73%
PAG: 41.11%
Q3: 32.44%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Burlington Stores (BURL) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BURL	PAG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	2.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	41.11%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Burlington Stores (BURL) at 22.17 and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 14.80 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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.80

Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
PAG: 14.80
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.43 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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.43

Max: 4.32
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
PAG: 0.43
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.35 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Burlington Stores (BURL) at 7.74 carries an above-peer premium to book — BURL is pricier on assets.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.35

Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
PAG: 2.35
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

Burlington Stores (BURL) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BURL	PAG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	22.17	14.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.27	0.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.74	2.35
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	0.69%	0.69%