Seek Returns

NKE vs. RL: NIKE vs. Ralph Lauren Stock Comparison

How do NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL) 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

NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL) both belong to the Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods industry, though NKE is classified under Footwear while RL falls under Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods.

Company profile comparison for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
Profile ItemNKERL
NameNike, Inc. Class B Common StockRalph Lauren Corp. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Durables & ApparelConsumer Durables & Apparel
GICS IndustryTextiles, Apparel & Luxury GoodsTextiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods
GICS Sub-IndustryFootwearApparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods
Market Capitalization55.40 billion USD22.49 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 2, 1980June 12, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NKE
RL
GSPC
Loading price history…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL), 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 NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
MetricNKERL
Total Return (1Y)-44.70%13.42%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-27.00%50.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-24.21%27.57%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NKE
RL
GSPC
Loading price history…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL), 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 NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

NIKE (NKE) is heavily traded at around 32.74M shares per day, whereas Ralph Lauren (RL) sees a more moderate 604.37K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
MetricNKERL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.78%34.86%
Beta (5Y)1.031.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)-79.09%-36.51%
Avg. Volume (3M)32.74M604.37K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
NKE and RL 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 NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
MetricNKERL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-1.370.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.730.41

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ralph Lauren (RL) at 37.54% sits in the top ROE quartile, while NIKE (NKE) at 21.56% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for RL.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

21.56%

Max
49.52%
Q3
23.46%
NKE
21.56%
Median
12.27%
Q1
5.61%
Min
-11.15%

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

37.54%

Max
49.52%
RL
37.54%
Q3
23.46%
Median
12.27%
Q1
5.61%
Min
-11.15%
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Ralph Lauren (RL) at 11.76% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of NIKE (NKE) at 6.74%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

6.74%

Max
19.09%
Q3
9.20%
NKE
6.74%
Median
5.72%
Q1
2.35%
Min
-7.09%

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

11.76%

Max
19.09%
RL
11.76%
Q3
9.20%
Median
5.72%
Q1
2.35%
Min
-7.09%
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ralph Lauren (RL) at 18.40% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of NIKE (NKE) at 7.92%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

7.92%

Max
30.44%
Q3
14.63%
Median
8.19%
NKE
7.92%
Q1
3.95%
Min
-5.53%

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

18.40%

Max
30.44%
RL
18.40%
Q3
14.63%
Median
8.19%
Q1
3.95%
Min
-5.53%
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
MetricNKERL
ROE (TTM)21.56%37.54%
ROA (TTM)6.89%11.01%
Net Margin (TTM)6.74%11.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)7.92%18.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)43.41%70.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ralph Lauren (RL) at 14.63% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while NIKE (NKE) at 0.19% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for RL.

Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Ralph Lauren (RL) at 30.15% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while NIKE (NKE) at -2.78% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for RL.

Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
MetricNKERL
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.19%14.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-3.24%7.99%
EPS Growth (YoY)-2.78%30.15%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-13.37%25.85%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both NIKE (NKE) at 2.08 and Ralph Lauren (RL) at 2.05 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

2.08

Max
6.01
Q3
3.59
Median
2.16
NKE
2.08
Q1
1.65
Min
0.75

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

2.05

Max
6.01
Q3
3.59
Median
2.16
RL
2.05
Q1
1.65
Min
0.75
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both NIKE (NKE) at 0.73 and Ralph Lauren (RL) at 1.10 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

0.73

Max
2.45
Q3
1.22
NKE
0.73
Median
0.49
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

1.10

Max
2.45
Q3
1.22
RL
1.10
Median
0.49
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
MetricNKERL
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.082.05
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.731.10
Net Debt / EBITDA0.560.67

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

NIKE (NKE) at 4.28% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ralph Lauren (RL) at 0.98% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NKE the richer one.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

4.28%

Max
4.89%
NKE
4.28%
Q3
2.37%
Median
0.92%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

0.98%

Max
4.89%
Q3
2.37%
RL
0.98%
Median
0.92%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ralph Lauren (RL) at 23.55% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while NIKE (NKE) at 78.85% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

78.85%

Max
100.00%
NKE
78.85%
Q3
41.00%
Median
12.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

23.55%

Max
100.00%
Q3
41.00%
RL
23.55%
Median
12.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
MetricNKERL
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.28%0.98%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)78.85%23.55%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NIKE (NKE) at 17.93 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ralph Lauren (RL) at 23.78 sits in the richer quartile — RL needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

17.93

Max
38.98
Q3
23.65
NKE
17.93
Median
16.60
Q1
13.15
Min
6.08

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

23.78

Max
38.98
RL
23.78
Q3
23.65
Median
16.60
Q1
13.15
Min
6.08
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

NIKE (NKE) at 1.21 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ralph Lauren (RL) at 2.69 sits in the pricier quartile — RL costs more per dollar of sales.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

1.21

Max
3.20
Q3
1.66
NKE
1.21
Median
0.96
Q1
0.54
Min
0.01

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

2.69

Max
3.20
RL
2.69
Q3
1.66
Median
0.96
Q1
0.54
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

NIKE (NKE) at 3.63 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Ralph Lauren (RL) at 8.26 carries an above-peer premium to book — RL is pricier on assets.

NKE

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

3.63

Max
8.26
Q3
3.99
NKE
3.63
Median
2.10
Q1
1.13
Min
0.46

RL

Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group

8.26

RL
8.26
Max
8.26
Q3
3.99
Median
2.10
Q1
1.13
Min
0.46
Loading chart…
NIKE (NKE) vs. Ralph Lauren (RL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for NIKE (NKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL)
MetricNKERL
P/E Ratio (TTM)17.9323.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.212.69
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.638.26
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.19%3.91%