AEO vs BBWI Stock Comparison
Compare AEO and BBWI across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between AEO and BBWI?
AEO leads the current stock comparison as American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from momentum and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. vs Bath & Body Works, Inc.
AEO leads
AEO leads by 4 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum and Risk Resilience, having only recently taken the lead back from BBWI. Wall Street currently favors BBWI on target upside.
Fragile: 2 of 6 evidence groups support AEO, the lead recently changed hands, and its current signal state is conflicted.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
Bath & Body Works, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors AEO over BBWI, 56 versus 52 as of Sep 6, 2026. AEO's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum and risk resilience, while BBWI holds the stronger quality profile. AEO also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors BBWI. 2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor AEO today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. AEO lead: Reversed — BBWI led by 1 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AEO now leads by 4.
Compare American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and Bath & Body Works, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare AEO and BBWI against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Momentum25%64 vs 46AEO +18
- Risk Resilience15%41 vs 24AEO +17
- Quality30%46 vs 50BBWI +4
- Value30%68 vs 72BBWI +4
2 of 6 evidence groups favor AEO. AEO’s edge is concentrated in momentum and risk resilience; BBWI keeps a meaningful quality edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-05, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-04.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
AEO's lead was unchanged in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — AEO and BBWI both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
AEO (American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum and risk resilience.
BBWI (Bath & Body Works, Inc.): the counter-case, on quality, value, fundamentals — but at materially higher volatility, 62.2% against 49%.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
AEOAEO on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value at 30% each.
Growth
BBWIBBWI on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
BBWIBBWI on the peer-relative Value factor, by 4 points.
Momentum
AEOAEO on the Momentum factor, by 18 points.
Lower downside
AEOAEO on Risk Resilience, by 17 points.
Analyst upside
BBWIBBWI on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors AEO, analyst targets favor BBWI. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | AEO | BBWI | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +9.3% | +12.8% | BBWI has more room |
| Target dispersion | +31.6% | +31.8% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 4 | 10 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor AEO. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | AEO | 56 vs 52 |
| Fundamentals | BBWIon balance | revenue growth -32.1% vs 9.9%; EPS growth -73.1% vs -36.3%; TTM ROE 17.2% vs -61.8%; gross margin 34.8% vs 44.1%; operating margin 7.6% vs 16.7% — BBWI takes 4 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | BBWI | Value 68 vs 72 |
| Technicals | BBWI | Price vs 50-day 2.1% vs -2.8%; vs 200-day -12% vs -2.7% |
| Risk Resilience | AEO | Risk Resilience 41 vs 24 |
| Analyst expectations | BBWI | Target upside 9.3% vs 12.8% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of AEO and BBWI and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 2 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on AEO.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Apr 24 – Sep 5AEO lead: Reversed — BBWI led by 1 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AEO now leads by 4.
- Today
- AEO +4
- 56 vs 52
- 7 sessions ago
- BBWI +1
- 50 vs 51
- 30 sessions ago
- BBWI +1
- 48 vs 49
- 90 sessions ago
- BBWI +12
- 47 vs 59
The lead changed hands 11 times in this window, most recently on Sep 1 when AEO moved ahead of BBWI.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
1 bullish / 1 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (15.95%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (3.95%)
2 bullish / 0 bearish / 2 neutral
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (0.14%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (5.16%)
AEO leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +2.23%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +2.85%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1BBWI closes the Momentum gap — currently 18 points behind, the largest single contributor to AEO's edge.
- 2BBWI's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
- 3AEO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — the composite weights Quality and Value at 30% each, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
BBWI leads on balance| Metric | AEO | BBWI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -32.1% | 9.9% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -73.1% | -36.3% |
| Gross margin | 34.8% | 44.1% |
| Operating margin | 7.6% | 16.7% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 17.2% | -61.8% |
| Debt to equity | 1.14 | -4.5 |
Performance
AEO leads 4 of 6 windows| Metric | AEO | BBWI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 3.1% | 1.5% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -3.2% | -4.2% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 5.8% | 11.9% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -5.8% | -6.2% |
| Year to date | -34.1% | -2.8% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 27.7% | -36.2% |
Technicals
BBWI has the stronger structure| Metric | AEO | BBWI |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 60.3 | 54.6 |
| ADX (14) | 11.2 | 11 |
| Price vs 50-day | 2.1% | -2.8% |
| Price vs 200-day | -12% | -2.7% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 49% | 62.2% |
Risk
AEO is the more resilient| Metric | AEO | BBWI |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.28 | 1.36 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.04 | -0.6 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.05 | -0.83 |
| Max drawdown | -47.3% | -53.4% |
| Current drawdown | -38.3% | -38.8% |
| Annualized volatility | 52.3% | 58.8% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -4.8% | -5.5% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, AEO or BBWI?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, AEO is the stronger of the two as of Sep 6, 2026, scoring 56 against BBWI's 52. The edge comes from momentum and risk resilience. BBWI is not without a case — it holds the better quality profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is AEO or BBWI the better buy right now?
AEO carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 6, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 2 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor AEO over BBWI?
The composite weights Quality at 30%, Value at 30%, Momentum at 25% and Risk Resilience at 15%. AEO leads Momentum by 18 points; AEO leads Risk Resilience by 17 points; BBWI leads Quality by 4 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, AEO or BBWI?
Analyst price targets imply +9.3% upside for AEO and +12.8% for BBWI, so the Street currently favors BBWI. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors AEO. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, AEO or BBWI?
BBWI is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. BBWI on the peer-relative Value factor, by 4 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, AEO or BBWI?
BBWI on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, AEO or BBWI?
AEO on the Momentum factor, by 18 points. Momentum carries 25% of the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, AEO or BBWI?
AEO is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. AEO on Risk Resilience, by 17 points. The Risk Resilience factor weights 15% of the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is AEO more profitable than BBWI?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 34.8% vs 44.1%; operating margin 7.6% vs 16.7%; ttm roe 17.2% vs -61.8%. AEO leads on one measure and BBWI on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is AEO's lead over BBWI getting stronger or weaker?
AEO lead: Reversed — BBWI led by 1 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AEO now leads by 4. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-04-24 and 2026-09-05. The lead has changed hands 11 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-01, when AEO moved ahead of BBWI.
What would change the AEO vs BBWI verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: BBWI closes the Momentum gap — currently 18 points behind, the largest single contributor to AEO's edge; BBWI's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; AEO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — the composite weights Quality and Value at 30% each, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about AEO and BBWI?
AEO: 1 bullish / 1 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted. BBWI: 2 bullish / 0 bearish / 2 neutral. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on AEO is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon). On BBWI it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare AEO and BBWI with others
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality (30%), Value (30%), Momentum (25%) and Risk (15%). Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.