DKS vs ELF Stock Comparison
Compare DKS and ELF across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between DKS and ELF?
DKS leads the current stock comparison as DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. vs e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.
DKS leads
DKS leads by 2 AIQ points, primarily on Value and Risk Resilience, having only recently taken the lead back from ELF.
Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support DKS, the lead recently changed hands, and its current signal state is conflicted.
DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors DKS over ELF, 44 versus 42 as of Sep 11, 2026. DKS's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value and risk resilience, while ELF holds the stronger momentum profile. DKS also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor DKS today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. DKS lead: Reversed — ELF led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; DKS now leads by 2.
Compare DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. and e.l.f. Beauty, 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 DKS and ELF 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.
- Value69 vs 28DKS +41
- Momentum23 vs 53ELF +30
- Quality39 vs 53ELF +14
- Risk Resilience39 vs 33DKS +6
3 of 6 evidence groups favor DKS. DKS’s edge is concentrated in value and risk resilience; ELF keeps a meaningful momentum edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.
Largest factor move: Momentum +4
No new signals fired.
Largest factor move: Momentum -6
No new signals fired.
The lead changed hands: DKS moved ahead of ELF in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — DKS and ELF both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
DKS (DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value and risk resilience.
ELF (e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.): the counter-case, on momentum, quality, fundamentals.
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
DKSDKS on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
ELFELF on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
DKSDKS on the peer-relative Value factor, by 41 points.
Momentum
ELFELF on the Momentum factor, by 30 points.
Lower downside
DKSDKS on Risk Resilience, by 6 points.
Analyst upside
DKSDKS on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | DKS | ELF | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +40.1% | -11.7% | DKS has more room |
| Target dispersion | +106.2% | +85.3% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 16 | 11 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor DKS. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | Even | 44 vs 42 |
| Fundamentals | ELFon balance | revenue growth 8.2% vs 6.7%; EPS growth -1.7% vs 234.5%; TTM ROE 15% vs 5.2%; gross margin 32.1% vs 74.4%; operating margin 6.8% vs 10.5% — ELF takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | DKS | Value 69 vs 28 |
| Technicals | ELF | Price vs 50-day -28.6% vs 8.3%; vs 200-day -35.5% vs 25.2% |
| Risk Resilience | DKS | Risk Resilience 39 vs 33 |
| Analyst expectations | DKS | Target upside 40.1% vs -11.7% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of DKS and ELF 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 2 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 3 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 leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Signal direction runs against the verdict: the leader is net-bearish while the laggard is net-bullish. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Analyst targets on the leader are widely dispersed. (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 DKS.
How the comparison changed
119 daily snapshots · May 4 – Sep 10DKS lead: Reversed — ELF led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; DKS now leads by 2.
- Today
- DKS +2
- 44 vs 42
- 7 sessions ago
- ELF +9
- 41 vs 50
- 30 sessions ago
- ELF +3
- 47 vs 50
- 90 sessions ago
- DKS +1
- 50 vs 49
The lead changed hands 7 times in this window, most recently on Sep 10 when DKS moved ahead of ELF.
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 / 4 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (9.02%)
- Keltner Channel Breakdown — bearish, volatility, short horizon
- RSI Oversold - Potential Bounce — bullish, momentum, short horizon
3 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (17.04%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
DKS 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.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +1.42%, AIQ +1 points).
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 2 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +1.2%, AIQ -2 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.
- 1ELF closes the Value gap — currently 41 points behind, the largest single contributor to DKS's edge.
- 2ELF generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover.
- 3DKS's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 4 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, 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
ELF leads on balance| Metric | DKS | ELF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 8.2% | 6.7% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -1.7% | 234.5% |
| Gross margin | 32.1% | 74.4% |
| Operating margin | 6.8% | 10.5% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 15% | 5.2% |
| Debt to equity | 1.39 | 0.79 |
Performance
ELF leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | DKS | ELF |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -3.1% | -10.8% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -34.3% | 3.4% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -38.1% | 64.8% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -31.9% | 19.8% |
| Year to date | -32.7% | 25.9% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -40.5% | -30.6% |
Technicals
ELF has the stronger structure| Metric | DKS | ELF |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 24.7 | 46.5 |
| ADX (14) | 41.6 | 41.4 |
| Price vs 50-day | -28.6% | 8.3% |
| Price vs 200-day | -35.5% | 25.2% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 115.7% | 51.7% |
Risk
DKS is the more resilient| Metric | DKS | ELF |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.99 | 1.82 |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.87 | -0.25 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.93 | -0.28 |
| Max drawdown | -48% | -66.2% |
| Current drawdown | -44.3% | -34.7% |
| Annualized volatility | 48% | 67.1% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -3.6% | -5.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, DKS or ELF?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, DKS is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 44 against ELF's 42. The edge comes from value and risk resilience. ELF is not without a case — it holds the better momentum 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 DKS or ELF the better buy right now?
DKS carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor DKS over ELF?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. DKS leads Value by 41 points; ELF leads Momentum by 30 points; ELF leads Quality by 14 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, DKS or ELF?
Analyst price targets imply +40.1% upside for DKS and -11.7% for ELF, so the Street currently favors DKS. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, DKS or ELF?
DKS is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. DKS on the peer-relative Value factor, by 41 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, DKS or ELF?
ELF 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, DKS or ELF?
ELF on the Momentum factor, by 30 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in 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, DKS or ELF?
DKS is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. DKS on Risk Resilience, by 6 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is DKS more profitable than ELF?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 32.1% vs 74.4%; operating margin 6.8% vs 10.5%; ttm roe 15% vs 5.2%. DKS leads on one measure and ELF 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 DKS's lead over ELF getting stronger or weaker?
DKS lead: Reversed — ELF led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; DKS now leads by 2. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has changed hands 7 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-10, when DKS moved ahead of ELF.
What would change the DKS vs ELF verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: ELF closes the Value gap — currently 41 points behind, the largest single contributor to DKS's edge; ELF generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover; DKS's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 4 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about DKS and ELF?
DKS: 1 bullish / 4 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. ELF: 3 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. 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 DKS is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon). On ELF it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare DKS and ELF with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. 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.