AEO vs WSM Stock Comparison
AEO currently leads WSM in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 61 vs 60. The clearest difference is value, while WSM has the stronger quality profile.
What is the main difference between AEO and WSM?
AEO leads the current stock comparison as American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. vs Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
AEO leads
AEO leads by 1 AIQ points, primarily on Value and Momentum, having only recently taken the lead back from WSM.
Fragile: 2 of 6 evidence groups support AEO, the lead recently changed hands, and its current signal state is conflicted.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors AEO over WSM, 61 versus 60 as of Oct 31, 2026. AEO's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value and momentum, while WSM holds the stronger quality profile. AEO also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor AEO today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 1 points. AEO lead: Reversed — WSM led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AEO now leads by 1.
Compare American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare AEO and WSM 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.
- Value68 vs 30AEO +38
- Quality46 vs 81WSM +35
- Momentum78 vs 72AEO +6
- Risk Resilience51 vs 55WSM +4
2 of 6 evidence groups favor AEO. AEO’s edge is concentrated in value and momentum; WSM keeps a meaningful quality edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-30, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-29.
No factor moved materially.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 5 active signals are unchanged.
No factor moved materially.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
AEO's lead was unchanged in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — AEO and WSM both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
AEO (American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value and momentum.
WSM (Williams-Sonoma, Inc.): the counter-case, on quality, risk resilience, 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
AEOAEO on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
WSMWSM on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
AEOAEO on the peer-relative Value factor, by 38 points.
Momentum
AEOAEO on the Momentum factor, by 6 points.
Lower downside
WSMWSM on Risk Resilience, by 4 points.
Analyst upside
AEOAEO 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 | AEO | WSM | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | -1.8% | -5.7% | AEO has more room |
| Target dispersion | +62.3% | +42.4% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 6 | 13 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | AEO | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 12.70% | 20.95% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $0.275 | $0.985 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $0.500 | $2.550 |
| Years increased | 2 | 5 |
| No cut in window | No (2) | Yes |
| Cohort rank | not ranked | #13 |
WSM grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 20.95% a year against AEO's 12.70%. WSM never reduced its regular dividend in the window; AEO did in 2 years. They are ranked in different cohorts — variable-dividend payers and US dividend-paying corporations — so their ranks are not comparable with each other.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
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 | Even | 61 vs 60 |
| Fundamentals | WSM | revenue growth -32.1% vs 8.5%; EPS growth -73.1% vs 47.2%; TTM ROE 17.2% vs 57.8%; gross margin 34.8% vs 47.2%; operating margin 7.6% vs 19.2% |
| Valuation | AEO | Value 68 vs 30 |
| Technicals | WSM | Price vs 50-day 15.2% vs 7.2%; vs 200-day 4.8% vs 16.9% |
| Risk Resilience | WSM | Risk Resilience 51 vs 55 |
| Analyst expectations | AEO | Target upside -1.8% vs -5.7% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of AEO and WSM 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 1 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 leader is throwing conflicting signals. (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 AEO.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jul 1 – Oct 30AEO lead: Reversed — WSM led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AEO now leads by 1.
- Today
- AEO +1
- 61 vs 60
- 7 sessions ago
- WSM +6
- 55 vs 61
- 30 sessions ago
- WSM +3
- 59 vs 62
- 90 sessions ago
- WSM +2
- 48 vs 50
The lead changed hands 10 times in this window, most recently on Oct 26 when AEO moved ahead of WSM.
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.
2 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only AEO
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (8.30%)
- BB Upper Band Breach — bearish, volatility, short horizon
- Keltner Channel Breakout — bullish, volatility, short horizon
4 bullish / 0 bearish
Only WSM
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (10.20%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
Both carry 1 more signal that do not separate them: MACD Bullish Crossover.
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 -2.53%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -2.75%, 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.
- 1WSM closes the Value gap — currently 38 points behind, the largest single contributor to AEO's edge.
- 2WSM's existing bullish trend signals translate into factor-score gains — the rules are already firing, but the scores have not yet followed.
- 3AEO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 2 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
WSM leads on balance| Metric | AEO | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -32.1% | 8.5% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -73.1% | 47.2% |
| Gross margin | 34.8% | 47.2% |
| Operating margin | 7.6% | 19.2% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 17.2% | 57.8% |
| Debt to equity | 1.14 | 0.71 |
Performance
WSM leads 4 of 6 windows| Metric | AEO | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 12% | -1.3% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 9.4% | 9.7% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 12.4% | 7.2% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 13.7% | 34.8% |
| Year to date | -26.2% | 40% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 17.4% | 32.3% |
Technicals
WSM has the stronger structure| Metric | AEO | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 68.8 | 62.1 |
| ADX (14) | 22.7 | 18.9 |
| Price vs 50-day | 15.2% | 7.2% |
| Price vs 200-day | 4.8% | 16.9% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 32.2% | 27.2% |
Risk
WSM is the more resilient| Metric | AEO | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.2 | 1.12 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.47 | 0.73 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.64 | 1.41 |
| Max drawdown | -48.5% | -23.6% |
| Current drawdown | -31% | -4.1% |
| Annualized volatility | 51.8% | 32.9% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -4.5% | -2.9% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, AEO or WSM?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, AEO is the stronger of the two as of Oct 31, 2026, scoring 61 against WSM's 60. The edge comes from value and momentum. WSM 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 WSM the better buy right now?
AEO carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 31, 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 1 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor AEO over WSM?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. AEO leads Value by 38 points; WSM leads Quality by 35 points; AEO leads Momentum by 6 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, AEO or WSM?
Analyst price targets imply -1.8% upside for AEO and -5.7% for WSM, so the Street currently favors AEO. 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, AEO or WSM?
AEO is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. AEO on the peer-relative Value factor, by 38 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 WSM?
WSM 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 WSM?
AEO on the Momentum factor, by 6 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, AEO or WSM?
WSM is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. WSM on Risk Resilience, by 4 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 AEO more profitable than WSM?
WSM leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 34.8% vs 47.2%; operating margin 7.6% vs 19.2%; ttm roe 17.2% vs 57.8%.
Is AEO's lead over WSM getting stronger or weaker?
AEO lead: Reversed — WSM led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; AEO now leads by 1. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-07-01 and 2026-10-30. The lead has changed hands 10 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-26, when AEO moved ahead of WSM.
What would change the AEO vs WSM verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: WSM closes the Value gap — currently 38 points behind, the largest single contributor to AEO's edge; WSM's existing bullish trend signals translate into factor-score gains — the rules are already firing, but the scores have not yet followed; AEO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 2 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 AEO and WSM?
AEO: 2 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. WSM: 4 bullish / 0 bearish. 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 WSM it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare AEO and WSM with others
Continue your research
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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.