The Buckle, Inc. (BKE) AI Stock Analysis
BKE AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchThe Buckle, Inc. is a US retailer of casual apparel, footwear, and accessories for young men and women. In FY2026, revenue rebounded 6.6% to $1.30B, while net income reached $209.7M. The stock trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 10.7x and offers a 3.01% dividend yield.
- Market cap
- $2.40B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $1.33B
- P/E
- 10.7x fwd 13.7x
- 1Y return
- -6.0% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $46.00 -1.1% vs last close
Bull case
- Trailing twelve-month return on equity reached 45.8%, supported by an operating margin of 17.4% that exceeds the US-listed Consumer Cyclical peer median of 8.8%.
- Buckle generated $205.8M of free cash flow in FY2026, with an established record of beating earnings estimates in all 4 of the last quarters.
- The stock trades at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 7.5x, well below the US-listed Consumer Cyclical peer median of 11.1x.
Bear case
- The dividend payout ratio is 101.4%, with dividends paid in FY2026 totaling $225.1M and exceeding full-year free cash flow of $205.8M.
- Analyst forecasts model next fiscal year EPS declining 3.5% to $4.15 from the current fiscal year projection of $4.30.
- Quarterly earnings fell 2.2% year-over-year in the period ended July 31, 2026, and the 1-year total return dropped 6.0% against a 16.8% advance in SPY.
What Buckle does
The Buckle, Inc. is a retailer specializing in casual apparel, footwear, and accessories tailored for young men and women across the United States. It offers brand-name casual wear, including denims, tops, sportswear, outerwear, and accessories, alongside an extensive roster of private label brands such as BKE, Buckle Black, Salvage, Daytrip, and Outpost Makers. The company operated 440 retail stores in 42 states under the Buckle and The Buckle names as of March 11, 2022, and runs an e-commerce platform at buckle.com. Additional customer services include hemming, gift-packaging, layaways, a guest loyalty program, personalized stylist services, and a special order procurement system.
Growth and profitability
Buckle achieved a 5-year revenue compound annual growth rate of 7.6% from FY2021 to FY2026. After annual sales contractions of 6.3% in FY2024 and 3.4% in FY2025, revenue grew 6.6% in FY2026 to $1.30B, up from $1.22B. Operating margin stood at 20.1% in FY2026, down from 25.9% in FY2022, while net income finished at $209.7M with EPS of $4.14. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue was $1.33B with an operating margin of 17.4% and net profit margin of 16.6%. For the latest quarter ended July 31, 2026, quarterly revenue increased 4.6% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 2.2%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of July 31, 2026, Buckle held $287.2M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $421.4M, resulting in net debt of $134.2M. Shareholders' equity was $489.0M, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 2.08. In FY2026, the business produced $251.1M in operating cash flow and $205.8M in free cash flow. Capital expenditures totaled $45.4M, and dividends paid absorbed $225.1M. Over the past 5 years, common share count increased by 3.3%.
Valuation and performance
Buckle trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 10.7x and a forward P/E of 13.7x, compared to medians of 18.0x and 14.1x for its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers. Its enterprise value-to-EBITDA ratio is 7.5x, below the peer median of 11.1x, while its price-to-sales multiple of 1.8x exceeds the peer median of 0.7x. The company's market capitalization is $2.40B with an enterprise value of $2.27B. Over the past year, the stock fell 6.0%, trailing the 16.8% gain for the S&P 500 (SPY), though its 5-year return of 85.5% slightly outpaced the S&P 500's 83.0%.
BKE dividend
Buckle pays an annualized forward dividend of $1.40 per share, which represents a 3.01% dividend yield as of October 16, 2026. The company has paid dividends for 24 consecutive years, although its 5-year annualized dividend growth is -1.2%. The dividend payout ratio stands at 101.4%, and dividends are distributed on a quarterly frequency.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analyst coverage includes 2 Hold ratings, with 0 Buy and 0 Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $46.00, representing a 1.1% discount to the last close of $46.50. For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027, consensus estimates project EPS of $4.30 on revenue of $1.37B. Buckle has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters. The next earnings date is November 20, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Net debt of $134.2M and debt-to-equity of 0.86 could limit balance sheet flexibility if retail sales deteriorate.
- The dividend payout ratio of 101.4% paired with a negative 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of -1.2% highlights sustainability considerations.
- Short interest represents 11.9% of the public float, signaling elevated market skepticism.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this BKE AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of The Buckle, Inc. (BKE). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: BKE income statement, BKE balance sheet, BKE key metrics, BKE analyst forecast, BKE chart. See the BKE stock overview for the latest quote and news.
BKE AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Buckle's dividend yield and payment frequency?
Buckle pays a quarterly dividend with a forward annual rate of $1.40 per share, equating to a 3.01% yield as of October 16, 2026. The company has distributed dividends for 24 consecutive years.
How does Buckle's valuation compare to its sector peers?
Buckle trades at 10.7x trailing earnings and 7.5x EV/EBITDA, both lower than the US-listed Consumer Cyclical peer medians of 18.0x and 11.1x, respectively. However, its price-to-sales multiple of 1.8x is higher than the peer median of 0.7x.
What are analysts' expectations for Buckle's upcoming earnings?
For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027, consensus estimates project EPS of $4.30 and revenue of $1.37B. The company has surpassed EPS expectations in each of the past 4 quarters, and its next earnings release is scheduled for November 20, 2026.
How much debt does Buckle have on its balance sheet?
As of July 31, 2026, Buckle held $421.4M in total debt and $287.2M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $134.2M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86.