Dillard's, Inc. (DDS) AI Stock Analysis
DDS AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchDillard's, Inc. (NYSE: DDS) operates department stores across the southeastern, southwestern, and midwestern United States. While revenue has contracted slightly in recent years, reaching $6.56B in FY2026, the company generated $623.6M in free cash flow and maintains a net cash position of $804.0M. Over the past five years, the stock has delivered a 315.5% return, significantly outperforming broader market averages.
- Market cap
- $10.36B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $6.60B
- P/E
- 15.2x fwd 35.2x
- 1Y return
- 16.3% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $545.67 -17.7% vs last close
Bull case
- Dillard's maintains a net cash position of $804.0M with $1.26B in cash and short-term investments alongside a conservative debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22.
- The business generated $623.6M in free cash flow in FY2026 and delivered a return on equity of 33.8% over the trailing twelve months.
- Shareholder-oriented capital allocation has reduced the total share count by 22.4% over five years, supported by $107.8M in share buybacks in FY2026.
Bear case
- Annual revenue has fallen from $7.00B in FY2023 to $6.56B in FY2026, marking three consecutive fiscal years of negative top-line growth.
- Gross margins narrowed from 43.4% in FY2022 to 37.6% in FY2026, reflecting persistent profitability compression.
- Wall Street analyst sentiment skews negative, with a mean price target of $545.67 implying 17.7% downside from the latest close.
What Dillard's does
Dillard's, Inc. operates a retail department store chain across the southeastern, southwestern, and midwestern regions of the United States. Its merchandise assortment includes fashion apparel for women, men, and children, as well as accessories, cosmetics, home furnishings, and other consumer goods. As of January 29, 2022, the company maintained a network of 280 stores, including 30 clearance centers, alongside its e-commerce website dillards.com. Dillard's also conducts general contracting construction activities. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, the company pairs physical retail locations with online channels to serve customers across key U.S. markets.
Growth and profitability
Over the past five fiscal years, annual revenue peaked at $7.00B in FY2023 before declining to $6.87B in FY2024, $6.59B in FY2025, and $6.56B in FY2026, representing a 0.4% contraction in FY2026. Gross margin moderated from 43.4% in FY2022 to 37.6% in FY2026, while operating margin shifted from 16.9% to 10.5%. Net income reached $570.6M in FY2026, down from $862.5M in FY2022, resulting in FY2026 EPS of $35.27. For the trailing twelve months ending July 31, 2026, revenue stood at $6.60B with a profit margin of 10.3%. In the latest quarter, quarterly revenue fell 0.4% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 34.1%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of July 31, 2026, Dillard's held $1.26B in cash and short-term investments against $456.8M in total debt, creating a net cash position of $804.0M. The company reported a current ratio of 3.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, with total shareholders' equity of $2.12B. During FY2026, Dillard's generated $717.0M in operating cash flow and invested $93.4M in capital expenditures, yielding $623.6M in free cash flow. Cash returned to shareholders in FY2026 included $107.8M in share buybacks and $484.8M in dividends paid, contributing to a 22.4% reduction in share count over five years.
Valuation and performance
At a share price of $663.26, Dillard's holds a market capitalization of $10.36B and an enterprise value of $9.28B. The stock trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 15.2x, below the 18.0x median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers, but its forward P/E of 35.2x stands above the peer median of 14.1x. Its price-to-sales ratio is 1.6x, compared to the peer median of 0.7x, while EV/EBITDA is 9.5x compared to the peer median of 11.1x. Over the past year, the stock returned 16.3%, trailing the 16.8% return of the S&P 500 (SPY), though its five-year return of 315.5% exceeded the benchmark's 83.0% return.
DDS dividend
Dillard's offers a forward annual dividend of $1.20 per share, which corresponds to a dividend yield of 0.18% and a payout ratio of 3.2%. Dividends are distributed on a quarterly frequency, and the company has paid dividends for 42 consecutive years. The most recent ex-dividend date occurred on September 30, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage tracked includes 0 Strong Buy, 0 Buy, 1 Hold, 1 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $545.67, representing a 17.7% discount to the last close of $663.26. For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027, consensus estimates project revenue of $6.60B and EPS of $35.99, indicating 2.1% earnings growth. Over the last four quarters, the company delivered 4 EPS beats. The next earnings date is scheduled for November 12, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Short interest represents 28.6% of the public float, which may contribute to higher share price volatility.
- Forward price-to-earnings of 35.2x sits significantly above the US-listed Consumer Cyclical peer median of 14.1x.
- Revenue growth for the latest quarter was -0.4%, pointing to ongoing headwinds in consumer demand across physical department stores.
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 DDS AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Dillard's, Inc. (DDS). 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: DDS income statement, DDS balance sheet, DDS key metrics, DDS analyst forecast, DDS chart. See the DDS stock overview for the latest quote and news.
DDS AI stock analysis FAQ
What was Dillard's revenue and net income in FY2026?
In FY2026, Dillard's generated revenue of $6.56B and net income of $570.6M, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $35.27.
Does Dillard's pay a dividend?
Yes, Dillard's pays a quarterly dividend with a forward annual payout of $1.20 per share, delivering a dividend yield of 0.18% with a 3.2% payout ratio. The company has paid dividends for 42 consecutive years.
How leveraged is Dillard's balance sheet?
Dillard's has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, with $456.8M in total debt against $1.26B in cash and short-term investments, resulting in a net cash position of $804.0M as of July 31, 2026.
When is Dillard's next earnings report?
Dillard's next earnings announcement date is scheduled for November 12, 2026.