Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL) AI Stock Analysis
GIL AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchGildan Activewear Inc. (GIL) manufactures and distributes activewear, hosiery, and underwear products across global markets. The company generated $3.68B in revenue in FY2025 alongside free cash flow of $477.2M, though trailing twelve months profit margin sits at 1.3%. GIL shares have declined 31.2% over the past year, trading at a forward P/E of 8.8x with a 2.43% dividend yield.
- Market cap
- $7.58B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $4.74B
- P/E
- 31.3x fwd 8.8x
- 1Y return
- -31.2% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $77.00 88.1% vs last close
Bull case
- Wall Street maintains an upbeat stance with 11 Buy or Strong Buy ratings and an average price target of $77.00, representing 88.1% potential upside from the last close of $40.94.
- Quarterly revenue climbed 72.3% year-over-year in the period ended June 30, 2026, while the stock trades at an attractive forward P/E of 8.8x and a PEG ratio of 0.38.
- FY2025 free cash flow of $477.2M funded $216.7M in share buybacks and sustained a 16-year dividend payment record.
Bear case
- Quarterly net earnings fell 59.2% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, pulling the trailing twelve months profit margin down to 1.3%.
- Gildan holds a heavy leverage burden with total debt of $4.85B and net debt of $4.58B against cash of only $268.0M as of June 30, 2026.
- Shareholder returns have lagged broad markets, dropping 31.2% over the trailing 1-year period compared to a 16.8% gain for the S&P 500.
What Gildan Activewear does
Gildan Activewear Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, manufactures and distributes apparel products across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Its activewear segment supplies T-shirts, fleece tops and bottoms, and sports shirts under brand names such as Gildan, Comfort Colors, American Apparel, Alstyle, and GoldToe. The company also manufactures hosiery products, offering athletic, dress, casual, and workwear socks, along with pantyhose and leggings under brands including Under Armour, PowerSox, and Peds. Additionally, Gildan produces men's and boys' underwear and ladies' intimates under the Gildan Platinum, Secret, and Secret Silky labels, distributing through wholesale distributors, screen printers, embellishers, and retailers.
Growth and profitability
Gildan expanded its annual revenue from $2.92B in FY2021 to $3.68B in FY2025, recording a 5-year revenue CAGR of 13.2%. Over that timeframe, net income went from $607.2M in FY2021 to $405.9M in FY2025, while gross margin settled at 30.2% and operating margin finished at 19.8%. Diluted EPS rose to $3.52 in FY2025. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $4.74B, helped by 72.3% year-over-year quarterly revenue growth in the period ended June 30, 2026. However, quarterly earnings fell 59.2% year-over-year, and trailing twelve months profit margin reached 1.3%, yielding EPS of $1.31.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Gildan held $268.0M in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $4.85B, leaving net debt at $4.58B. Shareholders' equity stood at $3.34B against total assets of $10.04B, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45 and a current ratio of 1.93. During FY2025, operating cash flow reached $585.5M, which covered capital expenditures of $108.3M to deliver free cash flow of $477.2M. Capital returns included $216.7M in share buybacks and $137.6M in dividends paid.
Valuation and performance
Gildan trades at a trailing P/E of 31.3x, above the 18.0x median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers, but its forward P/E of 8.8x is lower than the peer median of 14.1x. Its enterprise value of $13.30B implies an EV/EBITDA multiple of 21.3x, compared to 11.1x for peers, while price-to-sales is 1.6x against the peer median of 0.7x. Gildan's PEG ratio is 0.38. Over the past year, GIL returned -31.2%, underperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, and the stock sits 27.5% below its 200-day average.
GIL dividend
Gildan pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward payout of $1.00 per share, delivering a dividend yield of 2.43% with a payout ratio of 26.5%. The company has made dividend distributions for 16 consecutive years and achieved a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 42.5%. Its most recent ex-dividend date was August 20, 2026.
What analysts expect
Gildan carries 6 Strong Buy, 5 Buy, and 2 Hold recommendations from analysts, with no Sell ratings. The average price target of $77.00 represents an 88.1% premium over the last closing price of $40.94. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates expect revenue of $5.98B and EPS of $4.62, representing projected EPS growth of 31.6%. The company exceeded EPS expectations in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with the next earnings announcement scheduled for November 4, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Balance sheet leverage remains elevated with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45 and total debt of $4.85B.
- Valuation multiples on a trailing basis are stretched, with EV/EBITDA of 21.3x exceeding the US-listed Consumer Cyclical peer median of 11.1x.
- Short interest stands at 7.8% of float following a 33.6% decline in share price year-to-date.
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 GIL AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL). 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: GIL income statement, GIL balance sheet, GIL key metrics, GIL analyst forecast, GIL chart. See the GIL stock overview for the latest quote and news.
GIL AI stock analysis FAQ
What dividend does Gildan Activewear pay?
Gildan pays a quarterly dividend totaling $1.00 annually, which equates to a 2.43% dividend yield. The payout ratio is 26.5%, and the company has maintained consecutive dividend distributions for 16 years.
What are analysts forecasting for GIL shares?
Analysts hold a mean price target of $77.00 for GIL, indicating an 88.1% increase over the last close of $40.94. The consensus includes 6 Strong Buy, 5 Buy, and 2 Hold ratings.
How much debt does Gildan Activewear have?
As of June 30, 2026, Gildan reported total debt of $4.85B and cash and short-term investments of $268.0M, resulting in net debt of $4.58B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45.
When is Gildan's next earnings report date?
Gildan's next quarterly earnings release is scheduled for November 4, 2026. The company has beaten consensus EPS forecasts in 3 of the last 4 quarters.