Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: KTBAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

KTB AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Kontoor Brands, Inc. is a global lifestyle apparel company anchored by its core Wrangler and Lee denim brands. In FY2025, revenue increased 21.0% to $3.15B, supported by $566.7M in free cash flow. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 18.6% year-over-year while quarterly earnings fell 11.4%.

Market cap
$4.01B
Revenue (TTM)
$3.43B
P/E
17.9x
fwd 14.5x
1Y return
-12.5%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$98.20
34.0% vs last close

Bull case

  • Kontoor Brands generated $566.7M in free cash flow in FY2025 while supporting a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 16.8%.
  • Operating margin of 15.5% over the trailing twelve months significantly exceeds the US-listed Consumer Cyclical peer median of 8.8%.
  • Quarterly revenue growth of 18.6% year-over-year in the latest quarter surpassed the peer median rate of 4.5%.

Bear case

  • Total debt stood at $1.27B against $58.5M in cash as of June 30, 2026, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06.
  • Quarterly earnings fell 11.4% year-over-year in the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026.
  • Analysts expect EPS to decline 5.4% in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, to $5.29 on revenue of $2.70B.

What Kontoor Brands does

Kontoor Brands, Inc. is a lifestyle apparel company that designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes denim, apparel, and accessories globally. Its brand portfolio includes Wrangler, Lee, and Rock & Republic. The company operates through two segments, Wrangler and Lee, serving customers via mass merchants, specialty stores, department stores, company-operated retail outlets, and online channels. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, Kontoor Brands operated 80 retail stores across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions as of January 1, 2022.

Growth and profitability

Kontoor Brands generated an 8.5% five-year revenue CAGR from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue grew from $2.48B in FY2021 to $2.63B in FY2022, remained flat at $2.61B in FY2024, and climbed 21.0% to $3.15B in FY2025. Operating margin rose from 11.4% in FY2021 to 14.1% in FY2025, alongside gross margin expansion to 46.7%. Net income was $227.5M in FY2025, yielding diluted EPS of $5.58. Over the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue totaled $3.43B with an operating margin of 15.5%. For the latest quarter, revenue grew 18.6% year-over-year while earnings dropped 11.4%.

KTB income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Kontoor Brands had $58.5M in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $1.27B, resulting in net debt of $1.21B. Shareholders' equity stood at $618.5M, yielding a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. Operating cash flow in FY2025 reached $587.8M, yielding free cash flow of $566.7M. During FY2025, capital expenditures totaled $21.0M, share buybacks used $25.0M, and dividends paid accounted for $116.1M.

KTB balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Kontoor Brands carries a market cap of $4.01B and an enterprise value of $4.80B. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 17.9x, in line with the 18.0x median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers, and a forward P/E of 14.5x compared to the peer median of 14.1x. Its EV/EBITDA of 10.1x is lower than the peer median of 11.1x, while its price-to-sales ratio of 1.2x exceeds the peer median of 0.7x. Over the past year, KTB fell 12.5%, trailing the S&P 500 gain of 16.8%, while its five-year gain of 77.0% compares to 83.0% for the S&P 500.

KTB key metrics →

KTB dividend

Kontoor Brands pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward rate of $2.12 per share, representing a 2.89% dividend yield. The company maintains a payout ratio of 37.0% and has paid dividends for 8 consecutive years. Its dividend has grown at an annualized rate of 16.8% over the past 5 years, with the last ex-dividend date occurring on September 8, 2026.

KTB dividend history →

What analysts expect

Consensus analyst ratings include 6 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, 1 Hold, and 1 Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $98.20 reflects a 34.0% premium over the October 16, 2026 closing price of $73.28. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts forecast EPS of $5.29 on revenue of $2.70B. Kontoor Brands beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 2, 2026.

KTB forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Short interest stands at 16.0% of float, indicating notable negative sentiment among market participants.
  • The company maintains net debt of $1.21B, leaving limited cash reserves of $58.5M as of June 30, 2026.
  • Estimated FY2026 revenue of $2.70B points to a potential contraction from the $3.15B reported in FY2025.
  • The stock posted a 1-year return of -12.5%, lagging behind the broader market return of 16.8% for the S&P 500.

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 KTB AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB). 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: KTB income statement, KTB balance sheet, KTB key metrics, KTB analyst forecast, KTB chart. See the KTB stock overview for the latest quote and news.

KTB AI stock analysis FAQ

What dividend does Kontoor Brands pay?

Kontoor Brands pays a quarterly dividend totaling $2.12 annually, representing a dividend yield of 2.89% with a payout ratio of 37.0%.

When is Kontoor Brands' next earnings release?

The next earnings date is scheduled for November 2, 2026. The company has beaten consensus EPS estimates in 3 of the prior 4 quarters.

How leveraged is Kontoor Brands' balance sheet?

As of June 30, 2026, Kontoor Brands held $1.27B in total debt and $58.5M in cash, resulting in net debt of $1.21B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06.

What is the consensus price target for KTB stock?

Wall Street analysts have a mean price target of $98.20, which is 34.0% above the October 16, 2026 closing price of $73.28.

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