Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT)
Hilton operates and franchises a worldwide network of hotels and resorts across multiple lodging brands.
HLT vs LULU: how the two businesses compare
- Similar size: HLT and LULU each brought in about $12.0B of yearly revenue.
- More profitable: LULU keeps 14 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 12 cents at HLT.
- More cash from each sale: HLT turns 18 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 14 cents at LULU.
From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.
Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and lululemon athletica (LULU) reported similar revenue: $12.0B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025) versus $11.1B (fiscal year ended Feb 2026). HLT's net margin was 12.1% and LULU's 14.2%. The SEC classifies them differently (Hotels & Motels; Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry.
Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.
- Consumer Discretionary
- Different
- Separate classifications
- Different
- HLT December 31 · LULU January 31
- Mar 17, 2026
HLT vs LULU: quick comparison
| Company fact | HLT | LULU |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. | lululemon athletica inc. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| SEC industry | Hotels & Motels | Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | January 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-11 | 10-K · 2026-03-17 |
HLT vs LULU: audited financials
- Scale: revenue is roughly in line ($12.0B for HLT versus $11.1B for LULU).
- Net margin: LULU kept 14.2% of revenue as net income versus 12.1% at HLT.
- Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled HLT 17.7% of revenue, or 1.46× net income; LULU 14.4% of revenue, or 1.01× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
- Periods: the fiscal years end about 1 month apart (2025-12-31 for HLT, 2026-02-01 for LULU), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.
| Metric | HLT | LULU |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $12.0B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | $11.1B2025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing |
| Net income | $1.5B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | $1.6B2025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing |
| Operating cash flow | $2.1B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | $1.6B2025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing |
| Diluted EPS | $6.122025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | $13.262025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing |
| Net margin | 12.1%2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | 14.2%2025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing |
HLT: FY ending 2025-12-31 · LULU: FY ending 2026-02-01. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
Where HLT and LULU overlap, and where they don't
Overlap
- Shared research theme: International markets.
Differences
- Different SEC industries: HLT files as Hotels & Motels; LULU as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl.
- Offset fiscal calendars: HLT's year ends December 31 and LULU's January 31, about 1 month apart.
Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.
lululemon athletica inc. (LULU)
Lululemon designs and sells premium athletic apparel and accessories for yoga, running, and training.
What moves each company
Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.
What moves HLT
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for HLT. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-11.
What moves LULU
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for LULU. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-03-17.
The investment question
You now know how HLT and LULU are classified, when their fiscal years end, and where their exposures overlap. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to international markets, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.
Members-only research
What members are reading this month
- Issue 07: The Vote That Knocked Almost a Quarter off Data Center Stocks
Texas has frozen new data center approvals since the summer. The vote extends that freeze, but it cannot unplug campuses that already have power. We map who is exposed, test whether the sell-off overshot and say where the real risk sits.
- Citadel bought the AI fire sale. The seller had run out of time.
Up 439% in the first half, down about 67% in July: how an AI hedge fund ended up selling a roughly $16 billion stock book to Citadel at a discount.
The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $39 a month.
Read the full researchSEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. HLT's fiscal year ends December 31, while LULU's ends January 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 6 matched transaction rows for HLT and 16 matched transaction rows for LULU. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
HLT primary filings
LULU primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
HLT vs LULU FAQs
Are HLT and LULU direct competitors?
Not necessarily. Hilton Worldwide files as Hotels & Motels and lululemon athletica as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl. The pair is compared because both map to the International markets research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.
Is HLT or LULU the bigger company by revenue?
Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and lululemon athletica (LULU) reported similar revenue: $12.0B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025) versus $11.1B (fiscal year ended Feb 2026). HLT's net margin was 12.1% and LULU's 14.2%. The SEC classifies them differently (Hotels & Motels; Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.
Which is better, HLT or LULU?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this HLT vs LULU comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and lululemon athletica inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?
HLT vs LULU compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.
Members-only research
$39/mo or $249/yr · cancel future renewals anytime · sources included