lululemon athletica inc. (LULU)
Lululemon designs and sells premium athletic apparel and accessories for yoga, running, and training.
LULU vs SBUX: how the two businesses compare
- Bigger business: SBUX, with $37.2B of yearly revenue, about 3.3× LULU's $11.1B.
- More profitable: LULU keeps 14 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 5 cents at SBUX.
- More cash from each sale: LULU turns 14 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 13 cents at SBUX.
From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.
Starbucks (SBUX) is the larger business by reported revenue: $37.2B in its fiscal year ended Sep 2025, about 3.3× LULU's $11.1B (fiscal year ended Feb 2026). LULU's net margin was 14.2% and SBUX's 5.0%. The SEC classifies them differently (Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl; Retail-Eating & Drinking Places); 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
- LULU January 31 · SBUX September 28
- Mar 17, 2026
LULU vs SBUX: quick comparison
| Company fact | LULU | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Company | lululemon athletica inc. | Starbucks Corporation |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | — | Seattle, Washington |
| Founded | — | 1971 |
| SEC industry | Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl | Retail-Eating & Drinking Places |
| Fiscal year-end | January 31 | September 28 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-03-17 | 10-K · 2025-11-14 |
LULU vs SBUX: audited financials
- Scale: SBUX's $37.2B of revenue is about 3.3× LULU's $11.1B.
- Net margin: LULU kept 14.2% of revenue as net income versus 5.0% at SBUX.
- Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled LULU 14.4% of revenue, or 1.01× net income; SBUX 12.8% of revenue, or 2.56× 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 4 months apart (2026-02-01 for LULU, 2025-09-28 for SBUX), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.
| Metric | LULU | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $11.1B2025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing | $37.2B2024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
| Net income | $1.6B2025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing | $1.9B2024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
| Operating cash flow | $1.6B2025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing | $4.7B2024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
| Diluted EPS | $13.262025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing | $1.632024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
| Net margin | 14.2%2025-02-03 to 2026-02-01 · SEC filing | 5.0%2024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
LULU: FY ending 2026-02-01 · SBUX: FY ending 2025-09-28. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
Where LULU and SBUX overlap, and where they don't
Overlap
- Shared research theme: International markets.
Differences
- Different SEC industries: LULU files as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl; SBUX as Retail-Eating & Drinking Places.
- Offset fiscal calendars: LULU's year ends January 31 and SBUX's September 28, about 4 months apart.
- Scale: SBUX reported about 3.3× the annual revenue of LULU.
- Profitability: net margin of 14.2% for LULU versus 5.0% for SBUX.
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.
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)
Starbucks operates and licenses the largest chain of coffeehouses in the world, with China as a key growth and competitive battleground. Its rewards program and mobile ordering drive a large share of US transactions.
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 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.
What moves SBUX
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for SBUX. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2025-11-14.
The investment question
You now know SBUX reports about 3.3× LULU's revenue, and LULU keeps more of each dollar as net income. 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.
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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. LULU's fiscal year ends January 31, while SBUX's ends September 28. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 16 matched transaction rows for LULU and 31 matched transaction rows for SBUX. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
LULU primary filings
SBUX 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.
LULU vs SBUX FAQs
Are LULU and SBUX direct competitors?
Not necessarily. lululemon athletica files as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl and Starbucks as Retail-Eating & Drinking Places. The pair is compared because both map to the International markets research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.
Is LULU or SBUX the bigger company by revenue?
Starbucks (SBUX) is the larger business by reported revenue: $37.2B in its fiscal year ended Sep 2025, about 3.3× LULU's $11.1B (fiscal year ended Feb 2026). LULU's net margin was 14.2% and SBUX's 5.0%. The SEC classifies them differently (Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl; Retail-Eating & Drinking Places); 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, LULU or SBUX?
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 LULU vs SBUX 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 lululemon athletica inc. and Starbucks Corporation 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?
LULU vs SBUX 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.
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