GIL came within a chip-shot of its record high in September
Gildan Activewear Inc. (NYSE:GIL) is a manufacturer of everyday basic apparel which markets its products in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, under a portfolio of company-owned brands. Gildan's products include activewear, underwear, socks, hosiery, and legwear sold to a broad range of customers, including wholesale distributors, screenprinters or embellishers, and retailers. This afternoon, GIL is trading up 3.2% at $36.63.
Gildan stock has increased about 64% in price year-over-year and is up 81% since bottoming at a sharp nine-year low of $20.15 in October 2020. Additionally, shares of GIL have grown 30% year-to-date but are currently down 9% from its Sept. 3, 52-week high of $40.27. Gildan Activewear also offers a forward dividend of $0.62 and a dividend yield of 1.74%.
Moreover, Gildan Activewear has yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on the top-line, despite the bottom-line figures returning stronger than before. Overall, GIL potential as a recovery play over the next two years. Although Gildan stock's current price-earnings ratio of 19.17 is somewhat high for an apparel manufacturer, GIL has a solid forward price-earnings ratio of 14.66, meaning the apparel company is also expected to have a significant increase in earnings.
Analysts are leaning bullish toward the security. Specifically, 11 of the 12 covering brokerage firms boast a "buy" or "strong buy" recommendation. This could suggest GIL is overdue for a round of downgrades.