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Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.
Ralph LaurenRL -0.59%84 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.90 as of Mar. 2026, which is 45% above its 10-year median of 2.00. GuruFocus rates RL with a GF Score™ of 84/100 and a GF Value™ of $266.04 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 455 Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories companies, Ralph Lauren ranks better than 93.41% on this metric.
Shares Outstanding (EOP) are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them.
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. A positive ratio may indicate share buybacks over the period, while a zero or negative ratio may reflect no repurchases or potential share issuance. Ralph Lauren's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 2.90%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Ralph Lauren's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio or its related term are showing as below:
RL'
s 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -2.2 Med: 2 Max: 4.7
Current: 2.9
During the past 13 years, Ralph Lauren's highest 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 4.70%. The lowest was -2.20%. And the median was 2.00%.
RL's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is ranked better than 93.41% of 455
companies
in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry
Industry Median: -0.9
vs RL: 2.90
Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Explanation
A negative number means the company might be issuing new shares. A positive number indicates that the company is buying back shares.
Be Aware
Investors usually like share buybacks. But as pointed by Warren Buffett, only if a company buys back shares at the prices below the stock's intrinsic value, it rewards remaining shareholders. If a company buys its overvalued stocks back, it destroys shareholder value.
Ralph Lauren 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Related Terms
RL vs LEVI, VFC, KTB: 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Comparison
For the Apparel Manufacturing subindustry, Ralph Lauren's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Ralph Lauren 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio vs Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories Industry
For the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Ralph Lauren's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Ralph Lauren's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio falls into.
Ralph Lauren 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Calculation
This is the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. The annualized percentage change is calculated with expontential compound based on the latest four years of annual data on Shares Outstanding (EOP).
Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average dividends per share growth rate.
What does a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.90 mean?
Ralph Lauren (RL) has a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.90 as of Mar. 2026. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Ralph Lauren and its competitors. This is 45% above median its historical median of 2.00. According to the industry distribution chart, Ralph Lauren ranks #30 out of 455 companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, placing it in the top 6.6%.
Is Ralph Lauren's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio too high?
Ralph Lauren's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.90 is 45% above median its 10-year median of 2.00. Based on the distribution chart, Ralph Lauren ranks #30 out of 455 companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Ralph Lauren has a GF Score™ of 84/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ralph Lauren's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio compare to LEVI and VFC?
According to the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry distribution chart, Ralph Lauren ranks #30 out of 455 companies for 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio. This places Ralph Lauren in the top 7% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio for a Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories company?
A good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio depends on the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry context. However, 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio mean?
A high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Ralph Lauren and its competitors. Ralph Lauren's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.90, which is 45% above median its own 10-year median of 2.00. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Ralph Lauren stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ralph Lauren (RL) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $266.04, compared to a current price of $377.92 — trading 42.1% above its estimated fair value. The current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.90, which is 45% above median its 10-year median of 2.00. Ralph Lauren's overall GF Score™ is 84/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio calculated?
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ralph Lauren (RL), the current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.90 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Ralph Lauren (RL) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ralph Lauren stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $377.92 is trading 42.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of $266.04.
GuruFocus considers Ralph Lauren to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for RL:
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: 2.90 (45% above median its 10-year median of 2.00)
GF Value™: $266.04 vs. price of $377.92 (42.1% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the RL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Founded by designer Ralph Lauren (current executive chairman and chief creative officer) in 1967 in New York City, Ralph Lauren Corp. designs, markets, and distributes lifestyle merchandise in North America (41% of fiscal 2026 sales), Europe (31%), and Asia (26%). Best known for its iconic polo shirts, its products also include other types of apparel, footwear, eyewear, jewelry, handbags, home goods, and fragrances. The company's brands include Ralph Lauren Collection, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Lauren Ralph Lauren. Distribution channels for Ralph Lauren include wholesale (department stores and specialty stores), retail (company-owned retail stores and e-commerce), and licensing.
84GF Score
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3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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