Burlington vs NEC: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Burlington reported $11.6B of revenue in FY2025 and $610.2M of net income. NEC reported ~$24B of revenue in FY2026 and ~$1.8B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Burlington
- Latest revenue
- $11.6B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $610.2M
- Net margin
- 5.3%
- Revenue growth
- +8.4% a year, FY2016–FY2025
NEC
- Latest revenue
- ~$24B (FY2026)
- Net income
- ~$1.8B
- Net margin
- 7.5%
- Revenue growth
- +4.4% a year, FY2022–FY2026
Financial summary
Burlington
Burlington's total revenue roughly doubled from $5.59 billion in fiscal 2016 to $11.57 billion in fiscal 2025. The exception was fiscal 2020, when pandemic store closures cut revenue to $5.76 billion and produced a $216.5 million net loss. Profit has since grown faster than sales: net income went from $230.1 million in fiscal 2022 to $339.6 million, $503.6 million and $610.2 million over the next three years. Heavy store investment limits free cash flow, which was about $172 million in fiscal 2025 after roughly $1.06 billion of capital spending. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (to August 1, 2026), total sales rose 11 percent to $2.998 billion and net income was $184 million, including a $41 million after-tax benefit from tariff refunds. The company raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $11.77 to $11.97.
NEC
NEC's numbers show a company trading revenue for margin. Revenue moved from ~$20.2 billion (3,014.1 billion yen) in FY22/3 to ~$24 billion (3,582.7 billion yen) in FY26/3, but the bigger change was profitability: FY26/3 adjusted operating profit reached ~$2.59 billion (386.8 billion yen) (10.8% margin, up 2.4 points), net profit attributable to owners was ~$1.81 billion (270.2 billion yen), and non-GAAP net profit was ~$1.87 billion (279.8 billion yen), a record under IFRS. Momentum carried into FY27/3: first-quarter revenue rose 14.5% to ~$5.49 billion (819.8 billion yen), net profit was ~$333 million (49.7 billion yen), and NEC raised full-year guidance to ~$23.7 billion (3,540 billion yen) revenue and ~$2.88 billion (430 billion yen) adjusted operating profit.
Revenue and profit by year
Burlington
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $11.6B | $610.2M | 5.3% | +8.8% | Source |
| FY2024 | $10.6B | $503.6M | 4.7% | +9.3% | Source |
| FY2023 | $9.7B | $339.6M | 3.5% | +11.8% | Source |
| FY2022 | $8.7B | $230.1M | 2.6% | -6.6% | Source |
| FY2021 | $9.3B | $408.8M | 4.4% | +61.7% | Source |
| FY2020 | $5.8B | -$216.5M | -3.8% | -20.9% | Source |
| FY2019 | $7.3B | $465.1M | 6.4% | +9.3% | Source |
| FY2018 | $6.7B | $414.7M | 6.2% | +9.1% | Source |
| FY2017 | $6.1B | $384.9M | 6.3% | +9.3% | Source |
| FY2016 | $5.6B | $215.9M | 3.9% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
Burlington
- In-store net sales99.85%
Net sales of $11.55B in fiscal 2025 from merchandise sold in Burlington stores. There has been no e-commerce channel since March 2020.
- Other revenue0.15%
About $17.3M in fiscal 2025 from sources such as rental income and service fees.
NEC
- IT Services70.0%
FY26/3 revenue was ~$16.8 billion (2,508.9 billion yen), including Domestic IT and International digital government/digital finance work.
- Social Infrastructure26.1%
FY26/3 revenue was ~$6.27 billion (935.3 billion yen), including telecom services and aerospace/national security systems.
- Others3.9%
FY26/3 other revenue was ~$928 million (138.5 billion yen).
Business model and strategy
Burlington
How it makes money
Burlington makes nearly all of its money from merchandise sold in its stores. Net sales were $11.55 billion of its $11.57 billion fiscal 2025 total revenue; the remaining $17 million of other revenue comes from sources such as rental income and service fees.
Growth strategy
Burlington grows mainly by opening stores. It added 178 gross and 149 net new stores in the 12 months to August 1, 2026, and plans about 115 net openings in fiscal 2026. New stores use a smaller prototype of about 25,000 square feet instead of the very large boxes of the Coat Factory era, which lowers rent and labor per store.
Competitive advantage
Burlington's edge is cost and flexibility. Because it does not commit to full seasonal assortments months ahead, its buyers can take excess branded inventory when it becomes available and price it below department stores. Selling only in stores, with no e-commerce since March 2020, keeps parcel shipping and online returns out of the cost base.
NEC
How it makes money
NEC makes money by selling technology projects and recurring services to governments, enterprises and telecom carriers. In FY26/3 (year ended March 31, 2026), IT Services produced ~$16.8 billion (2,508.9 billion yen), about 70% of revenue: system integration, managed services and the BluStellar DX offering in Japan, plus digital government and digital finance software abroad through subsidiaries such as Avaloq, KMD a…
Growth strategy
Under its 2025 Mid-term Management Plan, which NEC says it achieved in FY26/3, the company prioritized digital government and digital finance, 5G, and core DX (now branded BluStellar) as growth businesses while monitoring and pruning low-profit work.
Competitive advantage
NEC's edge comes from decades of trusted delivery to Japanese ministries, municipalities, the Ministry of Defense and NTT-group carriers, which makes it hard to displace on security-sensitive systems. Its face and fingerprint algorithms have repeatedly placed at or near the top of US NIST benchmark tests, which supports border-control and airport contracts abroad.
Questions about Burlington vs NEC
Which company has higher revenue — Burlington Stores, Inc. or NEC Corporation?
Burlington Stores, Inc. reported $11.6B (FY2025), while NEC Corporation reported ~$24B (FY2026). By last reported revenue, NEC Corporation is the larger business, with Burlington Stores, Inc. reporting a smaller revenue base. Note: these are from different fiscal years and are not a direct like-for-like comparison.
What is the market cap of Burlington Stores, Inc. vs NEC Corporation?
Burlington Stores, Inc.'s market capitalisation stands at $16.8B, while NEC Corporation's is $40.2B. NEC Corporation carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Burlington Stores, Inc..
Which is more financially efficient — Burlington Stores, Inc. or NEC Corporation?
Burlington Stores, Inc. generates $139k / employee in revenue per employee, while NEC Corporation generates $236k / employee. NEC Corporation shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do Burlington Stores, Inc. and NEC Corporation make money?
Burlington Stores, Inc. and NEC Corporation generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Burlington Stores, Inc.: Burlington makes nearly all of its money from merchandise sold in its stores. NEC Corporation: NEC makes money by selling technology projects and recurring services to governments, enterprises and telecom carriers.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Burlington Stores, Inc. or NEC Corporation?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Burlington Stores, Inc. trades at 1.5x P/S and NEC Corporation at 1.7x P/S. NEC Corporation commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Burlington Stores, Inc.. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Burlington Stores, Inc. bigger than NEC Corporation?
By last reported revenue, NEC Corporation (~$24B (FY2026)) is the larger company compared to Burlington Stores, Inc. ($11.6B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Burlington vs NEC overview