American Eagle Outfitters AI Citation Intelligence Dashboard
Strategic Insight
Key Finding: American Eagle demonstrates exceptional strength in denim/jeans positioning (66.7% visibility in denim queries) and solid overall brand awareness, but faces a critical visibility gap in sustainability conversations (0% in sustainability queries). This creates a significant competitive disadvantage as Gen Z increasingly prioritizes ethical fashion. While AEO ranks competitively in mentions (20 vs H&M's 29), it's featured as a primary recommendation in only 4 queries compared to H&M (13) and Old Navy (12), suggesting it's often the "also mentioned" brand rather than the top choice.
When users explicitly search for AEO, information is consistently provided across all platforms
When users search without brand names, AEO appears organically in 3 of 10 responses
Strong recognition in jeans-focused queries demonstrates category leadership
Not mentioned in any sustainability queries - significant opportunity area
Includes business media, fashion editorial, brand websites, and social sources
Frequently mentioned but rarely the primary recommendation
Claude (43.8%) to Perplexity (26.7%) shows moderate platform variance
Wide variety of business, fashion, and social sources referenced
Category Performance Analysis
Performance varies dramatically by category. AEO excels in denim positioning but has zero visibility in sustainability conversations. All percentages below represent unbranded queries only.
| Category | Tests | AEO Mentioned | Performance | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denim/Jeans Expertise | 18 | 66.7% (12/18) | Strong | Clear category leadership - AEO is recognized as a jeans destination |
| Youth Appeal / Gen Z | 8 | 37.5% (3/8) | Moderate | Some recognition in youth market but competing against multiple brands |
| Price/Value Proposition | 16 | 31.3% (5/16) | Developing | Mid-tier visibility in affordable fashion discussions |
| Size Inclusivity (Aerie) | 12 | 8.3% (1/12) | Opportunity Area | Limited recognition despite Aerie's inclusive positioning |
| Quality & Durability | 8 | 0.0% (0/8) | Opportunity Area | Not mentioned in quality-focused conversations |
| Sustainability / Environmental | 8 | 0.0% (0/8) | Critical Gap | Zero visibility in sustainability discussions - major competitive disadvantage |
Context: The 66.7 percentage point gap between denim performance and sustainability reveals AEO is strongly positioned in its heritage category but virtually invisible in the ethical fashion conversation that increasingly drives Gen Z purchasing decisions.
Platform Performance Comparison
AEO showed moderate variation across AI platforms, with Claude performing best and Perplexity showing the weakest visibility.
Claude
ChatGPT
Gemini
Perplexity
Note: The 17.1 percentage point range between highest (Claude: 43.8%) and lowest (Perplexity: 26.7%) performers suggests moderate platform algorithm differences. Claude's stronger performance may reflect better recognition of AEO's denim heritage in its training data.
Competitive Positioning - Unbranded Queries Only
This analysis shows how frequently each brand was mentioned and featured when NO specific brand was mentioned in the query—the truest test of organic competitive positioning.
Total Brand Mentions (Unbranded Queries)
Featured as Primary Recommendation
Understanding Citation Types in This Analysis
This study tracks when AEO and competitors are mentioned in AI responses, along with the sources (citations) platforms reference. Multiple distinct citation types appear:
Citation Source Analysis
Understanding which sources AI platforms cite reveals the information ecosystem shaping brand perception. A total of 822 citations were recorded, coming from 293 unique domains.
Citations by Source Type (Refined Classification)
The original "Other" category (60% of citations) has been reclassified for strategic clarity:
| Source Type | Citation Count | % of Total | Strategic Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle & General Interest Lifestyle | 253 | 30.8% | Broad lifestyle publications, fashion blogs, general consumer content |
| Competitor Brand Websites | 212 | 25.8% | Combined: H&M (15), Gap (19), Old Navy (19), Target (14), Zara (9), Everlane (18), Patagonia (12), UNIQLO (21), Madewell (11), and 60+ other fashion brands |
| Business Media Business | 77 | 9.4% | Forbes (21), Business Insider (20), Retail Dive (13) - corporate and industry coverage |
| AEO Official Brand | 63 | 7.7% | AEO's owned content (ae.com 55, aeo-inc.com 16, aerie.com) |
| Retail & Ecommerce Retail | 58 | 7.1% | ASOS (19), Target.com (14), Nordstrom Rack (5), ThredUp (8), Amazon (3) |
| Sustainability Media Sustainability | 25 | 3.0% | Good On You (10), The Good Trade (4), Fashion Revolution (3) - ethical credibility gatekeepers |
| Research & Consulting Research | 25 | 3.0% | McKinsey (7), Piper Sandler (6), NPD (5), Statista (3), YPulse (4) - market intelligence |
| Fashion Media (Tier 1) Fashion | 21 | 2.6% | Vogue, WWD, Business of Fashion (13) - prestige fashion authority |
| Fashion Media (Tier 2) Fashion | 19 | 2.3% | Who What Wear (9), Refinery29, Teen Vogue - accessible fashion content |
| Consumer Review Sites | 16 | 1.9% | Trustpilot, Consumer Reports (3), Consumer Affairs (5) |
| News Media | 11 | 1.3% | General news outlets |
| Social Media | 13 | 1.6% | YouTube (10), Reddit (3) - community discussions and video content |
| NGO & Certification NGO | 4 | 0.5% | B Corporation (4) - sustainability certifications |
Top 20 Third-Party Media & Press Sources
Influential media outlets, publications, and independent sources shaping AI responses (brand official websites excluded):
| Rank | Media Outlet | Citations | Type | Editorial Focus & Strategic Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | forbes.com | 21 | Business | Business authority: Retail trends, company profiles, Gen Z shopping behavior, industry analysis |
| 2 | businessinsider.com | 20 | Business | Retail news: Fast fashion coverage, Gen Z trends, shopping guides, brand comparisons |
| 3 | asos.com | 19 | Retail Platform | Marketplace aggregator: Multi-brand fashion destination with editorial content |
| 4 | businessoffashion.com | 13 | Fashion Trade | Industry intelligence: Leading fashion business publication, trend forecasting, executive insights |
| 5 | retaildive.com | 13 | Retail Trade | Retail industry news: Mall trends, e-commerce, Gen Z shopping patterns, store strategy |
| 6 | goodonyou.eco | 10 | Sustainability | CRITICAL AUTHORITY: Ethical fashion rating platform - major influencer on sustainability queries |
| 7 | youtube.com | 10 | Creator economy: Hauls, reviews, styling videos, authentic consumer perspectives | |
| 8 | whowhatwear.com | 9 | Fashion Media | Accessible fashion: Millennial/Gen Z audience, styling guides, shopping recommendations |
| 9 | goodhousekeeping.com | 8 | Lifestyle | Consumer authority: Product testing, shopping guides, trusted recommendations |
| 10 | thredup.com | 8 | Resale Platform | Circular fashion: Secondhand marketplace with sustainability editorial focus |
| 11 | mckinsey.com | 7 | Consulting | Market research: Fashion industry reports, consumer insights, strategic analysis |
| 12 | pipersandler.com | 6 | Financial Research | Teen survey authority: Taking Stock with Teens - Gen Z shopping insights |
| 13 | nordstromrack.com | 5 | Retail | Off-price retail: Brand comparison context, value positioning |
| 14 | npd.com | 5 | Market Research | Industry data: NPD Group retail analytics and consumer tracking |
| 15 | consumeraffairs.com | 5 | Consumer Review | Consumer advocacy: Reviews, ratings, complaint resolution |
| 16 | thegoodtrade.com | 4 | Sustainability | Ethical lifestyle: Sustainable fashion guides, brand spotlights, conscious living |
| 17 | ypulse.com | 4 | Youth Research | Gen Z/Millennial insights: Youth marketing research, trend reports |
| 18 | bcorporation.net | 4 | Certification | Sustainability verification: B Corp certification authority |
| 19 | fashionrevolution.org | 3 | NGO | Transparency advocacy: Fashion Transparency Index, ethical manufacturing |
| 20 | consumerreports.org | 3 | Consumer Review | Product testing: Independent quality evaluation, consumer protection |
Citation Gap Analysis: Priority Opportunities
These outlets were cited when competitors were mentioned in responses, but AEO was absent. Represents the clearest path to improved AI visibility:
| Priority | Outlet | Gap Impact | Type | Strategic Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔴 Critical | goodonyou.eco | 5 competitor wins | Sustainability | TOP PRIORITY: Ethical fashion rating platform cited in sustainability queries. AEO needs Good On You rating improvement to compete with Everlane, Patagonia visibility |
| 🔴 Critical | forbes.com | 6 competitor wins | Business | Business media coverage gap - competitors featured in retail trend stories, Gen Z shopping analysis. PR opportunity |
| 🟡 High | thegoodtrade.com | 4 competitor wins | Sustainability | Sustainable lifestyle publication - Real Good program could be featured here |
| 🟡 High | retaildive.com | 4 competitor wins | Business | Retail trade publication covering Gen Z trends, mall retail evolution |
| 🟡 High | whowhatwear.com | 4 competitor wins | Fashion | Fashion media targeting AEO's core demographic - styling content opportunity |
| 🟡 High | businessoffashion.com | 3 competitor wins | Fashion | Leading fashion business publication - thought leadership platform |
| 🟡 High | fashionrevolution.org | 3 competitor wins | Sustainability | Fashion Transparency Index participant - AEO should engage here |
| 🟢 Medium | businessinsider.com | 3 competitor wins | Business | Broad business coverage with retail focus |
| 🟢 Medium | consumerreports.org | 3 competitor wins | Consumer Review | Product quality testing and consumer advocacy - quality positioning opportunity |
| 🟢 Medium | youtube.com | 3 competitor wins | Creator content, hauls, reviews - influencer partnership opportunity |
Strategic Recommendations for Closing Citation Gaps:
- Sustainability Media (Priority 1): Good On You (5 gap), The Good Trade (4 gap), Fashion Revolution (3 gap) - These outlets cited competitors 12 times in sustainability queries where AEO was absent. Improving Good On You rating and engaging with Fashion Transparency Index would directly address 0% sustainability visibility.
- Business Media (Priority 2): Forbes (6 gap), Retail Dive (4 gap), Business Insider (3 gap) - 13 opportunities for thought leadership, executive profiles, and trend analysis coverage to improve business authority signals.
- Fashion Media (Priority 3): Who What Wear (4 gap), Business of Fashion (3 gap) - Target demographic alignment opportunity for styling content and industry commentary.
- Social & Video Content: YouTube creators cited 3 times in competitor contexts - influencer seeding and partnership program could generate authentic community content.
Competitor Brand Citation Patterns
Which competitor brands are most frequently cited as authoritative sources by AI platforms:
| Rank | Competitor | Citations | Primary Categories Cited In |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNIQLO | 21 | Quality, fabric technology, basics - positioned as quality authority |
| 2 | Old Navy / Gap | 19 | Value, affordability, family shopping - budget authority |
| 3 | Everlane | 18 | Sustainability, transparency, ethical fashion - dominates ESG queries |
| 4 | Target | 14 | Value, size inclusivity, affordable style |
| 5 | Patagonia | 12 | Environmental leadership - gold standard benchmark for sustainability |
| 6 | H&M | 11 | Fast fashion, trend access, H&M Conscious program |
| 7 | Madewell | 11 | Denim quality, fits for women |
| 8 | Universal Standard | 10 | Size inclusivity - directly competes with Aerie positioning |
Strategic Considerations
Based on the patterns observed in this snapshot, the following considerations merit further exploration. These are framed as hypotheses rather than directives, recognizing limitations of sample size and temporal scope.
1. Address Critical Sustainability Visibility Gap
Observation: AEO shows 0% visibility in sustainability queries, while competitors like H&M are consistently featured in environmental discussions.
Consideration: If AEO has sustainability initiatives (recycling programs, sustainable materials, ethical sourcing), ensure this content is structured for AI discoverability with clear headlines, dedicated pages, and accessible language. Good On You ratings and Fashion Revolution transparency index participation could improve third-party validation.
Realistic Expectation: This is a long-term effort requiring substantive policy changes, not just better communication. Incremental progress (from 0% to 15-25% over 12 months) would be meaningful as Gen Z purchasing decisions increasingly prioritize sustainability.
2. Amplify Aerie's Size Inclusivity Leadership
Observation: Despite Aerie's strong body positivity positioning, AEO appears in only 8.3% of size inclusivity queries. Universal Standard (10 citations) shows the competitive advantage of inclusive sizing.
Consideration: Aerie's #AerieREAL campaign and extended sizing could be better represented in AI-accessible content. Consider dedicated landing pages highlighting size ranges, real customer testimonials, and body-positive messaging that AI platforms can reference.
Strategic Link: Size inclusivity resonates with the same values-driven consumers who care about sustainability, creating potential for integrated messaging.
3. Maintain and Expand Denim Category Leadership
Observation: AEO's 66.7% performance in denim queries is the strongest category showing, demonstrating clear heritage positioning.
Consideration: This is a major competitive advantage worth protecting. Continue highlighting denim expertise through detailed product pages, fit guides, material specifications, and style content. Consider whether denim heritage content is surfaced prominently enough for AI platforms to consistently cite.
Opportunity: Levi's featured 6 times vs AEO's 4 times, suggesting room to close the gap with the traditional denim leader through content optimization.
4. Investigate "Mentioned But Not Featured" Pattern
Observation: AEO ranks #5 in mentions (20) but only #4-6 in featured recommendations (4 times). H&M (13 featured) and Old Navy (12 featured) are positioned as primary choices more frequently.
Consideration: Analyze why AEO is included in lists but rarely the top recommendation. Possible factors: price perception, style relevance, sustainability credentials, or how content is structured. Consider A/B testing different content approaches that emphasize value propositions, unique differentiators, or category leadership.
Hypothesis: Being mentioned suggests awareness exists, but not being featured suggests lack of compelling differentiation in AI-digestible formats.
5. Improve Platform-Specific Performance
Observation: Claude (43.8%) significantly outperforms Perplexity (26.7%) and Gemini (27.8%) for AEO visibility.
Consideration: Investigate what types of sources Perplexity and Gemini prioritize. The 17% variance suggests these platforms may favor different content structures, source types, or signals. Consider whether technical SEO, structured data, or specific content formats could improve visibility on underperforming platforms.
Note: Platform algorithms evolve constantly, so this should be monitored over time rather than over-optimized for current state.
6. Develop Gen Z Cultural Relevance Narrative
Observation: AEO appears in 37.5% of youth/Gen Z queries, suggesting moderate but not dominant positioning with target demographic.
Consideration: Given that Gen Z is AEO's core customer, stronger visibility in youth-focused queries would align business strategy with brand positioning. Consider whether AEO's Gen Z initiatives, campus presence, influencer partnerships, or cultural moments are documented in formats AI platforms can access and cite.
Context: This ties directly to sustainability gap—Gen Z disproportionately values ethical fashion, making sustainability visibility a Gen Z relevance issue, not just an environmental one.
Interactive Query Appendix
Explore all 98 tests conducted in this analysis. Filter by category, platform, query type, AEO mention status, or featured brand to identify specific patterns and opportunities.
- Click any column header to sort ascending/descending
- Use filters above to narrow results by multiple criteria
- Look for patterns: Which query types perform best? Where are the gaps?
- Focus on unbranded queries for true competitive positioning insights
- Compare "AEO Mentioned" vs "Featured Brand" to see mention vs. recommendation gap
| Query ↕ | Type ↕ | Category ↕ | Platform ↕ | AEO ↕ | Featured ↕ | Competitors ↕ |
|---|
⚠️ Study Limitations & Important Context
This analysis represents a snapshot based on specific query phrasing tested on a single date. Results should be interpreted as directional insights rather than definitive assessments. Key limitations include:
- Sample size: 25 queries across 4 platforms = 98 tests (2 platform timeouts). Findings may vary with different phrasing or expanded query sets.
- Temporal constraint: Single-day snapshot (October 12, 2025). AI platform algorithms evolve constantly.
- Query specificity: Results depend heavily on exact query wording. Different phrasings may yield different brand mentions.
- Platform variability: Each AI platform has distinct algorithms, training data, and citation preferences.
- US market focus: Queries designed for US market perspective; international results may differ significantly.
- No causal inference: This analysis shows correlations and patterns but cannot determine causation or predict future performance.
- Citation complexity: The relationship between citations and brand mentions is nuanced; high citation counts don't always correlate with brand visibility.
- Category representation: Not all AEO strategic priorities may be represented in the 25-query sample.
- Competitive landscape: Only captures brands mentioned by AI platforms; doesn't reflect complete competitive set.
- Supplemental research needed: Should be combined with traditional search visibility (SEO), social listening, and other measurement approaches.
Methodology Summary
This study tested 25 queries (7 branded, 18 unbranded) across 4 AI platforms, analyzing which brands were mentioned and which sources were cited. Queries were designed to test denim positioning, youth appeal, price/value, size inclusivity, quality, and sustainability. All tests were conducted on October 12, 2025, with a US market perspective. Data was manually collected and classified into source types for analysis.