Estée Lauder is a leader in the global prestige beauty market, participating across skin care (49% of fiscal 2025 sales), makeup (29%), fragrance (17%), and hair care and others (5%). Top-selling brands include Estée Lauder, Clinique, M.A.C, La Mer, Jo Malone London, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, and Origins.
It is a $35.5B consumer staples company. Revenue grew 5.0% over the last year, and it keeps 1¢ of every dollar of sales as profit. It trades at 195.2× earnings.
- Website
- elcompanies.com
- Location
- New York, NY
- Employees
- 55 000
- Sector
- Consumer Defensive
Skills
Six independent scores, 0–100, built from reported numbers and valuation history. Click a row to see how it was scored.
Valuation, Growth, Profitability and Health lag behind.
Valuation44
- P/E vs own history95th pct · 0/25
- FCF yield3.7% · 12/25
- P/S2.4x · 20/25
- EV/EBITDA25.0x · 12/25
Growth25
- Revenue CAGR-4.0% · 0/25
- Net income CAGR-47.5% · 0/25
- EPS CAGR ~5Y-42.3% · 0/25
- Fwd implied growth577.4% · 25/25
Profitability16
- ROICn/a · 0/25
- ROE4.6% · 5/25
- Net margin1.2% · 6/25
- Operating margin5.2% · 5/25
Health47
- Altman Z3.27 · 25/25
- Current ratio1.22 · 12/25
- Interest coverage3.1x · 10/25
- Net cash / debtn/a · 0/25
Quality60
- Piotroski F6/9 · 15/25
- Beneish M-2.97 · 25/25
- FCF conversion-518% · 0/25
- Margin stabilityσ 7.2% · 20/25
Moat70
- ROIC >12% years8/10 yrs · 20/25
- Median gross margin75.7% · 25/25
- FCF-positive years11/11 yrs · 25/25
- Worst-year net marginworst -7.9% · 0/25
Experience
The company's career so far — founding, the IPO, landmark products and acquisitions, plus revenue milestones and insider buying.
- 2024AcquisitionEstée Lauder completed the acquisition of DECIEM Beauty Group
- FY2021FinancialBest year on record$2.87B net income
- FY2020FinancialBecame debt-freecash now exceeds total debt
- 2016AcquisitionThe company made its largest acquisition to date by acquiring California-based cosmetics company…
- FY2016FinancialFirst recorded profitable year$1.11B net income
- FY2016FinancialRevenue already above $10B$11.3B in first reported year
- FY2016FinancialPositive free cash flow every year since11-year streak
- 2013ProductThe first Tory Burch fragrance products were introduced in 2013
- Jul 1, 2010AcquisitionThe company acquired Smashbox Beauty Cosmetics, Inc., a brand created in Smashbox Studios in Culver…
- 2006AcquisitionAcquisitions and licensing continued in the 2000s as the Estée Lauder Companies bought a majority interest in the…
- 1999AcquisitionThe fragrance house Jo Malone London was acquired in 1999
- Nov 16, 1995IPOThe Estée Lauder Companies went public on the New York Stock Exchange at ($6.50 on a…
- 1995AcquisitionBobbi Brown Cosmetics, designed by the celebrated makeup artist, was acquired in 1995
- 1994AcquisitionBrand acquisitions began with an investment in the Toronto-based MAC Cosmetics in 1994
- 1976MilestoneEstée Lauder's Clinique brand became the first women's cosmetic company to introduce a second line for men when, in…
Achievements
Verifiable track record, straight from the reported numbers.
Strengths & watch-outs
What a bull and a bear would each point to. Both lists come from the reported numbers, not opinions.
Strengths
- High gross margin (75.5%)
- Altman Z-Score 3.27 — low bankruptcy-risk zone
Watch-outs
- Loss-making in 1 of the recent years
Qualifications
The basics a company should meet before you research it further. Each check uses the reported numbers.
- Revenue growing — the company sells more than a year ago+5.0% YoY
- Profitable — makes more than it spends$182M TTM
- Profit growing — earnings are higher than last year-43.6% YoY
- Generates cash — cash left after running and investing$1.32B TTM
- Debt under control — could handle its obligationscurrent ratio 1.22
- Established company — not a micro-cap — lower blow-up risk$35.5B market cap
- Not printing shares — share count not ballooning — you keep your slice-0.9% shares over ~5y
- Proven track record — years of profitability behind it10/11 profitable years
- Financially stable — balance sheet not near distressAltman Z 3.3 — safe
- Pays a dividend — returns cash to shareholdersyield 1.43%
- Valuation not extreme — price not wildly above earningsP/E 195.2
Peer comparisonThe Estee Lauder Companies Inc. vs 6 largest consumer defensive peers — cap, P/E, growth and margin side by sideOpen ▾Close ▴
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Revenue growth | Net margin | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL this company | $35.5B | 195.2 | +5.0% | 1.2% | Solid |
| WMT Walmart Inc. | $882.9B | 40.8 | +6.2% | 3.0% | Strained |
| COST Costco Wholesale Corp | $419.2B | 45.5 | +10.1% | 3.0% | Mixed |
| KO Coca-Cola Company | $379.3B | 26.5 | +6.5% | 28.6% | Mixed |
| PG Procter & Gamble Company | $351.2B | 21.9 | +3.3% | 18.4% | Solid |
| PM Philip Morris International Inc. | $313.6B | 28.8 | +8.9% | 25.6% | Strained |
| PEP PepsiCo, Inc. | $171.8B | 16.5 | +6.4% | 11.1% | Strained |
Head-to-head: EL vs WMT · EL vs COST · EL vs KO
References
What covering analysts publish about the company — information only, not a recommendation.
Appendix · Financial records
The full statements behind this CV, FY2016–FY2026. For readers who want to check the numbers.
Live data and quarterly detail: stockcv.com/EL
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Deeper analysis of EL on PreMarketPriceFigures are derived from company filings (quarterly values normalised from as-filed year-to-date data where applicable) and may be delayed, restated or incomplete. This page is information, not investment advice. Latest price $97.88 · market cap $35.5B.