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Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL)

Overvalued
Consumer DefensiveHousehold & Personal ProductsUnited States

Fundamental

44

Price

$92.77

Market Cap

$34.58B

Part 1 · What the company is worth

Overview

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. The company provides skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, eye care, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as foundations, powders, concealers and setting sprays, lipsticks, lip liners and lip glosses, mascaras, and eyeshadows and eyeliners, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. It also offers fragrance products in various forms comprising parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, and body spray, as well as lotions, creams, powders, candles and soaps; and hair care products, including shampoos, conditioners, styling products, treatment, finishing sprays, and hair color products, as well as sells ancillary products and services. The company provides its products under the La Mer, Jo Malone London, TOM FORD, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, KILIAN PARIS, BALMAIN Beauty, Estée Lauder, Clinique, M·A·C, The Ordinary, Aveda, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, Bumble and bumble, Smashbox, Darphin Paris, Lab Series, Avestan, Loopha, Origins, NIOD, Aramis, and GLAMGLOW brands. It sells its products through department stores, duty-free retailers, specialty multi retailers, online pure players, upscale perfumeries and pharmacies, and top-tier salons and spas, as well as direct-to-consumer businesses across freestanding stores, and brand websites and third-party online platforms. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. was founded in 1946 and is based in New York, New York.

No editorial profile for this company yet

Direct competitors

Who this company fights with for the same customers

Generated on September 18, 2026 with claude-haiku-4-5 — shared with all users

L'Oréal S.A.OR

Its L'Oréal Luxe division (Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, Armani Beauty, Kiehl's) sells prestige skincare, makeup and fragrance to the same department-store, Sephora and travel-retail shoppers Estée Lauder depends on.

Shiseido Company, Limited (資生堂)4911

Competes directly in prestige skincare with brands such as Clé de Peau Beauté, NARS and Drunk Elephant, and above all for the Chinese and Asian travel-retail customer that drives a large share of Estée Lauder's sales.

Coty Inc.COTY

Its prestige arm holds the licensed designer fragrances (Gucci, Burberry, Chloé, Calvin Klein) and colour brands that sit on the same shelves as Estée Lauder's Tom Ford Beauty, Jo Malone London and MAC.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SEMC

Its Perfumes & Cosmetics maisons — Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy Beauty, Fenty Beauty — fight for the same luxury beauty spend in fragrance and makeup worldwide.

Puig Brands, S.A.PUIG

A pure-play prestige group whose Rabanne, Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gaultier scents compete with Estée Lauder's designer and niche fragrances, while Charlotte Tilbury takes on MAC and Estée Lauder in prestige makeup.

Beiersdorf AGBEI

Through La Prairie and Chantecaille it competes for the same high-end skincare customer, particularly in European and Asian travel retail where ultra-premium creams are sold.

Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Revenue

$15.05B

Trailing 12 months (through 6/30/2026)

Net Income

$182M

Trailing 12 months (through 6/30/2026)

Free Cash Flow

$1.32B

Total Equity

$3.81B

Total Liabilities

$15.96B

Current Ratio

1.22

Interest Coverage

2.34

Debt/EBITDA

5.87

Earnings Per Share

Revenue & Net Income

Free Cash Flow

Income Breakdown

Historical statement

Margins over time

Debt over time

How heavy the debt is

Growth grid

Growth — Revenue

Fair Value Estimation

General caseOvervalued

Fair Value

$54.75

Current Price

$92.77

Margin of Safety

-69.4%

Fair Value Range

$35.59 - $73.92

Spread across the valuation methods used, not a statistically calibrated confidence interval.

Estimation Methods

Analyst price target:$107.48
Discounted cash flow (DCF):Not enough data to compute it
Earnings multiple (P/E):$14.70
Graham growth formula:$3.81
Earnings power value (EPV):$14.95
Justified P/B:$4.30
Dividend discount (Gordon):Not enough data to compute it
P/FFO, funds from operations:Not enough data to compute it
Mid-cycle earnings:Not enough data to compute it
Revenue multiple:$49.09
Analyst Consensus:Buy (21B / 16H / 1S)
Last Earnings Surprise:+18.36%

Valuation Metrics

P/E Ratio

185.54

ROE

4.8%

P/B Ratio

6.04

P/FCF

17.47

Gross Margin

75.5%

ROIC

4.5%

Profitability Radar

Value Creation (Economic Moat)

ROIC

4.5%

WACC

9.5%

ROIC − WACC

-5.0 pp

ROIC is below the cost of capital — the company is destroying value for every dollar invested.

Fundamental Analysis Criteria

Passed (13)

  • Gross Margin 75.5%
  • P/FCF 17.47
  • Operating Margin 5.2%
  • Positive Free Cash Flow
  • Current Ratio
  • Interest Coverage
  • Debt/EBITDA
  • Analyst Consensus 55% Buy
  • Earnings Surprise avg 33.5%
  • Earnings Quality (OCF/NI) 9.74
  • Share Dilution 1.2%
  • Net Margin Trend 1.2% vs -7.9%
  • Piotroski F-Score 6/9

Failed (13)

  • EPS shows upward trend
  • EPS CAGR -4.53%
  • Price CAGR 2.42%
  • ROIC 4.6%
  • P/B Ratio 6.04
  • Debt/Equity ratio
  • CapEx intensity
  • Return on Tangible Assets
  • Low reliance on intangibles
  • Price below Graham Number
  • DCF valuation (Unknown)
  • ROE 4.6%
  • Revenue Growth 5Y -1.5%

Unavailable (2)

  • Dividend Payout NaN%
  • PEG Ratio (need PE > 0 and growth > 0)

Piotroski F-Score

6/9

Mixed signals: some areas need attention

score
criteria

Earnings Quality

9.74

High quality: earnings backed by cash

Share Dilution

1.2%

Share count is stable

Institutional Holdings

Governance

Executive Team

NameTitleAge
Mr. Stephane de la FaverieCEO, President & Director51
Mr. Akhil ShrivastavaExecutive VP & CFO52
Ms. Rashida K. La LandeExecutive VP & General Counsel51
Ms. Jane Hertzmark HudisExecutive VP & Chief Brand Officer65
Mr. Brian J. FranzChief Technology, Data & Analytics Officer60
Ms. Deborah KrulewitchSenior Vice President of Corporate Administration-
Ms. Laraine A. ManciniSenior Vice President Finance & Strategy & Head of Investor Relations55
Ms. Meridith WebsterExecutive VP and Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer49
Ms. Aude GandonChief Digital & Marketing Officer-
Mr. Michael BowesExecutive VP & Chief People Officer54

Audit Risk

5

Board Risk

10

Compensation Risk

10

Shareholder Rights Risk

10

Part 2 · The price and when to enter

This part won't tell you whether the company is worth owning: it helps you choose when to buy it, once the fundamentals have convinced you. Inside: technical analysis, potential, historical drawdowns, gamma exposure.

Documents

  • Annual Report (10-K)

    A yearly overview of the business, its financial results, and the risks it faces.

    Filed on 2026-08-19

    View document
  • Quarterly Report (10-Q)

    A snapshot of financial performance for the most recent three-month period.

    Filed on 2026-05-01

    View document
  • Current Report (8-K)

    An announcement of a major event, such as a leadership change or big news.

    Filed on 2026-09-08

    View document

via SEC EDGAR

Income History

via SEC EDGAR

Latest News

Recent headlines for EL, sourced from Markets Gazette.

  • 22d agoNEUTRAL
    How beauty giant Estee Lauder’s top technologist is betting on ‘AI everywhere’ to fuel its turnaround

    Estee Lauder has announced an expanded role for its top technologist, Brian Franz, who oversees data, technology, and analytics. This move signals a strategic focus on integrating 'AI everywhere' across the company's operations, including its brands like M.A.C and Clinique. While the specific impact of this organizational change on future financial performance is yet to be determined, it suggests a proactive approach to leveraging technology for a potential turnaround. Investors will be watching for concrete results from this AI-driven strategy.

  • 8/19/2026POSITIVE
    Estée Lauder CEO Says Company Has 'Great Momentum'

    Estée Lauder CEO Stéphane de La Faverie highlighted strong 'momentum' and margin expansion, following a fiscal fourth quarter where the beauty giant surpassed revenue and earnings expectations. This positive outlook, coupled with the beat on key financial metrics, suggests a robust performance trajectory. Investors will be watching for continued execution on margin improvement and sustained sales growth in key product categories. The company's ability to outperform estimates in the current market environment indicates resilience and effective strategic management, potentially leading to increased investor confidence and stock price appreciation.

  • 8/19/2026POSITIVE
    Estee Lauder scatta nel premarket dopo i solidi risultati 2026

    Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is trading higher in pre-market activity following the release of its fiscal year 2026 results, which concluded on June 30, 2026. The beauty giant reported solid and strong growth figures for the period. While specific financial details are pending, the initial market reaction suggests investor optimism regarding the company's performance and future outlook. This positive momentum could lead to a sustained upward trend in the stock price, reflecting confidence in Estee Lauder's strategic execution and market position.

  • 5/22/2026POSITIVE
    Estée Lauder Shares Rally After Ending Business Combination Talks With Puig

    Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) saw its shares climb on Friday following the definitive termination of business combination discussions with Puig. The company's decision to end these talks suggests a strategic move to maintain its independence or pursue alternative growth strategies. Investors may interpret this as a positive development, indicating that the proposed combination was not deemed beneficial for shareholder value at this time, or that Estée Lauder is confident in its standalone prospects. The stock's upward movement reflects market approval of this outcome.

  • 5/22/2026NEGATIVE
    Estee Lauder-Puig Talks Collapse

    Talks for a potential multibillion-dollar acquisition of Puig by Estee Lauder have collapsed, reportedly due to compensation disputes involving makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. This development comes as a surprise to investors, as negotiations had been ongoing since March. The failure of this strategic tie-up could impact Estee Lauder's growth prospects and market positioning, potentially leading to a reassessment of its valuation by the market.

  • 5/22/2026NEGATIVE
    Estee Lauder-Puig Talks Collapse (Video)

    Talks between Estée Lauder and Puig for a potential acquisition have reportedly collapsed, according to sources familiar with the matter. The luxury goods group Puig was reportedly exploring a deal to acquire Estée Lauder, a move that would have significantly reshaped the beauty industry landscape. The failure to reach an agreement suggests a substantial valuation gap or strategic misalignment between the two entities. For Estée Lauder investors, this news removes a potential catalyst for a significant share price revaluation, likely leading to a reassessment of the company's standalone growth prospects.

  • 5/21/2026POSITIVE
    Estée Lauder Walks Away From Merger Talks — Stock Surges

    Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) shares surged after the beauty giant announced the termination of merger talks with Puig. While specific details of the discussions were not disclosed, the market's positive reaction suggests investors viewed the potential acquisition by the Spanish family-owned company as a negative development or were concerned about the terms of a potential deal. The stock's pop indicates relief and a renewed focus on Estée Lauder's standalone strategy and future prospects.

  • 4/1/2026POSITIVE
    Estée Lauder, Puig Advance Talks to Combine in Mostly Stock Deal

    Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is reportedly advancing in talks with Spain's Puig Brands SA for a potential combination. This strategic move aims to forge one of the largest global luxury beauty conglomerates. The deal is expected to be structured primarily as a stock transaction, indicating a significant integration of ownership. For investors, this potential merger could unlock substantial synergies, enhance market positioning, and create a more formidable competitor in the high-end beauty sector, potentially leading to increased shareholder value.

  • 3/24/2026NEUTRAL
    Estée Lauder in Talks to Buy Puig to Create Beauty Giant

    Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is reportedly in exclusive talks to acquire Puig Brands, a Spanish-based beauty company, in a potential deal valued at approximately $11.6 billion. This acquisition would forge a significant cosmetics conglomerate with combined annual sales nearing $20 billion. While the terms remain undisclosed, the strategic move aims to bolster Estée Lauder's market position and expand its portfolio. Investors will be closely monitoring the finalization of this deal and its impact on both companies' valuations and market share within the global beauty industry.

via Markets Gazette