Estee Lauder Companies (EL) vs e.l.f. Beauty (ELF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Estee Lauder Companies (EL) has outperformed e.l.f. Beauty (ELF) over the past year, gaining 1.9% versus a loss of 25.3%. Over five years, ELF leads with a +260.7% price change compared with -70.6% for EL. Estee Lauder Companies is the larger company by market cap ($34.22 billion vs $6.20 billion), about 5.5 times the size, while e.l.f. Beauty is growing revenue faster (+24.6% vs +5.0%).
On valuation, Estee Lauder Companies trades at a lower forward P/E (24.1x vs 27.2x for e.l.f. Beauty). Estee Lauder Companies pays a dividend yielding 1.48%, while e.l.f. Beauty does not currently pay one. e.l.f. Beauty converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 1.6% versus 1.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | EL | ELF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $94.45 | $105.03 |
| Market cap | $34.22B | $6.20B |
| 1-day change | +1.17% | +2.18% |
| YTD return | -9.81% | +38.12% |
| 1-year return | +1.91% | -25.30% |
| 5-year return | -70.56% | +260.68% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 185.20 | 105.03 |
| Forward P/E | 24.08 | 27.17 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.51 | $1.00 |
| Dividend yield | 1.48% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.40 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $15.05B | $1.64B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.05% | +24.59% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $182.00M | $26.32M |
| Gross margin | 75.50% | 70.72% |
| Operating margin | 5.18% | 4.50% |
| Net margin | 1.21% | 1.61% |
| 52-week high | $121.64 | $147.00 |
| 52-week low | $66.22 | $48.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.35% | -28.55% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.65% | -0.03% |
| Average volume | 2.95M | 1.94M |
| Shares outstanding | 247.82M | 59.01M |
| Employees | 37,950 | 849 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Package Goods/Cosmetics | Package Goods/Cosmetics |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Estee Lauder Companies is about 5.5 times larger than e.l.f. Beauty by market value ($34.22B vs $6.20B).
- EL has outperformed ELF by 27.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Estee Lauder Companies trades at a higher earnings multiple (185.2x vs 105.0x trailing P/E).
- Estee Lauder Companies offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.48% vs 0.00%).
- e.l.f. Beauty grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+24.59% vs +5.05%).
About Estee Lauder Companies
EL stock →The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide.
Consumer Discretionary · Package Goods/Cosmetics · 37,950 employees
About e.l.f. Beauty
ELF stock →e.l.f. Beauty, Inc., a beauty company, provides cosmetics and skin care products worldwide.
Consumer Discretionary · Package Goods/Cosmetics · 849 employees
EL vs ELF FAQ
Which is bigger, Estee Lauder Companies or e.l.f. Beauty?
Estee Lauder Companies (EL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $34.22B compared with $6.20B for e.l.f. Beauty (ELF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, EL or ELF?
EL returned +1.91% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.30% for ELF (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, EL or ELF?
ELF has the lower trailing P/E at 105.0, versus 185.2 for EL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Estee Lauder Companies or e.l.f. Beauty?
Estee Lauder Companies pays a dividend yielding 1.48%, while e.l.f. Beauty does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Estee Lauder Companies and e.l.f. Beauty in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Package Goods/Cosmetics industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.