Estee Lauder Companies (EL) vs Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
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 Kimberly-Clark (KMB) over the past year, gaining 1.9% versus a loss of 21.1%. Over five years, KMB leads with a -27.6% price change compared with -70.6% for EL. Estee Lauder Companies is the larger company by market cap ($34.22 billion vs $32.09 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Kimberly-Clark trades at a lower forward P/E (12.9x vs 24.1x for Estee Lauder Companies). Kimberly-Clark offers the higher dividend yield (5.27% vs 1.48%). Kimberly-Clark converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.3% 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 | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $94.45 | $96.48 |
| Market cap | $34.22B | $32.09B |
| 1-day change | +1.17% | -0.30% |
| YTD return | -9.81% | -4.37% |
| 1-year return | +1.91% | -21.13% |
| 5-year return | -70.56% | -27.64% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 185.20 | 19.10 |
| Forward P/E | 24.08 | 12.92 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.51 | $5.05 |
| Dividend yield | 1.48% | 5.27% |
| Annual dividend | $1.40 | $5.08 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $15.05B | $16.45B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.05% | -2.13% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $182.00M | $2.02B |
| Gross margin | 75.50% | 36.01% |
| Operating margin | 5.18% | 14.29% |
| Net margin | 1.21% | 12.29% |
| 52-week high | $121.64 | $123.09 |
| 52-week low | $66.22 | $92.42 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.35% | -21.62% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.65% | +20.10% |
| Average volume | 2.95M | 3.90M |
| Shares outstanding | 247.82M | 332.58M |
| Employees | 37,950 | 36,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Package Goods/Cosmetics | Containers/Packaging |
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
- EL has outperformed KMB by 23.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Estee Lauder Companies trades at a higher earnings multiple (185.2x vs 19.1x trailing P/E).
- Kimberly-Clark offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.27% vs 1.48%).
- Kimberly-Clark is more profitable, keeping 12.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 1.2 cents for Estee Lauder Companies.
- Estee Lauder Companies grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+5.05% vs -2.13%).
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 Kimberly-Clark
KMB stock →Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care products in the United States. It operates in two segments, North America and International Personal Care.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 36,000 employees
EL vs KMB FAQ
Which is bigger, Estee Lauder Companies or Kimberly-Clark?
Estee Lauder Companies (EL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $34.22B compared with $32.09B for Kimberly-Clark (KMB).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, EL or KMB?
EL returned +1.91% over the past 12 months, compared with -21.13% for KMB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, EL or KMB?
KMB has the lower trailing P/E at 19.1, 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 Kimberly-Clark?
Kimberly-Clark has the higher yield at 5.27%, compared with 1.48% for Estee Lauder Companies.
Are Estee Lauder Companies and Kimberly-Clark in the same industry?
Both are in the Consumer Discretionary sector, but in different industries: Package Goods/Cosmetics for Estee Lauder Companies and Containers/Packaging for Kimberly-Clark.