Estee Lauder Companies (EL) vs Stepan (SCL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Stepan (SCL) has outperformed Estee Lauder Companies (EL) over the past year, gaining 28.6% versus a gain of 1.9%. Over five years, SCL leads with a -48.7% price change compared with -70.6% for EL. Estee Lauder Companies is the larger company by market cap ($34.22 billion vs $1.39 billion), about 24.6 times the size.
On valuation, Stepan trades at a lower forward P/E (16.6x vs 24.0x for Estee Lauder Companies). Stepan offers the higher dividend yield (2.56% vs 1.48%).
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 | SCL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $94.45 | $61.32 |
| Market cap | $34.22B | $1.39B |
| 1-day change | +1.17% | -1.72% |
| YTD return | -9.81% | +29.48% |
| 1-year return | +1.91% | +28.55% |
| 5-year return | -70.56% | -48.69% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 188.90 | — |
| Forward P/E | 24.05 | 16.62 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.50 | $-0.12 |
| Dividend yield | 1.48% | 2.56% |
| Annual dividend | $1.40 | $1.57 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $15.05B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.05% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $182.00M | — |
| Gross margin | 75.50% | — |
| Operating margin | 5.18% | — |
| Net margin | 1.21% | — |
| 52-week high | $121.64 | $68.00 |
| 52-week low | $66.22 | $41.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.35% | -9.82% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.65% | +38.62% |
| Average volume | 2.95M | 140.82K |
| Shares outstanding | 247.82M | 22.71M |
| Employees | 37,950 | 2,328 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Package Goods/Cosmetics | Specialty Chemicals |
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 24.6 times larger than Stepan by market value ($34.22B vs $1.39B).
- SCL has outperformed EL by 26.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Stepan offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.56% vs 1.48%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Estee Lauder Companies in Consumer Discretionary and Stepan in Basic Materials.
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 Stepan
SCL stock →Stepan Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty and intermediate chemicals to other manufacturers for use in various end products in the United States, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products.
Basic Materials · Specialty Chemicals · 2,328 employees
EL vs SCL FAQ
Which is bigger, Estee Lauder Companies or Stepan?
Estee Lauder Companies (EL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $34.22B compared with $1.39B for Stepan (SCL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, EL or SCL?
SCL returned +28.55% over the past 12 months, compared with +1.91% for EL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Estee Lauder Companies or Stepan?
Stepan has the higher yield at 2.56%, compared with 1.48% for Estee Lauder Companies.
Are Estee Lauder Companies and Stepan in the same industry?
No. Estee Lauder Companies is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Stepan is in Basic Materials.