CL vs. EL: Colgate-Palmolive vs. Estée Lauder Stock Comparison
How do Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Estée Lauder (EL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Estée Lauder (EL) both fall under the Household & Personal Products industry group, but CL is classified in Household Products while EL is classified in Personal Care Products.
| Profile Item | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Colgate-Palmolive Co. | The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry Group | Household & Personal Products | Household & Personal Products |
| GICS Industry | Household Products | Personal Care Products |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Household Products | Personal Care Products |
| Market Capitalization | 74.97 billion USD | 39.37 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 2, 1973 | November 17, 1995 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 22.76% | 10.78% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 11.89% | -5.71% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.00% | -18.56% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.18% | 47.76% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.32 | 1.24 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.05% | -85.82% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.79M | 3.10M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.79 | 0.13 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.22 | 0.19 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 267.37% delivers above-range ROE, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 4.75% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in profit generated from equity.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
267.37%
- CL
- 267.37%
- Max
- 42.18%
- Q3
- 30.23%
- Median
- 15.51%
- Q1
- 5.33%
- Min
- -16.09%
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
4.75%
- Max
- 42.18%
- Q3
- 30.23%
- Median
- 15.51%
- Q1
- 5.33%
- EL
- 4.75%
- Min
- -16.09%
Net Margin (TTM)
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 9.68% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.21% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
9.68%
- Max
- 18.32%
- Q3
- 11.60%
- CL
- 9.68%
- Median
- 8.01%
- Q1
- 2.75%
- Min
- -10.42%
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.21%
- Max
- 18.32%
- Q3
- 11.60%
- Median
- 8.01%
- Q1
- 2.75%
- EL
- 1.21%
- Min
- -10.42%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 20.97% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 7.00% operates in the bottom quartile.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
20.97%
- Max
- 27.06%
- CL
- 20.97%
- Q3
- 18.30%
- Median
- 13.57%
- Q1
- 9.52%
- Min
- -2.44%
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
7.00%
- Max
- 27.06%
- Q3
- 18.30%
- Median
- 13.57%
- Q1
- 9.52%
- EL
- 7.00%
- Min
- -2.44%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 267.37% | 4.75% |
| ROA (TTM) | 15.84% | 5.23% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 9.68% | 1.21% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.97% | 7.00% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 60.43% | 75.49% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Estée Lauder (EL) at 5.05% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 1.40% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for EL.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Colgate-Palmolive (CL) reports EPS growth of -25.07%, ranked against its industry; Estée Lauder (EL) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.40% | 5.05% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.29% | -1.84% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -25.07% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.28% | -43.62% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 1.03 and Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.22 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.03
- Max
- 3.94
- Q3
- 2.70
- Median
- 1.82
- CL
- 1.03
- Q1
- 0.98
- Min
- 0.66
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.22
- Max
- 3.94
- Q3
- 2.70
- Median
- 1.82
- EL
- 1.22
- Q1
- 0.98
- Min
- 0.66
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but CL is more stretched: Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.43 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 13.88 is above its industry benchmark range.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
13.88
- CL
- 13.88
- Max
- 3.49
- Q3
- 2.16
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.06
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.43
- Max
- 3.49
- EL
- 2.43
- Q3
- 2.16
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.06
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.03 | 1.22 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 13.88 | 2.43 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.29 | 2.34 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 2.15% and Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.30% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.15%
- Max
- 5.61%
- Q3
- 2.77%
- CL
- 2.15%
- Median
- 1.62%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.30%
- Max
- 5.61%
- Q3
- 2.77%
- Median
- 1.62%
- EL
- 1.30%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Estée Lauder (EL) reports payout ratio above 100% at 280.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Colgate-Palmolive (CL) reports 82.28%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
82.28%
- Max
- 103.12%
- Q3
- 85.84%
- CL
- 82.28%
- Median
- 51.27%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
280.00%
- EL
- 280.00%
- Max
- 103.12%
- Q3
- 85.84%
- Median
- 51.27%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.15% | 1.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 82.28% | 280.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 37.02 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Estée Lauder (EL) at 217.34 is richer still, above its industry range.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
37.02
- CL
- 37.02
- Max
- 37.02
- Q3
- 33.71
- Median
- 21.73
- Q1
- 16.81
- Min
- 6.73
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
217.34
- EL
- 217.34
- Max
- 37.02
- Q3
- 33.71
- Median
- 21.73
- Q1
- 16.81
- Min
- 6.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.62 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 3.56 sits in the pricier quartile — CL costs more per dollar of sales.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
3.56
- Max
- 4.24
- CL
- 3.56
- Q3
- 3.00
- Median
- 1.88
- Q1
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.27
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.62
- Max
- 4.24
- Q3
- 3.00
- EL
- 2.62
- Median
- 1.88
- Q1
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.27
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Estée Lauder (EL) at 10.33 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 317.70 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
317.70
- CL
- 317.70
- Max
- 10.45
- Q3
- 7.66
- Median
- 3.96
- Q1
- 1.57
- Min
- -2.96
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
10.33
- Max
- 10.45
- EL
- 10.33
- Q3
- 7.66
- Median
- 3.96
- Q1
- 1.57
- Min
- -2.96
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CL | EL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 37.02 | 217.34 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.56 | 2.62 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 317.70 | 10.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.61% | 4.60% |