EL vs. KMB: Estée Lauder vs. Kimberly-Clark Stock Comparison
This page compares Estée Lauder (EL) with Kimberly-Clark (KMB) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 30.01% | -19.86% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 48.40% | 25.81% |
| Beta | 1.24 | 0.27 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 4.44M | 4.72M |
Company Profile
Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) both fall under the Household & Personal Products industry group, but EL is classified in Personal Care Products while KMB is classified in Household Products.
| Profile Item | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Class A | Kimberly-Clark Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry Group | Household & Personal Products | Household & Personal Products |
| GICS Industry | Personal Care Products | Household Products |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Personal Care Products | Household Products |
| Market Capitalization | 32.45 billion USD | 33.95 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | November 17, 1995 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Kimberly-Clark (KMB) trades at 19.79 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Estée Lauder (EL) has no P/E ratio this period.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
--
- Max
- 34.67
- Q3
- 24.01
- Median
- 18.98
- Q1
- 15.21
- Min
- 5.30
- EL
- --
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
19.79
- Max
- 34.67
- Q3
- 24.01
- KMB
- 19.79
- Median
- 18.98
- Q1
- 15.21
- Min
- 5.30
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.19 and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.19
- Max
- 4.71
- Q3
- 3.01
- EL
- 2.19
- Median
- 1.73
- Q1
- 0.71
- Min
- 0.24
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.05
- Max
- 4.71
- Q3
- 3.01
- KMB
- 2.05
- Median
- 1.73
- Q1
- 0.71
- Min
- 0.24
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Estée Lauder (EL) at 8.13 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 18.90 prices even higher, above its industry range.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
8.13
- Max
- 13.74
- EL
- 8.13
- Q3
- 6.82
- Median
- 2.19
- Q1
- 1.22
- Min
- -2.83
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
18.90
- KMB
- 18.90
- Max
- 13.74
- Q3
- 6.82
- Median
- 2.19
- Q1
- 1.22
- Min
- -2.83
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | -- | 19.79 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.19 | 2.05 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 8.13 | 18.90 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 5.57% | 3.11% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Estée Lauder (EL) reports a negative ROE of -5.95%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Kimberly-Clark (KMB) reports 111.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
-5.95%
- Max
- 31.30%
- Q3
- 30.96%
- Median
- 15.00%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- EL
- -5.95%
- Min
- -13.94%
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
111.73%
- KMB
- 111.73%
- Max
- 31.30%
- Q3
- 30.96%
- Median
- 15.00%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -13.94%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Estée Lauder (EL) reports a negative net margin of -1.67%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Kimberly-Clark (KMB) reports 12.80%, ranking against industry peers normally.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
-1.67%
- Max
- 19.16%
- Q3
- 11.34%
- Median
- 6.79%
- Q1
- 2.51%
- EL
- -1.67%
- Min
- -9.20%
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
12.80%
- Max
- 19.16%
- KMB
- 12.80%
- Q3
- 11.34%
- Median
- 6.79%
- Q1
- 2.51%
- Min
- -9.20%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Estée Lauder (EL) at 14.93% and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 19.65% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
14.93%
- Max
- 23.17%
- Q3
- 19.85%
- EL
- 14.93%
- Median
- 12.60%
- Q1
- 7.57%
- Min
- -5.14%
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
19.65%
- Max
- 23.17%
- Q3
- 19.85%
- KMB
- 19.65%
- Median
- 12.60%
- Q1
- 7.57%
- Min
- -5.14%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -5.95% | 111.73% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 4.87% | 10.16% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -1.67% | 12.80% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 14.93% | 19.65% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 74.65% | 37.15% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | -8.21% | -2.13% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | -6.87% | -6.58% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | -391.67% | -19.60% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -- | 1.94% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.27 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 0.77 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KMB.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.27
- Max
- 6.27
- Q3
- 3.17
- Median
- 2.05
- EL
- 1.27
- Q1
- 1.00
- Min
- 0.73
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
0.77
- Max
- 6.27
- Q3
- 3.17
- Median
- 2.05
- Q1
- 1.00
- KMB
- 0.77
- Min
- 0.73
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but KMB is more stretched: Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.33 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 3.71 is above its industry benchmark range.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.33
- EL
- 2.33
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.61
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.02
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
3.71
- KMB
- 3.71
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.61
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.02
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.27 | 0.77 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 2.33 | 3.71 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.63 | 1.96 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 5.01% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.56% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, KMB the richer one.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.56%
- Max
- 5.93%
- Q3
- 2.99%
- EL
- 1.56%
- Median
- 1.56%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
5.01%
- Max
- 5.93%
- KMB
- 5.01%
- Q3
- 2.99%
- Median
- 1.56%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Estée Lauder (EL) reports payout ratio above 100% at 471.43%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Kimberly-Clark (KMB) reports 97.87%, ranking against industry peers normally.
EL
Household & Personal Products industry group
471.43%
- EL
- 471.43%
- Max
- 98.51%
- Q3
- 71.90%
- Median
- 37.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
KMB
Household & Personal Products industry group
97.87%
- Max
- 98.51%
- KMB
- 97.87%
- Q3
- 71.90%
- Median
- 37.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | EL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.56% | 5.01% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 471.43% | 97.87% |