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EL vs. KMB: Estée Lauder vs. Kimberly-Clark Stock Comparison

How do Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) 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

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.

Company profile comparison for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
Profile ItemELKMB
NameThe Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Class AKimberly-Clark Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupHousehold & Personal ProductsHousehold & Personal Products
GICS IndustryPersonal Care ProductsHousehold Products
GICS Sub-IndustryPersonal Care ProductsHousehold Products
Market Capitalization29.80 billion USD35.87 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateNovember 17, 1995March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EL
KMB
GSPC
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricELKMB
Total Return (1Y)-2.86%-10.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-21.44%-3.84%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-22.76%-0.69%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EL
KMB
GSPC
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricELKMB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.56%27.01%
Beta (5Y)1.260.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)-85.82%-34.06%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.48M4.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EL and KMB are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricELKMB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.15-0.54
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.20-0.69

Profitability

ROE (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
33.31%
Q3
28.44%
Median
13.69%
Q1
0.17%
EL
-5.95%
Min
-20.43%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

111.73%

KMB
111.73%
Max
33.31%
Q3
28.44%
Median
13.69%
Q1
0.17%
Min
-20.43%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their ROE against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Net 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
11.33%
Median
6.67%
Q1
0.66%
EL
-1.67%
Min
-9.20%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

12.80%

Max
19.16%
KMB
12.80%
Q3
11.33%
Median
6.67%
Q1
0.66%
Min
-9.20%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their net margin against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Operating 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
20.10%
EL
14.93%
Median
12.60%
Q1
6.91%
Min
-9.69%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

19.65%

Max
23.17%
Q3
20.10%
KMB
19.65%
Median
12.60%
Q1
6.91%
Min
-9.69%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricELKMB
ROE (TTM)-5.95%111.73%
ROA (TTM)4.87%10.16%
Net Margin (TTM)-1.67%12.80%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.93%19.65%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.65%37.15%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at -2.13% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Estée Lauder (EL) at -8.21% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at -19.60% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Estée Lauder (EL) at -391.67% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricELKMB
Revenue Growth (YoY)-8.21%-2.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.87%-6.58%
EPS Growth (YoY)-391.67%-19.60%
EPS Growth (3Y 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
4.51
Q3
3.12
Median
1.95
EL
1.27
Q1
1.01
Min
0.73

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.77

Max
4.51
Q3
3.12
Median
1.95
Q1
1.01
KMB
0.77
Min
0.73
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (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
1.45
Median
0.77
Q1
0.39
Min
0.02

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.71

KMB
3.71
Max
2.33
Q3
1.45
Median
0.77
Q1
0.39
Min
0.02
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricELKMB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.270.77
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.333.71
Net Debt / EBITDA2.631.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 4.66% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.67% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, KMB the richer one.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.67%

Max
5.90%
Q3
2.64%
EL
1.67%
Median
1.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

4.66%

Max
5.90%
KMB
4.66%
Q3
2.64%
Median
1.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

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
66.00%
Median
36.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

97.87%

Max
98.51%
KMB
97.87%
Q3
66.00%
Median
36.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricELKMB
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.67%4.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)471.43%97.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Kimberly-Clark (KMB) trades at 20.98 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
36.52
Q3
24.48
Median
20.82
Q1
15.98
Min
5.38
EL
--

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

20.98

Max
36.52
Q3
24.48
KMB
20.98
Median
20.82
Q1
15.98
Min
5.38
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): EL does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; KMB is benchmarked against the Household & Personal Products industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.01 and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 2.17 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.01

Max
5.42
Q3
2.97
EL
2.01
Median
1.58
Q1
0.70
Min
0.07

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.17

Max
5.42
Q3
2.97
KMB
2.17
Median
1.58
Q1
0.70
Min
0.07
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Estée Lauder (EL) at 7.46 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 19.97 prices above its benchmark range — KMB looks rich relative to book.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

7.46

Max
11.82
Q3
7.46
EL
7.46
Median
2.83
Q1
1.04
Min
-2.96

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

19.97

KMB
19.97
Max
11.82
Q3
7.46
Median
2.83
Q1
1.04
Min
-2.96
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricELKMB
P/E Ratio (TTM)--20.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.012.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.4619.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.07%2.94%