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EL vs. KVUE: Estée Lauder vs. Kenvue Stock Comparison

How do Estée Lauder (EL) and Kenvue (KVUE) 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 Kenvue (KVUE) are both classified in the Personal Care Products sub-industry within the broader Personal Care Products industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Estée Lauder (EL) has more than two decades of public-market history since November 17, 1995, whereas Kenvue (KVUE) listed on May 4, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kenvue (KVUE)
Profile ItemELKVUE
NameThe Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Class A Common StockKenvue Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupHousehold & Personal ProductsHousehold & Personal Products
GICS IndustryPersonal Care ProductsPersonal Care Products
GICS Sub-IndustryPersonal Care ProductsPersonal Care Products
Market Capitalization37.58 billion USD36.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 17, 1995May 4, 2023
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EL
KVUE
GSPC
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE), 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 Kenvue (KVUE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kenvue (KVUE)
MetricELKVUE
Total Return (1Y)20.44%-4.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-12.12%-2.58%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-19.98%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EL
KVUE
GSPC
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE), 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 Kenvue (KVUE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kenvue (KVUE)
MetricELKVUE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.39%32.34%
Beta (5Y)1.270.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-85.82%-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.20M20.49M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EL and KVUE 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 Kenvue (KVUE)
MetricELKVUE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.34-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.48-0.36

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Estée Lauder (EL) at 4.75% and Kenvue (KVUE) at 15.58% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

4.75%

Max
42.18%
Q3
31.08%
Median
15.58%
EL
4.75%
Q1
4.60%
Min
-28.58%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

15.58%

Max
42.18%
Q3
31.08%
KVUE
15.58%
Median
15.58%
Q1
4.60%
Min
-28.58%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their ROE against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Kenvue (KVUE) at 10.76% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.21% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.21%

Max
18.44%
Q3
11.35%
Median
7.28%
Q1
2.73%
EL
1.21%
Min
-4.15%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

10.76%

Max
18.44%
Q3
11.35%
KVUE
10.76%
Median
7.28%
Q1
2.73%
Min
-4.15%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their net margin against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Kenvue (KVUE) at 19.42% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 7.00% operates in the bottom quartile.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

7.00%

Max
23.94%
Q3
19.00%
Median
14.26%
Q1
9.75%
EL
7.00%
Min
-2.44%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

19.42%

Max
23.94%
KVUE
19.42%
Q3
19.00%
Median
14.26%
Q1
9.75%
Min
-2.44%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kenvue (KVUE)
MetricELKVUE
ROE (TTM)4.75%15.58%
ROA (TTM)5.23%6.99%
Net Margin (TTM)1.21%10.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)7.00%19.42%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.49%58.44%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Estée Lauder (EL) at 5.05% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Kenvue (KVUE) at -2.14% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for EL.

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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Kenvue (KVUE) reports EPS growth of 40.74%, ranked against its industry; Estée Lauder (EL) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kenvue (KVUE)
MetricELKVUE
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.05%-2.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.84%0.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)--40.74%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-43.62%-11.40%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.22 and Kenvue (KVUE) at 1.01 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.22

Max
4.06
Q3
3.07
Median
1.80
EL
1.22
Q1
1.01
Min
0.66

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.01

Max
4.06
Q3
3.07
Median
1.80
KVUE
1.01
Q1
1.01
Min
0.66
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Kenvue (KVUE) at 0.82 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.43 uses more debt funding than most peers.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.43

Max
3.49
EL
2.43
Q3
1.90
Median
0.81
Q1
0.47
Min
0.06

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.82

Max
3.49
Q3
1.90
KVUE
0.82
Median
0.81
Q1
0.47
Min
0.06
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): 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 Kenvue (KVUE)
MetricELKVUE
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.221.01
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.430.82
Net Debt / EBITDA2.342.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kenvue (KVUE) at 4.38% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.39% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, KVUE the richer one.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.39%

Max
5.81%
Q3
2.90%
EL
1.39%
Median
1.39%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

4.38%

Max
5.81%
KVUE
4.38%
Q3
2.90%
Median
1.39%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): 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 280.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Kenvue (KVUE) reports 97.65%, ranking against industry peers normally.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

280.00%

EL
280.00%
Max
103.12%
Q3
82.28%
Median
56.44%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

97.65%

Max
103.12%
KVUE
97.65%
Q3
82.28%
Median
56.44%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kenvue (KVUE)
MetricELKVUE
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.39%4.38%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)280.00%97.65%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Kenvue (KVUE) at 22.05 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 207.72 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for EL’s trailing earnings.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

207.72

EL
207.72
Max
34.95
Q3
27.48
Median
21.76
Q1
17.41
Min
7.32

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

22.05

Max
34.95
Q3
27.48
KVUE
22.05
Median
21.76
Q1
17.41
Min
7.32
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.50 and Kenvue (KVUE) at 2.34 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.50

Max
4.73
Q3
3.36
EL
2.50
Median
2.10
Q1
0.73
Min
0.25

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.34

Max
4.73
Q3
3.36
KVUE
2.34
Median
2.10
Q1
0.73
Min
0.25
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Estée Lauder (EL) at 9.87 and Kenvue (KVUE) at 3.41 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

9.87

Max
19.95
EL
9.87
Q3
9.87
Median
4.29
Q1
1.49
Min
-2.73

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.41

Max
19.95
Q3
9.87
Median
4.29
KVUE
3.41
Q1
1.49
Min
-2.73
Loading chart…
Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Estée Lauder (EL) and Kenvue (KVUE)
MetricELKVUE
P/E Ratio (TTM)207.7222.05
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.502.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.873.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.82%5.30%