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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 AKenvue 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 Capitalization30.71 billion USD37.08 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)-8.05%-6.79%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-20.77%-3.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-22.81%--

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)46.30%32.67%
Beta (5Y)1.250.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-85.82%-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.38M20.51M

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)-0.26-0.33
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.34-0.45

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 Kenvue (KVUE) reports 15.70%, 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%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

15.70%

Max
33.31%
Q3
28.44%
KVUE
15.70%
Median
13.69%
Q1
0.17%
Min
-20.43%
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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)

Estée Lauder (EL) reports a negative net margin of -1.67%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Kenvue (KVUE) reports 10.61%, 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%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

10.61%

Max
19.16%
Q3
11.33%
KVUE
10.61%
Median
6.67%
Q1
0.66%
Min
-9.20%
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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 21.62% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Estée Lauder (EL) at 14.93%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

21.62%

Max
23.17%
KVUE
21.62%
Q3
20.10%
Median
12.60%
Q1
6.91%
Min
-9.69%
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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)-5.95%15.70%
ROA (TTM)4.87%7.07%
Net Margin (TTM)-1.67%10.61%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.93%21.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.65%58.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Kenvue (KVUE) at -2.14% 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. Kenvue (KVUE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Kenvue (KVUE) at 40.74% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Estée Lauder (EL) at -391.67% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.

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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)-8.21%-2.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.87%0.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)-391.67%40.74%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---11.40%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.27 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Kenvue (KVUE) at 0.98 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KVUE.

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

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.98

Max
4.51
Q3
3.12
Median
1.95
Q1
1.01
KVUE
0.98
Min
0.73
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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 0.83 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.83

Max
2.33
Q3
1.45
KVUE
0.83
Median
0.77
Q1
0.39
Min
0.02
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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)1.270.98
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.330.83
Net Debt / EBITDA2.632.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kenvue (KVUE) at 4.18% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.66% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, KVUE the richer one.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.66%

Max
5.90%
Q3
2.64%
EL
1.66%
Median
1.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

4.18%

Max
5.90%
KVUE
4.18%
Q3
2.64%
Median
1.02%
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 471.43%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Kenvue (KVUE) reports 98.51%, 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%

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

98.51%

KVUE
98.51%
Max
98.51%
Q3
66.00%
Median
36.90%
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)1.66%4.18%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)471.43%98.51%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Kenvue (KVUE) trades at 23.55 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
--

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

23.55

Max
36.52
Q3
24.48
KVUE
23.55
Median
20.82
Q1
15.98
Min
5.38
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Estée Lauder (EL) vs. Kenvue (KVUE): EL does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; KVUE is benchmarked against the Household & Personal Products industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Estée Lauder (EL) at 2.07 and Kenvue (KVUE) at 2.42 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.07

Max
5.42
Q3
2.97
EL
2.07
Median
1.58
Q1
0.70
Min
0.07

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.42

Max
5.42
Q3
2.97
KVUE
2.42
Median
1.58
Q1
0.70
Min
0.07
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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)

Kenvue (KVUE) at 3.50 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 7.69 carries an above-peer premium to book — EL is pricier on assets.

EL

Household & Personal Products industry group

7.69

Max
11.82
EL
7.69
Q3
7.46
Median
2.83
Q1
1.04
Min
-2.96

KVUE

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.50

Max
11.82
Q3
7.46
KVUE
3.50
Median
2.83
Q1
1.04
Min
-2.96
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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)--23.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.072.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.693.50
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.89%5.01%