EL vs. UL: Estée Lauder vs. Unilever Stock Comparison
This page compares Estée Lauder (EL) with Unilever (UL) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 30.01% | -14.93% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 48.40% | 21.51% |
| Beta | 1.24 | 0.41 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 4.44M | 4.68M |
Company Profile
Estée Lauder (EL) and Unilever (UL) 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) trades as ordinary local shares, while Unilever (UL) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Class A | Unilever PLC Sponsored American Depositary Receipt |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry Group | Household & Personal Products | Household & Personal Products |
| GICS Industry | Personal Care Products | Personal Care Products |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Personal Care Products | Personal Care Products |
| Market Capitalization | 32.45 billion USD | 127.59 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 17, 1995 | March 25, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Unilever (UL) trades at 19.71 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
- --
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
19.71
- Max
- 34.67
- Q3
- 24.01
- UL
- 19.71
- 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 Unilever (UL) at 2.53 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
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.53
- Max
- 4.71
- Q3
- 3.01
- UL
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.73
- Q1
- 0.71
- Min
- 0.24
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both Estée Lauder (EL) at 8.13 and Unilever (UL) at 7.17 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
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
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
7.17
- Max
- 13.74
- UL
- 7.17
- Q3
- 6.82
- Median
- 2.19
- Q1
- 1.22
- Min
- -2.83
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | -- | 19.71 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.19 | 2.53 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 8.13 | 7.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 5.57% | 4.92% |
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 Unilever (UL) reports 30.96%, 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%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
30.96%
- Max
- 31.30%
- UL
- 30.96%
- 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 Unilever (UL) reports 18.75%, 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%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
18.75%
- Max
- 19.16%
- UL
- 18.75%
- Q3
- 11.34%
- Median
- 6.79%
- Q1
- 2.51%
- Min
- -9.20%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Unilever (UL) at 20.05% 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
- 19.85%
- EL
- 14.93%
- Median
- 12.60%
- Q1
- 7.57%
- Min
- -5.14%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
20.05%
- Max
- 23.17%
- UL
- 20.05%
- Q3
- 19.85%
- Median
- 12.60%
- Q1
- 7.57%
- Min
- -5.14%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -5.95% | 30.96% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 4.87% | 8.43% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -1.67% | 18.75% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 14.93% | 20.05% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 74.65% | 46.95% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | -8.21% | -3.77% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | -6.87% | -5.62% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | -391.67% | 67.69% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -- | 8.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.27 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Unilever (UL) at 0.79 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for UL.
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
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
0.79
- Max
- 6.27
- Q3
- 3.17
- Median
- 2.05
- Q1
- 1.00
- UL
- 0.79
- Min
- 0.73
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Unilever (UL) at 1.61 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
- 1.61
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.02
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.61
- Max
- 2.33
- UL
- 1.61
- Q3
- 1.61
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.02
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.27 | 0.79 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 2.33 | 1.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.63 | 2.14 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Unilever (UL) at 3.87% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Estée Lauder (EL) at 1.56% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, UL 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%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
3.87%
- Max
- 5.93%
- UL
- 3.87%
- 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 Unilever (UL) reports 78.60%, 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%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
78.60%
- Max
- 98.51%
- UL
- 78.60%
- Q3
- 71.90%
- Median
- 37.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | EL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.56% | 3.87% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 471.43% | 78.60% |