KVUE vs. UL: Kenvue vs. Unilever Stock Comparison
How do Kenvue (KVUE) and Unilever (UL) 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
Kenvue (KVUE) 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.
Unilever (UL) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 25, 1980, whereas Kenvue (KVUE) listed on May 4, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
Kenvue (KVUE) 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 | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Kenvue Inc. | 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 | 36.73 billion USD | 130.39 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 4, 2023 | March 25, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -5.17% | -8.29% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.60% | 21.64% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.42 | 0.40 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 20.11M | 4.55M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Unilever (UL) at 30.96% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Kenvue (KVUE) at 15.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UL.
KVUE
Household & Personal Products industry group
15.70%
- Max
- 31.30%
- Q3
- 28.44%
- KVUE
- 15.70%
- Median
- 13.69%
- Q1
- 0.17%
- Min
- -13.94%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
30.96%
- Max
- 31.30%
- UL
- 30.96%
- Q3
- 28.44%
- Median
- 13.69%
- Q1
- 0.17%
- Min
- -13.94%
Net Margin (TTM)
Unilever (UL) at 18.75% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Kenvue (KVUE) at 10.61%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
18.75%
- Max
- 19.16%
- UL
- 18.75%
- Q3
- 11.33%
- Median
- 6.67%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- -9.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Kenvue (KVUE) at 21.62% and Unilever (UL) at 20.05% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
KVUE
Household & Personal Products industry group
21.62%
- Max
- 23.17%
- KVUE
- 21.62%
- Q3
- 19.75%
- Median
- 12.60%
- Q1
- 6.91%
- Min
- -9.69%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
20.05%
- Max
- 23.17%
- UL
- 20.05%
- Q3
- 19.75%
- Median
- 12.60%
- Q1
- 6.91%
- Min
- -9.69%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 15.70% | 30.96% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.07% | 8.43% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.61% | 18.75% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 21.62% | 20.05% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 58.60% | 46.95% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -2.14% | -3.77% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.39% | -5.62% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 40.74% | 67.69% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -11.40% | 8.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Kenvue (KVUE) at 0.98 and Unilever (UL) at 0.79 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
KVUE
Household & Personal Products industry group
0.98
- Max
- 6.27
- Q3
- 3.27
- Median
- 2.17
- Q1
- 1.01
- KVUE
- 0.98
- Min
- 0.73
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
0.79
- Max
- 6.27
- Q3
- 3.27
- Median
- 2.17
- Q1
- 1.01
- UL
- 0.79
- Min
- 0.73
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Kenvue (KVUE) at 0.83 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Unilever (UL) at 1.61 uses more debt funding than most peers.
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
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.61
- Max
- 2.33
- UL
- 1.61
- Q3
- 1.45
- Median
- 0.77
- Q1
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.02
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.98 | 0.79 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.83 | 1.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.23 | 2.14 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Kenvue (KVUE) at 4.37% and Unilever (UL) at 3.27% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
KVUE
Household & Personal Products industry group
4.37%
- Max
- 5.37%
- KVUE
- 4.37%
- Q3
- 2.90%
- Median
- 0.99%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
3.27%
- Max
- 5.37%
- UL
- 3.27%
- Q3
- 2.90%
- Median
- 0.99%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Kenvue (KVUE) at 98.51% and Unilever (UL) at 78.60% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
KVUE
Household & Personal Products industry group
98.51%
- KVUE
- 98.51%
- Max
- 98.51%
- Q3
- 68.55%
- Median
- 36.90%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
78.60%
- Max
- 98.51%
- UL
- 78.60%
- Q3
- 68.55%
- Median
- 36.90%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.37% | 3.27% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 98.51% | 78.60% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Kenvue (KVUE) at 22.77 and Unilever (UL) at 20.60 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
KVUE
Household & Personal Products industry group
22.77
- Max
- 35.69
- Q3
- 25.61
- KVUE
- 22.77
- Median
- 19.80
- Q1
- 16.52
- Min
- 5.50
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
20.60
- Max
- 35.69
- Q3
- 25.61
- UL
- 20.60
- Median
- 19.80
- Q1
- 16.52
- Min
- 5.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Kenvue (KVUE) at 2.40 and Unilever (UL) at 2.58 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
KVUE
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.40
- Max
- 5.25
- Q3
- 3.06
- KVUE
- 2.40
- Median
- 1.62
- Q1
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.07
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.58
- Max
- 5.25
- Q3
- 3.06
- UL
- 2.58
- Median
- 1.62
- Q1
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Kenvue (KVUE) at 3.46 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Unilever (UL) at 7.48 carries an above-peer premium to book — UL is pricier on assets.
KVUE
Household & Personal Products industry group
3.46
- Max
- 12.44
- Q3
- 6.67
- KVUE
- 3.46
- Median
- 2.45
- Q1
- 1.02
- Min
- -2.94
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
7.48
- Max
- 12.44
- UL
- 7.48
- Q3
- 6.67
- Median
- 2.45
- Q1
- 1.02
- Min
- -2.94
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KVUE | UL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.77 | 20.60 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.40 | 2.58 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.46 | 7.48 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.06% | 4.81% |