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EL vs ELF
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Estée Lauder Companies (EL) vs. e.l.f. Beauty (ELF) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both EL and ELF operate in the cosmetics sector but target different segments: EL focuses on prestige brands, while ELF emphasizes affordable, mass-market products.
- EL trades around $78 with a $28 billion market capitalization (market cap, total value of outstanding shares), offering a 1.8% dividend yield; ELF is near $64 with a $3.8 billion market cap and no dividend.
- Recent one-month performance shows gains of about 8% for EL and 5% for ELF, following sharper three-month declines amid sector pressures.
- Analysts project stronger sales growth for ELF (around 30% year-over-year) compared to EL (about 5%), with both stocks rated as buys and significant upside to average price targets.
- EL exhibits lower volatility (beta of 1.25) versus ELF's higher beta of 2.39, appealing to different risk appetites.
- Recent catalysts include EL's potential Puig acquisition and ELF's partnerships, influencing relative sentiment shifts.
Introduction
This stock comparison pits EL, a global leader in prestige beauty products, against ELF, a dynamic player in affordable cosmetics. Both companies navigate the competitive beauty industry, where consumer preferences for luxury versus value drive performance. Investors seeking diversified exposure to cosmetics—whether prioritizing established brands with recovery potential or high-growth disruptors—will find value in analyzing their business models, recent momentum, and market positioning. With shares rebounding in recent weeks amid broader sector volatility, this head-to-head highlights key contrasts in growth drivers, risk profiles, and analyst outlooks for informed relative performance decisions.
EL Overview and Recent Performance
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) is a multinational manufacturer of skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, marketed under iconic prestige brands like Estée Lauder, Clinique, La Mer, and Jo Malone. Operating in over 150 countries, it sells through department stores, specialty retailers, and e-commerce. In recent market activity, EL shares have shown volatility, rebounding around 8% over the past month after steeper declines earlier in the quarter. Key influences include discussions around a potential acquisition of Puig, with €5 billion financing pursuits, alongside price target reductions from firms like JPMorgan and Barclays ahead of fiscal 2026 Q3 earnings on May 1. A Canadian class-action settlement and strategic shifts have tempered sentiment, yet analyst upgrades and a turnaround narrative support modest recovery.
ELF Overview and Recent Performance
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) specializes in affordable, cruelty-free cosmetics and skincare under brands like e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, and Naturium, targeting younger demographics via retailers and direct e-commerce. In recent weeks, ELF shares dipped amid market pressures but gained about 5% over the past month, reflecting resilience. Factors include analyst attention to robust revenue growth projections despite softer EPS outlooks, partnerships like the Arbor Day Foundation collaboration, and sponsorships such as Katherine Legge's Indianapolis 500 campaign. Price target cuts from JPMorgan, TD Cowen, and Citi have introduced caution pre-earnings on May 27, but sustained sales momentum and a buy consensus bolster positive positioning.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
EL and ELF share cosmetics sector exposure but diverge in business models: EL's prestige portfolio provides diversified revenue stability, while ELF's mass-market focus drives faster expansion among price-sensitive consumers. Growth drivers favor ELF with projected 30% sales increases versus EL's 5%, though EL benefits from acquisition catalysts like Puig. Recent momentum reflects one-month rebounds for both amid three-month pullbacks, with EL showing steadier trends. Risk factors include ELF's elevated beta (2.39) signaling higher volatility versus EL's 1.25, plus EL's debt load. Market sentiment leans positive for both, with comparable upside to price targets, balancing EL's dividend appeal against ELF's valuation edge (forward P/E ratio, price-to-earnings multiple, around 18 versus 26).
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently leans toward ELF with moderate conviction, citing superior sales growth projections, attractive forward valuation, and resilience in mass-market demand amid recent rebounds. While EL offers stability through its prestige positioning, dividend, and potential M&A (mergers and acquisitions) catalysts, ELF's relative momentum and lower forward P/E suggest higher probabilistic upside in the near term, barring earnings surprises.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is EL is a Hold and ELF is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
EL’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileELF’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- EL’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- ELF’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
EL’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ELF’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- EL’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- ELF’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
EL (@Household/Personal Care) experienced а -6.87% price change this week, while ELF (@Household/Personal Care) price change was -7.28% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Household/Personal Care industry was -1.57%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.59%, and the average quarterly price growth was -4.91%.
Reported Earning Dates
EL is expected to report earnings on Aug 19, 2026.
ELF is expected to report earnings on May 20, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Household/Personal Care (-1.57% weekly)Household/Personal Care companies sell products for home cleaning and/or personal hygiene and grooming purposes. Products of this industry include detergents, shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, fabric conditioners and infant care fragrances. Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Estee Lauder and Colgate-Palmolive are some of the biggest names in the business. A lot of the products become a necessary part of people’s daily routine, and therefore the industry is relatively less vulnerable to macroeconomic downturns. At the same time, product quality, consumer safety, and ease of use are extremely critical factors for a company to survive competition and earn recognition in this industry.
| EL | ELF | EL / ELF | |
| Capitalization | 29B | 3.33B | 870% |
| EBITDA | 1.32B | 241M | 547% |
| Gain YTD | -23.098 | -25.789 | 90% |
| P/E Ratio | 147.80 | 31.88 | 464% |
| Revenue | 14.8B | 1.52B | 974% |
| Total Cash | 3.13B | 197M | 1,587% |
| Total Debt | 9.3B | 926M | 1,004% |
EL | ELF | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 57 Fair valued | 80 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 87 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 92 | 67 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 88 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 25 | 81 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 46 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
EL's Valuation (57) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as ELF (80). This means that EL’s stock grew similarly to ELF’s over the last 12 months.
ELF's Profit vs Risk Rating (87) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as EL (100). This means that ELF’s stock grew similarly to EL’s over the last 12 months.
ELF's SMR Rating (67) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as EL (92). This means that ELF’s stock grew similarly to EL’s over the last 12 months.
EL's Price Growth Rating (58) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as ELF (88). This means that EL’s stock grew similarly to ELF’s over the last 12 months.
EL's P/E Growth Rating (25) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ELF (81). This means that EL’s stock grew somewhat faster than ELF’s over the last 12 months.
| EL | ELF | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 68% | 4 days ago 83% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 69% | 4 days ago 76% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 64% | 4 days ago 71% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | N/A | 4 days ago 82% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 75% | 4 days ago 75% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 66% | 4 days ago 79% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 63% | 4 days ago 79% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 74% | 8 days ago 76% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 64% | 4 days ago 90% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 67% | 4 days ago 78% |
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EL and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, EL has been loosely correlated with ELF. These tickers have moved in lockstep 42% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if EL jumps, then ELF could also see price increases.
ELF and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ELF has been loosely correlated with HNST. These tickers have moved in lockstep 55% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ELF jumps, then HNST could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ELF | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELF | 100% | +1.73% | ||
| HNST - ELF | 55% Loosely correlated | -2.19% | ||
| EL - ELF | 43% Loosely correlated | -0.68% | ||
| IPAR - ELF | 38% Loosely correlated | -1.78% | ||
| COTY - ELF | 34% Loosely correlated | -3.29% | ||
| NUS - ELF | 32% Poorly correlated | -2.55% | ||
More | ||||