Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare The Clorox Company (CLX) vs The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) vs Unilever PLC (UL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UL | 1.9% revenue growth vs CLX's 0.2% |
| Value | UL | Lower P/E (19.6x vs 21.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | PG | 19.3% net margin vs UL's 10.2% |
| Stability / Safety | UL | Beta 0.03 vs CLX's 0.25, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CLX | 3.8% yield, 26-year raise streak, vs PG's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UL | +35.3% vs CLX's -15.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UL | 16.0% ROA vs PG's 12.9%, ROIC 15.3% vs 20.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer of household cleaning, health, and lifestyle products sold under well-known brands like Clorox, Glad, and Brita. It generates revenue primarily through four segments: Health and Wellness (~40% of sales), Household (~25%), Lifestyle (~20%), and International (~15%), selling everything from bleach and cat litter to salad dressing and water filters. Its key competitive advantage lies in its portfolio of trusted, market-leading brands that command strong consumer loyalty and shelf space in retail channels.
Procter & Gamble is a global consumer goods giant that sells everyday household products across beauty, grooming, health, fabric care, and baby care categories. It generates revenue primarily through product sales across its five main segments — Fabric & Home Care (~35% of sales), Baby & Family Care (~25%), Health Care (~15%), Beauty (~15%), and Grooming (~10%). Its competitive moat lies in its massive portfolio of iconic, trusted brands — like Tide, Pampers, and Gillette — that enjoy deep consumer loyalty and dominate retail shelf space worldwide.
Unilever is a global consumer goods giant selling everyday household and personal care products through a vast portfolio of trusted brands. It generates revenue primarily from three segments: Beauty & Personal Care (~40% of sales), Foods & Refreshment (~35%), and Home Care (~25%), with strong emerging markets exposure. Its competitive moat lies in its massive scale, extensive distribution network, and portfolio of iconic brands that command consumer loyalty across price points.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
UL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). PG leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
UL is the larger business by revenue, generating $120.1B annually — 17.8x CLX's $6.8B. PG is the more profitable business, keeping 19.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UL's 10.2%. On growth, PG holds the edge at +1.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | PGThe Procter & Gam… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.8B | $85.3B | $120.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $22.5B | $21.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $755M | $16.5B | $12.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $778M | $14.8B | $14.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.0% | +50.7% | +71.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +23.6% | +15.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +19.3% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +17.4% | +12.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.8% | +1.5% | -3.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -16.2% | -5.3% | -3.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 19.5x trailing earnings, CLX trades at a 29% valuation discount to UL's 27.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), PG offers better value at 4.59x vs UL's 20.02x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | PGThe Procter & Gam… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $16.6B | $388.5B | $161.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $19.3B | $414.4B | $190.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.50x | 25.68x | 27.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.51x | 24.01x | 19.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.59x | 20.02x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.83x | 17.79x | 14.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.34x | 4.61x | 2.25x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 32.79x | 7.85x | 6.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.85x | 27.66x | 17.56x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CLX delivers a 21.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $31 for PG. PG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.68x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CLX's 5.98x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CLX scores 7/9 vs UL's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | PGThe Procter & Gam… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.6% | +30.9% | +61.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +13.5% | +12.9% | +16.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +27.7% | +20.1% | +15.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +30.2% | +23.0% | +17.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.98x | 0.68x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.7B | $25.9B | $24.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $167M | $9.6B | $6.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.9B | $35.5B | $30.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.30x | 52.82x | 20.96x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in UL five years ago would be worth $16,056 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,401 for CLX. Over the past 12 months, UL leads with a +35.3% total return vs CLX's -15.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UL at 17.1% vs CLX's -3.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | PGThe Procter & Gam… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +27.3% | +18.6% | +14.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.5% | -1.4% | +35.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -8.8% | +30.3% | +60.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -16.0% | +49.9% | +60.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.4% | +150.1% | +120.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -3.0% | +9.2% | +17.1% |
Risk & Volatility
UL is the less volatile stock with a 0.03 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CLX's 0.25 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UL currently trades 98.4% from its 52-week high vs CLX's 80.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | PGThe Procter & Gam… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.25x | 0.12x | 0.03x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $158.91 | $179.99 | $74.98 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $96.66 | $137.62 | $56.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +80.0% | +92.9% | +98.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.2 | 66.3 | 61.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 9.4M | 2.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: CLX as "Hold", PG as "Buy", UL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 0.3% upside for PG (target: $168) vs -11.1% for UL (target: $66). For income investors, CLX offers the higher dividend yield at 3.81% vs PG's 2.41%.
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | PGThe Procter & Gam… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $121.00 | $167.67 | $65.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 51 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.8% | +2.4% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 26 | 36 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.84 | $4.02 | $1.72 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +1.7% | +1.1% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clorox Company (CLX) | 100 | 65.86 | -34.1% |
| The Procter & Gambl… (PG) | 100 | 128.13 | +28.1% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 100 | 123.18 | +23.2% |
Unilever PLC (UL) returned +61% over 5 years vs The Clorox Company (CLX)'s -16%. A $10,000 investment in UL 5 years ago would be worth $16,056 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clorox Company (CLX) | $5.8B | $7.1B | +23.3% |
| The Procter & Gambl… (PG) | $65.3B | $84.3B | +29.1% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | $52.7B | $60.8B | +15.3% |
The Clorox Company's revenue grew from $5.8B (2016) to $7.1B (2025) — a 2.4% CAGR. The Procter & Gamble Company's revenue grew from $65.3B (2016) to $84.3B (2025) — a 2.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clorox Company (CLX) | 11.2% | 11.4% | +1.4% |
| The Procter & Gambl… (PG) | 16.1% | 19.0% | +17.8% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 9.8% | 9.5% | -3.9% |
The Clorox Company's net margin went from 11% (2016) to 11% (2025). The Procter & Gamble Company's net margin went from 16% (2016) to 19% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clorox Company (CLX) | 27.9 | 15.5 | -44.4% |
| The Procter & Gambl… (PG) | 16.4 | 22 | +34.1% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 25.9 | 24.8 | -4.2% |
The Clorox Company has traded in a 16x–119x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~20x. The Procter & Gamble Company has traded in a 16x–87x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clorox Company (CLX) | 4.92 | 6.52 | +32.5% |
| The Procter & Gambl… (PG) | 3.69 | 6.51 | +76.4% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 1.82 | 2.29 | +25.8% |
The Clorox Company's EPS grew from $4.92 (2016) to $6.52 (2025) — a 3% CAGR. The Procter & Gamble Company's EPS grew from $3.69 (2016) to $6.51 (2025) — a 7% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
The Clorox Company generated $761M FCF in 2025 (-19% vs 2021). The Procter & Gamble Company generated $14B FCF in 2025 (-10% vs 2021).
CLX vs PG vs UL: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CLX or PG or UL a better buy right now?
The Clorox Company (CLX) offers the better valuation at 19.5x trailing P/E (21.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) a "Buy" — based on 51 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CLX or PG or UL?
On trailing P/E, The Clorox Company (CLX) is the cheapest at 19.5x versus Unilever PLC at 27.3x. On forward P/E, Unilever PLC is actually cheaper at 19.6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Procter & Gamble Company wins at 4.30x versus Unilever PLC's 14.37x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CLX or PG or UL?
Over the past 5 years, Unilever PLC (UL) delivered a total return of +60.6%, compared to -16.0% for The Clorox Company (CLX). A $10,000 investment in UL five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PG returned +150.1% versus CLX's +34.4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CLX or PG or UL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Unilever PLC (UL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.03β versus The Clorox Company's 0.25β — meaning CLX is approximately 728% more volatile than UL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 68% versus 6% for The Clorox Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CLX or PG or UL?
The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is the more profitable company, earning 19.0% net margin versus 9.5% for Unilever PLC — meaning it keeps 19.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PG leads at 24.3% versus 15.5% for UL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UL leads at 100.0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is CLX or PG or UL more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 4.30x versus Unilever PLC's 14.37x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Unilever PLC (UL) trades at 19.6x forward P/E versus 24.0x for The Procter & Gamble Company — 4.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PG: 0.3% to $167.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — CLX or PG or UL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. The Clorox Company (CLX) offers the highest yield at 3.8%, versus 2.4% for The Procter & Gamble Company (PG).
08Is CLX or PG or UL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Unilever PLC (UL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.03), 2.8% yield, +120.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UL: +120.1%, CLX: +34.4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between CLX and PG and UL?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: CLX is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PG is a large-cap quality compounder stock; UL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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