Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare The Clorox Company (CLX) 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 | CLX | 11.2% 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 UL's 2.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UL | +35.3% vs CLX's -15.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UL | 16.0% ROA vs CLX's 13.5%, ROIC 15.3% vs 27.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
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.
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 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
UL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). CLX leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
UL is the larger business by revenue, generating $120.1B annually — 17.8x CLX's $6.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 11.2% (CLX) to 10.2% (UL).
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.8B | $120.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $21.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $755M | $12.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $778M | $14.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.0% | +71.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +15.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +12.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.8% | -3.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -16.2% | -3.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 19.5x trailing earnings, CLX trades at a 29% valuation discount to UL's 27.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CLX's 13.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UL's 14.4x.
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $16.6B | $161.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $19.3B | $190.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.50x | 27.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.51x | 19.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 20.02x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.83x | 14.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.34x | 2.25x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 32.79x | 6.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.85x | 17.56x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CLX delivers a 21.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $61 for UL. UL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.36x 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 | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.6% | +61.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +13.5% | +16.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +27.7% | +15.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +30.2% | +17.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.98x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.7B | $24.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $167M | $6.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.9B | $30.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.30x | 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 | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +27.3% | +14.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.5% | +35.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -8.8% | +60.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -16.0% | +60.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.4% | +120.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -3.0% | +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 | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.25x | 0.03x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $158.91 | $74.98 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $96.66 | $56.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +80.0% | +98.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.2 | 61.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 2.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CLX as "Hold" and UL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -4.8% upside for CLX (target: $121) vs -11.1% for UL (target: $66). For income investors, CLX offers the higher dividend yield at 3.81% vs UL's 2.76%.
| Metric | CLXThe Clorox Company | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $121.00 | $65.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.8% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 26 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.84 | $1.72 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +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% |
| 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% |
| 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.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clorox Company (CLX) | 11.2% | 11.4% | +1.4% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 9.8% | 9.5% | -3.9% |
The Clorox Company's net margin went from 11% (2016) to 11% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clorox Company (CLX) | 27.9 | 15.5 | -44.4% |
| 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. Unilever PLC has traded in a 15x–29x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clorox Company (CLX) | 4.92 | 6.52 | +32.5% |
| 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.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
The Clorox Company generated $761M FCF in 2025 (-19% vs 2021). Unilever PLC generated $8B FCF in 2024 (+13% vs 2021).
CLX vs UL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CLX 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 Clorox Company (CLX) a "Hold" — based on 28 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 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.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CLX 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: UL returned +120.1% 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 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, Unilever PLC (UL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 136% versus 6% for The Clorox Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CLX or UL?
The Clorox Company (CLX) is the more profitable company, earning 11.4% net margin versus 9.5% for Unilever PLC — meaning it keeps 11.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CLX leads at 16.6% 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 UL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Unilever PLC (UL) trades at 19.6x forward P/E versus 21.5x for The Clorox Company — 1.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLX: -4.8% to $121.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — CLX or UL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. The Clorox Company (CLX) offers the highest yield at 3.8%, versus 2.8% for Unilever PLC (UL).
08Is CLX 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 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; 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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