ELF
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$3.31B
5Y Perf.+246.7%
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Stock Comparison
ELF vs COTY
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
COTY
Coty Inc.
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$2.25B
5Y Perf.-29.5%
ELF vs COTY — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ELF | COTY |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Household & Personal Products |
| Market Cap | $3.31B | $2.25B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.52B | $5.79B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $104M | $-536M |
| Gross Margin | 70.3% | 61.9% |
| Operating Margin | 11.1% | -0.3% |
| Forward P/E | 19.1x | 9.4x |
| Total Debt | $313M | $4.25B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $149M | $257M |
ELF vs COTY — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ELF
COTY
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 100 | 346.7 | +246.7% |
| Coty Inc. (COTY) | 100 | 70.5 | -29.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ELF vs COTY
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ELF leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Coty Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ELF
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.
The Income Pick
ELF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 2.36
- Rev growth 28.3%, EPS growth -13.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 49.6%
- 124.2% 10Y total return vs COTY's -83.0%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
COTY
Coty Inc.
The Defensive Pick
COTY is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.08, yield 0.6%, current ratio 0.77x
- Lower P/E (9.4x vs 19.1x)
- Beta 1.08 vs ELF's 2.36
Best for: defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ELF | 28.3% revenue growth vs COTY's -3.7% |
| Value | COTY | Lower P/E (9.4x vs 19.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | ELF | 6.8% margin vs COTY's -9.3% |
| Stability / Safety | COTY | Beta 1.08 vs ELF's 2.36 |
| Dividends | COTY | 0.6% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ELF | -12.3% vs COTY's -50.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ELF | 4.5% ROA vs COTY's -4.7%, ROIC 13.5% vs 2.3% |
ELF vs COTY — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
ELF vs COTY — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLELFLAGGINGCOTY
COTYCoty Inc.
2leads
ELFe.l.f. Beauty, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs COTYMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ELF6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
COTY6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ELF9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ELF5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
COTY2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ELF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
COTY is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.8B annually — 3.8x ELF's $1.5B. ELF is the more profitable business, keeping 6.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COTY's -9.3%. On growth, ELF holds the edge at +37.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | COTYCoty Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $5.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $235M | $314M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $104M | -$536M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $215M | $311M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.3% | +61.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | -0.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | -9.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +5.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +37.8% | -1.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +116.7% | 0.0% |
ELF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
COTY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, COTY's 9.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ELF's 17.2x.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | COTYCoty Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.3B | $2.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.5B | $6.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 30.95x | -5.82x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.13x | 9.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.76x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.19x | 9.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.52x | 0.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.56x | 0.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 28.72x | 8.12x |
COTY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ELF leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ELF delivers a 8.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-14 for COTY. ELF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COTY's 1.07x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ELF scores 7/9 vs COTY's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | COTYCoty Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | -14.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | -4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.5% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.6% | +2.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 1.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $164M | $4.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $149M | $257M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $313M | $4.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.48x | 0.23x |
ELF leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ELF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ELF five years ago would be worth $19,853 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,604 for COTY. Over the past 12 months, ELF leads with a -12.3% total return vs COTY's -50.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ELF at -12.4% vs COTY's -40.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | COTYCoty Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -23.6% | -17.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -12.3% | -50.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -32.8% | -78.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +98.5% | -74.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +124.2% | -83.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -12.4% | -40.4% |
ELF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
COTY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
COTY is the less volatile stock with a 1.08 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ELF's 2.36 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. COTY currently trades 47.9% from its 52-week high vs ELF's 39.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | COTYCoty Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.36x | 1.08x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $150.99 | $5.34 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.05 | $1.96 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +39.4% | +47.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.3 | 58.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.2M | 7.5M |
COTY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ELF as "Buy" and COTY as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 60.2% upside for ELF (target: $95) vs 56.6% for COTY (target: $4). COTY is the only dividend payer here at 0.60% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | COTYCoty Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $95.17 | $4.01 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.02 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
ELF leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). COTY leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Best Overalle.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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ELF vs COTY: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ELF or COTY a better buy right now?
For growth investors, e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is the stronger pick with 28. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 7% for Coty Inc. (COTY). e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) offers the better valuation at 30. 9x trailing P/E (19. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) a "Buy" — based on 27 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 — ELF or COTY?
On forward P/E, Coty Inc.
is actually cheaper at 9. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ELF or COTY?
Over the past 5 years, e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) delivered a total return of +98. 5%, compared to -74. 0% for Coty Inc. (COTY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ELF returned +124. 2% versus COTY's -83. 0%. 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 — ELF or COTY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Coty Inc.
(COTY) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 08β versus e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. 's 2. 36β — meaning ELF is approximately 118% more volatile than COTY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 41% versus 107% for Coty Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ELF or COTY?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is pulling ahead at 28. 3% versus -3. 7% for Coty Inc. (COTY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. grew EPS -13. 1% year-over-year, compared to -609. 8% for Coty Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ELF leads at 49. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ELF or COTY?
e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 5% net margin versus -6. 2% for Coty Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ELF leads at 12. 0% versus 4. 1% for COTY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ELF leads at 71. 2%, 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.
07Is ELF or COTY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Coty Inc.
(COTY) trades at 9. 4x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. — 9. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ELF: 60. 2% to $95. 17.
08Which pays a better dividend — ELF or COTY?
In this comparison, COTY (0.
6% yield) pays a dividend. ELF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ELF or COTY better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Coty Inc.
(COTY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 08), 0. 6% yield). e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) carries a higher beta of 2. 36 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (COTY: -83. 0%, ELF: +124. 2%), 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.
10What are the main differences between ELF and COTY?
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: ELF is a small-cap high-growth stock; COTY is a small-cap quality compounder stock. COTY pays a dividend while ELF does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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