Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) 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 | ELF | 28.3% revenue growth vs UL's 1.9% |
| Value | UL | Lower P/E (19.6x vs 29.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | UL | 10.2% net margin vs ELF's 6.8% |
| Stability / Safety | UL | Beta 0.03 vs ELF's 1.66 |
| Dividends | UL | 2.8% yield; ELF pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | UL | +35.3% vs ELF's +31.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UL | 16.0% ROA vs ELF's 4.5%, ROIC 15.3% vs 13.5% |
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
e.l.f. Beauty is a cosmetics and skincare company offering affordable, high-quality beauty products under brands like e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, Well People, and Keys Soulcare. It generates revenue primarily through wholesale distribution to major retailers — accounting for most sales — complemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels. The company's competitive advantage lies in its "accessible luxury" positioning — delivering premium-quality products at drugstore prices through efficient supply chains and strong social media marketing that resonates with younger consumers.
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.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
UL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ELF leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
UL is the larger business by revenue, generating $120.1B annually — 79.0x ELF's $1.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.2% (UL) to 6.8% (ELF). On growth, ELF holds the edge at +37.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $120.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $235M | $21.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $104M | $12.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $215M | $14.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.3% | +71.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | +15.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +12.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +37.8% | -3.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +116.7% | -3.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 27.3x trailing earnings, UL trades at a 43% valuation discount to ELF's 47.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ELF offers better value at 1.18x vs UL's 20.02x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.1B | $161.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.3B | $190.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 47.94x | 27.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.66x | 19.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.18x | 20.02x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.19x | 14.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.91x | 2.25x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.06x | 6.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 44.48x | 17.56x |
Profitability & Efficiency
UL delivers a 61.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $61 in annual profit, vs $9 for ELF. ELF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UL's 1.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ELF scores 7/9 vs UL's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | +61.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | +16.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.5% | +15.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.6% | +17.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $164M | $24.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $149M | $6.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $313M | $30.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.48x | 20.96x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ELF five years ago would be worth $33,842 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,056 for UL. Over the past 12 months, UL leads with a +35.3% total return vs ELF's +31.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UL at 17.1% vs ELF's 7.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.3% | +14.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +31.0% | +35.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.1% | +60.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +238.4% | +60.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +247.4% | +120.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.2% | +17.1% |
Risk & Volatility
UL is the less volatile stock with a 0.03 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ELF's 1.66 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 ELF's 61.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.66x | 0.03x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $150.99 | $74.98 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $49.40 | $56.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +61.0% | +98.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.6 | 61.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 2.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ELF as "Buy" and UL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 22.6% upside for ELF (target: $113) vs -11.1% for UL (target: $66). UL is the only dividend payer here at 2.76% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $112.86 | $65.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.72 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.3% | +1.1% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Apr 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 100 | 919.42 | +819.4% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 87.92 | 122.94 | +39.8% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) returned +238% over 5 years vs Unilever PLC (UL)'s +61%. A $10,000 investment in ELF 5 years ago would be worth $33,842 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | $191M | $1.3B | +586.2% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | $52.7B | $60.8B | +15.3% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s revenue grew from $191M (2016) to $1.3B (2025) — a 23.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 2.3% | 8.5% | +274.9% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 9.8% | 9.5% | -3.9% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to 9% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 202.8 | 39.6 | -80.5% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 25.9 | 24.8 | -4.2% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. has traded in a 13x–277x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~48x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | -1.14 | 1.92 | +268.4% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 1.82 | 2.29 | +25.8% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.14 (2016) to $1.92 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. generated $115M FCF in 2025 (+401% vs 2021). Unilever PLC generated $8B FCF in 2024 (+13% vs 2021).
ELF vs UL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ELF or UL a better buy right now?
Unilever PLC (UL) offers the better valuation at 27.3x trailing P/E (19.6x 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 UL?
On trailing P/E, Unilever PLC (UL) is the cheapest at 27.3x versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. at 47.9x. On forward P/E, Unilever PLC is actually cheaper at 19.6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. wins at 0.73x versus Unilever PLC's 14.37x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ELF or UL?
Over the past 5 years, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) delivered a total return of +238.4%, compared to +60.6% for Unilever PLC (UL). A $10,000 investment in ELF five years ago would be worth approximately $34K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ELF returned +247.4% versus UL's +120.1%. 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 UL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Unilever PLC (UL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.03β versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s 1.66β — meaning ELF is approximately 5314% more volatile than UL 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 136% for Unilever PLC — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ELF or UL?
Unilever PLC (UL) is the more profitable company, earning 9.5% net margin versus 8.5% for e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UL leads at 15.5% versus 12.0% for ELF. 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 ELF 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, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.73x versus Unilever PLC's 14.37x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Unilever PLC (UL) trades at 19.6x forward P/E versus 29.7x for e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. — 10.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ELF: 22.6% to $112.86.
07Which pays a better dividend — ELF or UL?
In this comparison, UL (2.8% yield) pays a dividend. ELF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ELF 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). e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) carries a higher beta of 1.66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UL: +120.1%, ELF: +247.4%), 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 ELF 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. UL 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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