Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) 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 KVUE's 0.1% |
| Value | KVUE | Lower P/E (17.0x vs 19.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | UL | 10.2% net margin vs KVUE's 9.5% |
| Stability / Safety | UL | Beta 0.03 vs KVUE's 0.22 |
| Dividends | KVUE | 4.2% yield, vs UL's 2.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UL | +35.3% vs KVUE's -15.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UL | 16.0% ROA vs KVUE's 5.3%, ROIC 15.3% vs 7.8% |
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
Kenvue is a consumer health company that sells over-the-counter medications, skincare products, and essential health items through well-known brands like Tylenol, Neutrogena, and Band-Aid. It generates revenue primarily from three segments: Self Care (pain relief, allergy, digestive health), Skin Health and Beauty (skincare, haircare), and Essential Health (oral care, baby care, wound care) — each contributing roughly one-third of sales. The company's key advantage is its portfolio of trusted, household-name brands with decades of consumer loyalty and recognition.
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 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). KVUE leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
UL is the larger business by revenue, generating $120.1B annually — 8.0x KVUE's $15.0B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.2% (UL) to 9.5% (KVUE).
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.0B | $120.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.9B | $21.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.4B | $12.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.6B | $14.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.1% | +71.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.7% | +15.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.5% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +12.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.5% | -3.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.0% | -3.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 27.3x trailing earnings, UL trades at a 23% valuation discount to KVUE's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, UL's 14.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KVUE's 18.0x.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $36.6B | $161.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $44.3B | $190.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 35.41x | 27.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.05x | 19.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 20.02x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.98x | 14.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.37x | 2.25x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.80x | 6.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 27.44x | 17.56x |
Profitability & Efficiency
UL delivers a 61.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $61 in annual profit, vs $13 for KVUE. KVUE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.90x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UL's 1.36x.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.5% | +61.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +16.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.8% | +15.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.7% | +17.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.90x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.6B | $24.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.1B | $6.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.7B | $30.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.22x | 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 $7,941 for KVUE. Over the past 12 months, UL leads with a +35.3% total return vs KVUE's -15.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UL at 17.1% vs KVUE's -7.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.6% | +14.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.5% | +35.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.6% | +60.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.6% | +60.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.6% | +120.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -7.4% | +17.1% |
Risk & Volatility
UL is the less volatile stock with a 0.03 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KVUE's 0.22 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 KVUE's 76.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.22x | 0.03x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.17 | $74.98 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.02 | $56.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.0% | +98.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.2 | 61.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 41.1M | 2.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KVUE as "Hold" and UL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -2.9% upside for KVUE (target: $19) vs -11.1% for UL (target: $66). For income investors, KVUE offers the higher dividend yield at 4.22% vs UL's 2.76%.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.57 | $65.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.2% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.81 | $1.72 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +1.1% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | May 23 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | 100 | 64.61 | -35.4% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 100 | 137.21 | +37.2% |
Unilever PLC (UL) returned +61% over 5 years vs Kenvue Inc. (KVUE)'s -21%. A $10,000 investment in UL 5 years ago would be worth $16,056 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | $14.5B | $15.5B | +6.8% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | $53.3B | $60.8B | +14.1% |
Unilever PLC's revenue grew from $53.3B (2015) to $60.8B (2024) — a 1.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | -6.1% | 6.7% | +209.7% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 9.2% | 9.5% | +2.6% |
Unilever PLC's net margin went from 9% (2015) to 9% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 25.9 | 24.8 | -4.2% |
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 | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | -0.47 | 0.54 | +214.9% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 1.72 | 2.29 | +33.1% |
Unilever PLC's EPS grew from $1.72 (2015) to $2.29 (2024) — a 3% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Kenvue Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2024 (+3323% vs 2021). Unilever PLC generated $8B FCF in 2024 (+13% vs 2021).
KVUE vs UL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KVUE 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 Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) a "Hold" — based on 14 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 — KVUE or UL?
On trailing P/E, Unilever PLC (UL) is the cheapest at 27.3x versus Kenvue Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Kenvue Inc. is actually cheaper at 17.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KVUE or UL?
Over the past 5 years, Unilever PLC (UL) delivered a total return of +60.6%, compared to -20.6% for Kenvue Inc. (KVUE). 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 KVUE's -20.6%. 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 — KVUE or UL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Unilever PLC (UL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.03β versus Kenvue Inc.'s 0.22β — meaning KVUE is approximately 618% more volatile than UL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 90% versus 136% for Unilever PLC — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — KVUE or UL?
Unilever PLC (UL) is the more profitable company, earning 9.5% net margin versus 6.7% for Kenvue 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 11.9% for KVUE. 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 KVUE or UL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) trades at 17.0x forward P/E versus 19.6x for Unilever PLC — 2.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KVUE: -2.9% to $18.57.
07Which pays a better dividend — KVUE or UL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) offers the highest yield at 4.2%, versus 2.8% for Unilever PLC (UL).
08Is KVUE 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%, KVUE: -20.6%), 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 KVUE 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: KVUE 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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