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OLPX vs ELF
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Household & Personal Products
OLPX vs ELF — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Specialty Retail | Household & Personal Products |
| Market Cap | $1.36B | $3.42B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $423M | $1.52B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-9M | $104M |
| Gross Margin | 69.4% | 70.3% |
| Operating Margin | 1.6% | 11.1% |
| Forward P/E | 24.3x | 19.8x |
| Total Debt | $352M | $313M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $319M | $149M |
OLPX vs ELF — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Sep 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olaplex Holdings, I… (OLPX) | 100 | 8.3 | -91.7% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 100 | 211.5 | +111.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: OLPX vs ELF
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
OLPX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.84
- Lower volatility, beta 0.84, Low D/E 40.1%, current ratio 4.58x
- Beta 0.84, current ratio 4.58x
ELF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 28.3%, EPS growth -13.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 49.6%
- 131.8% 10Y total return vs OLPX's -91.7%
- 28.3% revenue growth vs OLPX's 0.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 28.3% revenue growth vs OLPX's 0.1% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (19.8x vs 24.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 6.8% margin vs OLPX's -2.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.84 vs ELF's 2.36, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +55.7% vs ELF's -9.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.5% ROA vs OLPX's -0.6%, ROIC 13.5% vs 0.6% |
OLPX vs ELF — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
OLPX vs ELF — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ELF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ELF is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.5B annually — 3.6x OLPX's $423M. ELF is the more profitable business, keeping 6.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to OLPX's -2.2%. On growth, ELF holds the edge at +37.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $423M | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $87M | $235M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$9M | $104M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $24M | $215M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +69.4% | +70.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.6% | +11.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.2% | +6.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.7% | +14.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.3% | +37.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -57.1% | +116.7% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — OLPX and ELF each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ELF's 17.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than OLPX's 201.2x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $3.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.4B | $3.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -204.00x | 31.99x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 24.29x | 19.78x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.79x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 201.19x | 17.75x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.23x | 2.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.55x | 4.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 23.27x | 29.69x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ELF leads this category, winning 7 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 $-1 for OLPX. OLPX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.40x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ELF's 0.41x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ELF scores 7/9 vs OLPX's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -1.1% | +8.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.6% | +4.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.6% | +13.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.4% | +16.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.40x | 0.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $34M | $164M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $319M | $149M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $352M | $313M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.83x | 6.48x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ELF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ELF five years ago would be worth $20,095 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $833 for OLPX. Over the past 12 months, OLPX leads with a +55.7% total return vs ELF's -9.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ELF at -12.0% vs OLPX's -19.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +51.1% | -21.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +55.7% | -9.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -48.6% | -31.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -91.7% | +100.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -91.7% | +131.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -19.9% | -12.0% |
Risk & Volatility
OLPX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
OLPX is the less volatile stock with a 0.84 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. OLPX currently trades 100.0% from its 52-week high vs ELF's 40.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.84x | 2.36x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $2.04 | $150.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.99 | $58.05 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +100.0% | +40.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.8 | 37.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.4M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
OLPX leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates OLPX as "Hold" and ELF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 54.9% upside for ELF (target: $95) vs -6.4% for OLPX (target: $2).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $1.91 | $95.17 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.0% |
ELF leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). OLPX leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
OLPX vs ELF: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is OLPX or ELF 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 0. 1% for Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (OLPX). e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) offers the better valuation at 32. 0x trailing P/E (19. 8x 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 — OLPX or ELF?
On forward P/E, e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — OLPX or ELF?
Over the past 5 years, e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) delivered a total return of +100. 9%, compared to -91. 7% for Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (OLPX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ELF returned +131. 8% versus OLPX's -91. 7%. 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 — OLPX or ELF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Olaplex Holdings, Inc.
(OLPX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 84β versus e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. 's 2. 36β — meaning ELF is approximately 181% more volatile than OLPX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (OLPX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 40% versus 41% for e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — OLPX or ELF?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is pulling ahead at 28. 3% versus 0. 1% for Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (OLPX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. grew EPS -13. 1% year-over-year, compared to -134. 1% for Olaplex Holdings, 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 — OLPX or ELF?
e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 5% net margin versus -2. 2% for Olaplex Holdings, 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 1. 6% for OLPX. 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 OLPX or ELF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) trades at 19. 8x forward P/E versus 24. 3x for Olaplex Holdings, Inc. — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ELF: 54. 9% to $95. 17.
08Which pays a better dividend — OLPX or ELF?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is OLPX or ELF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Olaplex Holdings, Inc.
(OLPX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 84)). 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 (OLPX: -91. 7%, ELF: +131. 8%), 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 OLPX and ELF?
These companies operate in different sectors (OLPX (Consumer Cyclical) and ELF (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: OLPX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ELF is a small-cap high-growth 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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