Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Coty Inc. (COTY) vs e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) 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 COTY's -3.7% |
| Value | COTY | Lower P/E (8.4x vs 29.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | ELF | 6.8% net margin vs COTY's -9.2% |
| Stability / Safety | COTY | Beta 1.09 vs ELF's 1.66 |
| Dividends | COTY | 0.6% yield; 1-year raise streak; ELF pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ELF | +31.0% vs COTY's -55.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ELF | 4.5% ROA vs COTY's -4.8%, ROIC 13.5% vs 2.3% |
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
Coty is a global beauty company that manufactures and sells prestige fragrances, cosmetics, and skincare products. It generates revenue through two main segments: prestige beauty (approximately 60% of sales) sold through department stores and specialty retailers, and consumer beauty (around 40%) sold through mass-market channels like drugstores and supermarkets. The company's key advantage lies in its extensive portfolio of licensed prestige brands — including Gucci, Burberry, and Calvin Klein — which provides strong brand recognition and distribution leverage.
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.
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
ELF leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). COTY leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
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 -9.2%. On growth, ELF holds the edge at +37.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | COTYCoty Inc. | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.8B | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $373M | $235M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$534M | $104M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $394M | $215M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +63.7% | +70.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.2% | +11.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -9.2% | +6.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | +14.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.5% | +37.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.0% | +116.7% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, COTY's 9.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ELF's 26.2x.
| Metric | COTYCoty Inc. | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.2B | $5.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.2B | $5.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.70x | 47.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.44x | 29.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.18x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.34x | 26.19x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.37x | 3.91x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.55x | 7.06x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.89x | 44.48x |
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 | COTYCoty Inc. | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -14.4% | +8.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -4.8% | +4.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.3% | +13.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.6% | +16.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.07x | 0.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.0B | $164M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $257M | $149M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.2B | $313M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.24x | 6.48x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ELF five years ago would be worth $33,842 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,110 for COTY. Over the past 12 months, ELF leads with a +31.0% total return vs COTY's -55.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ELF at 7.2% vs COTY's -39.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | COTYCoty Inc. | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -19.3% | +18.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -55.9% | +31.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -77.8% | +23.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -68.9% | +238.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.1% | +247.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -39.4% | +7.2% |
Risk & Volatility
COTY is the less volatile stock with a 1.09 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. ELF currently trades 61.0% from its 52-week high vs COTY's 40.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | COTYCoty Inc. | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.09x | 1.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $6.13 | $150.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.44 | $49.40 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +40.9% | +61.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.7 | 60.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7.4M | 1.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COTY as "Hold" and ELF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 62.2% upside for COTY (target: $4) vs 22.6% for ELF (target: $113). COTY is the only dividend payer here at 0.61% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | COTYCoty Inc. | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $4.07 | $112.86 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 33 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.02 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coty Inc. (COTY) | 100 | 34.84 | -65.2% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 100 | 521.8 | +421.8% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) returned +238% over 5 years vs Coty Inc. (COTY)'s -69%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coty Inc. (COTY) | $4.3B | $5.9B | +35.5% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | $191M | $1.3B | +586.2% |
Coty Inc.'s revenue grew from $4.3B (2016) to $5.9B (2025) — a 3.4% CAGR. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coty Inc. (COTY) | 3.6% | -6.2% | -273.1% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 2.3% | 8.5% | +274.9% |
Coty Inc.'s net margin went from 4% (2016) to -6% (2025). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coty Inc. (COTY) | 27.6 | 80.6 | +192.0% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 202.8 | 39.6 | -80.5% |
Coty Inc. has traded in a 22x–81x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-6x. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. has traded in a 13x–277x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~48x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coty Inc. (COTY) | 0.44 | -0.44 | -200.0% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | -1.14 | 1.92 | +268.4% |
Coty Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.44 (2016) to $-0.44 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.14 (2016) to $1.92 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Coty Inc. generated $278M FCF in 2025 (+92% vs 2021). e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. generated $115M FCF in 2025 (+401% vs 2021).
COTY vs ELF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COTY or ELF a better buy right now?
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) offers the better valuation at 47.9x trailing P/E (29.7x 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 — COTY or ELF?
On forward P/E, Coty Inc. is actually cheaper at 8.4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COTY or ELF?
Over the past 5 years, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) delivered a total return of +238.4%, compared to -68.9% for Coty Inc. (COTY). 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 COTY's -84.1%. 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 — COTY or ELF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Coty Inc. (COTY) is the lower-risk stock at 1.09β versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s 1.66β — meaning ELF is approximately 51% 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 has better profit margins — COTY or ELF?
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.
06Is COTY or ELF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Coty Inc. (COTY) trades at 8.4x forward P/E versus 29.7x for e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. — 21.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COTY: 62.2% to $4.07.
07Which pays a better dividend — COTY or ELF?
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.
08Is COTY or ELF 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 1.09), 0.6% yield). 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 (COTY: -84.1%, 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 COTY and ELF?
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. 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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