EL
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$31.29B
5Y Perf.-56.1%
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Stock Comparison
EL vs IFF
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IFF
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$21.18B
5Y Perf.-37.7%
EL vs IFF — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | EL | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $31.29B | $21.18B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $14.84B | $10.79B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-248M | $839M |
| Gross Margin | 74.7% | 35.1% |
| Operating Margin | 6.8% | 8.0% |
| Forward P/E | 39.0x | 18.9x |
| Total Debt | $9.44B | $6.65B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.92B | $590M |
EL vs IFF — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
EL
IFF
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Estée Lauder Co… (EL) | 100 | 43.9 | -56.1% |
| International Flavo… (IFF) | 100 | 62.3 | -37.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: EL vs IFF
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IFF leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
EL
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Income Pick
EL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.73, yield 2.0%
- 11.9% 10Y total return vs IFF's -7.7%
- 2.0% yield, vs IFF's 1.9%
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
IFF
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
The Growth Play
IFF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth -5.2%, EPS growth -253.7%, 3Y rev CAGR -4.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.68, Low D/E 46.9%, current ratio 1.42x
- Beta 0.68, yield 1.9%, current ratio 1.42x
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IFF | -5.2% revenue growth vs EL's -8.5% |
| Value | IFF | Lower P/E (18.9x vs 39.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | IFF | 7.8% margin vs EL's -1.7% |
| Stability / Safety | IFF | Beta 0.68 vs EL's 1.73, lower leverage |
| Dividends | EL | 2.0% yield, vs IFF's 1.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | EL | +50.5% vs IFF's +6.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IFF | 3.3% ROA vs EL's -1.3%, ROIC 3.5% vs 6.5% |
EL vs IFF — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
EL vs IFF — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIFFLAGGINGEL
ELThe Estée Lauder Comp…
1leads
IFFInternational Flavors…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ELMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IFF5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IFF7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
IFF4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
IFF2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
EL1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — EL and IFF each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
EL and IFF operate at a comparable scale, with $14.8B and $10.8B in trailing revenue. IFF is the more profitable business, keeping 7.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to EL's -1.7%. On growth, EL holds the edge at +4.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $14.8B | $10.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $1.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$248M | $839M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.3B | $400M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.7% | +35.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | +8.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.7% | +7.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +3.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | -3.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -45.5% | +116.6% |
Evenly matched — EL and IFF each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
IFF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, IFF's 13.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than EL's 21.2x.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $31.3B | $21.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $37.8B | $27.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -27.51x | -56.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 39.05x | 18.90x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.16x | 13.89x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.19x | 1.95x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 8.07x | 1.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 46.71x | 82.75x |
IFF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IFF leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IFF delivers a 5.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 in annual profit, vs $-6 for EL. IFF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.47x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to EL's 2.44x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IFF scores 5/9 vs EL's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -6.3% | +5.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.3% | +3.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.5% | +3.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.3% | +4.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.44x | 0.47x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.5B | $6.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.9B | $590M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.4B | $6.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.14x | 5.26x |
IFF leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IFF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IFF five years ago would be worth $6,506 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,257 for EL. Over the past 12 months, EL leads with a +50.5% total return vs IFF's +6.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IFF at -2.9% vs EL's -23.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.5% | +22.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +50.5% | +6.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -55.0% | -8.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -67.4% | -34.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.9% | -7.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -23.4% | -2.9% |
IFF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IFF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IFF is the less volatile stock with a 0.68 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than EL's 1.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IFF currently trades 98.5% from its 52-week high vs EL's 71.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.73x | 0.68x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $121.64 | $84.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $56.66 | $59.14 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.3% | +98.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.4 | 47.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.6M | 1.6M |
IFF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
EL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EL as "Hold" and IFF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.1% upside for EL (target: $107) vs 5.8% for IFF (target: $88). For income investors, EL offers the higher dividend yield at 1.98% vs IFF's 1.93%.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $106.73 | $87.75 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 46 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.0% | +1.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.72 | $1.60 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +0.2% |
EL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
IFF leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). EL leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallInternational Flavors & Fra… (IFF)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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EL vs IFF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EL or IFF a better buy right now?
For growth investors, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is the stronger pick with -5. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL). Analysts rate International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 is the better long-term investment — EL or IFF?
Over the past 5 years, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) delivered a total return of -34. 9%, compared to -67. 4% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EL returned +11. 9% versus IFF's -7. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — EL or IFF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. 's 1. 73β — meaning EL is approximately 155% more volatile than IFF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 2% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — EL or IFF?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is pulling ahead at -5. 2% versus -8. 5% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. grew EPS -253. 7% year-over-year, compared to -391. 7% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IFF leads at -4. 3% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — EL or IFF?
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is the more profitable company, earning -3. 4% net margin versus -7. 9% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. — meaning it keeps -3. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IFF leads at 9. 2% versus 6. 7% for EL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EL leads at 73. 9%, 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 EL or IFF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) trades at 18. 9x forward P/E versus 39. 0x for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. — 20. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EL: 23. 1% to $106. 73.
07Which pays a better dividend — EL or IFF?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) offers the highest yield at 2. 0%, versus 1. 9% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF).
08Is EL or IFF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 68), 1. 9% yield). The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IFF: -7. 7%, EL: +11. 9%), 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 EL and IFF?
These companies operate in different sectors (EL (Consumer Defensive) and IFF (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
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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