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 WMT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WMT
Walmart Inc.
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$1.04T
5Y Perf.+214.6%
EL vs WMT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | EL | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $31.29B | $1.04T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $14.84B | $703.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-248M | $22.91B |
| Gross Margin | 74.7% | 24.9% |
| Operating Margin | 6.8% | 4.1% |
| Forward P/E | 39.0x | 44.7x |
| Total Debt | $9.44B | $67.09B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.92B | $10.73B |
EL vs WMT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
EL
WMT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Estée Lauder Co… (EL) | 100 | 43.9 | -56.1% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 314.6 | +214.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: EL vs WMT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WMT leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
EL
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Defensive Pick
EL is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.73, yield 2.0%, current ratio 1.30x
- Lower P/E (39.0x vs 44.7x)
- 2.0% yield, vs WMT's 0.7%
Best for: defensive
WMT
Walmart Inc.
The Income Pick
WMT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 37 yrs, beta 0.12, yield 0.7%
- Rev growth 4.7%, EPS growth 13.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.3%
- 5.0% 10Y total return vs EL's 11.9%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WMT | 4.7% revenue growth vs EL's -8.5% |
| Value | EL | Lower P/E (39.0x vs 44.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | WMT | 3.3% margin vs EL's -1.7% |
| Stability / Safety | WMT | Beta 0.12 vs EL's 1.73, lower leverage |
| Dividends | EL | 2.0% yield, vs WMT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | EL | +50.5% vs WMT's +33.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMT | 7.9% ROA vs EL's -1.3%, ROIC 14.7% vs 6.5% |
EL vs WMT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
EL vs WMT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWMTLAGGINGEL
ELThe Estée Lauder Comp…
1leads
WMTWalmart Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ELMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
EL4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WMT7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WMT5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WMT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — EL and WMT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 47.4x EL's $14.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.3% (WMT) to -1.7% (EL).
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $14.8B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$248M | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.3B | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.7% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.7% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -45.5% | +35.1% |
Evenly matched — EL and WMT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
EL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, EL's 21.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WMT's 24.8x.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $31.3B | $1.04T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $37.8B | $1.09T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -27.51x | 47.65x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 39.05x | 44.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.33x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.16x | 24.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.19x | 1.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 8.07x | 10.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 46.71x | 24.94x |
EL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT delivers a 22.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $-6 for EL. WMT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to EL's 2.44x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WMT scores 6/9 vs EL's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -6.3% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.3% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.5% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.3% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.44x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.5B | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.9B | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.4B | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.14x | 11.85x |
WMT leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WMT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth $28,531 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,257 for EL. Over the past 12 months, EL leads with a +50.5% total return vs WMT's +33.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 37.5% vs EL's -23.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.5% | +15.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +50.5% | +33.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -55.0% | +160.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -67.4% | +185.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.9% | +505.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -23.4% | +37.5% |
WMT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WMT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WMT is the less volatile stock with a 0.12 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. WMT currently trades 96.6% 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 … | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.73x | 0.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $121.64 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $56.66 | $91.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.3% | +96.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.4 | 58.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.6M | 17.2M |
WMT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — EL and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EL as "Hold" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.1% upside for EL (target: $107) vs 5.4% for WMT (target: $137). For income investors, EL offers the higher dividend yield at 1.98% vs WMT's 0.72%.
| Metric | ELThe Estée Lauder … | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $106.73 | $137.04 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 46 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.0% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.72 | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +0.8% |
Evenly matched — EL and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WMT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). EL leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallWalmart Inc. (WMT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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EL vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EL or WMT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the stronger pick with 4. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL). Walmart Inc. (WMT) offers the better valuation at 47. 6x trailing P/E (44. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Walmart Inc. (WMT) a "Buy" — based on 64 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 — EL or WMT?
On forward P/E, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
is actually cheaper at 39. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EL or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) delivered a total return of +185. 3%, compared to -67. 4% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +505. 0% versus EL's +11. 9%. 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 — EL or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 12β versus The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. 's 1. 73β — meaning EL is approximately 1382% more volatile than WMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Walmart Inc. (WMT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 2% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — EL or WMT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is pulling ahead at 4. 7% versus -8. 5% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Walmart Inc. grew EPS 13. 3% year-over-year, compared to -391. 7% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WMT leads at 5. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — EL or WMT?
Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 1% net margin versus -7. 9% for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EL leads at 6. 7% versus 4. 2% for WMT. 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.
07Is EL or WMT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
(EL) trades at 39. 0x forward P/E versus 44. 7x for Walmart Inc. — 5. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EL: 23. 1% to $106. 73.
08Which pays a better dividend — EL or WMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) offers the highest yield at 2. 0%, versus 0. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).
09Is EL or WMT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 12), 0. 7% yield, +505. 0% 10Y return). 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 (WMT: +505. 0%, 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.
10What are the main differences between EL and WMT?
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.
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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