Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) vs Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) 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 CL's 1.4% |
| Value | CL | Lower P/E (25.7x vs 29.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | CL | 10.5% net margin vs ELF's 6.8% |
| Stability / Safety | CL | Beta 0.02 vs ELF's 1.66 |
| Dividends | CL | 2.3% yield; 5-year raise streak; ELF pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ELF | +31.0% vs CL's +11.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CL | 13.0% ROA vs ELF's 4.5%, ROIC 43.4% vs 13.5% |
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
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.
Colgate-Palmolive is a global consumer goods company that manufactures and sells oral care, personal care, home care, and pet nutrition products. It generates revenue primarily from its Oral, Personal and Home Care segment — which contributes roughly 85% of sales — and its Pet Nutrition segment, which makes up the remaining 15%. The company's competitive advantage lies in its powerful global brand portfolio, particularly the dominant Colgate brand in oral care, and its extensive distribution network reaching over 200 countries.
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
CL leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CL is the larger business by revenue, generating $20.4B annually — 13.4x ELF's $1.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.5% (CL) to 6.8% (ELF). On growth, ELF holds the edge at +37.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $20.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $235M | $3.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $104M | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $215M | $3.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.3% | +60.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | +21.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | +10.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +17.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +37.8% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +116.7% | -105.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 37.7x trailing earnings, CL trades at a 21% valuation discount to ELF's 47.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CL's 17.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ELF's 26.2x.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.1B | $79.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.3B | $86.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 47.94x | 37.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.66x | 25.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.18x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.19x | 17.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.91x | 3.92x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.06x | 220.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 44.48x | 21.99x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CL delivers a 5.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 in annual profit, vs $9 for ELF. ELF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CL's 21.88x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ELF scores 7/9 vs CL's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | +5.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | +13.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.5% | +43.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.6% | +41.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 21.88x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $164M | $6.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $149M | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $313M | $8.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.48x | 12.37x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ELF five years ago would be worth $33,842 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,394 for CL. Over the past 12 months, ELF leads with a +31.0% total return vs CL's +11.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CL at 12.8% vs ELF's 7.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.3% | +28.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +31.0% | +11.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.1% | +43.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +238.4% | +43.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +247.4% | +78.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.2% | +12.8% |
Risk & Volatility
CL is the less volatile stock with a 0.02 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. CL currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs ELF's 61.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.66x | 0.02x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $150.99 | $100.18 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $49.40 | $74.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +61.0% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.6 | 68.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 5.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ELF as "Buy" and CL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 22.6% upside for ELF (target: $113) vs -6.7% for CL (target: $92). CL is the only dividend payer here at 2.27% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $112.86 | $92.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.25 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.3% | +1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 100 | 521.8 | +421.8% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 100 | 126.85 | +26.8% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) returned +238% over 5 years vs Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL)'s +44%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | $191M | $1.3B | +586.2% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | $15.2B | $20.4B | +34.1% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s revenue grew from $191M (2016) to $1.3B (2025) — a 23.9% CAGR. Colgate-Palmolive Company's revenue grew from $15.2B (2016) to $20.4B (2025) — a 3.3% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 2.3% | 8.5% | +274.9% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 16.1% | 10.5% | -34.9% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to 9% (2025). Colgate-Palmolive Company's net margin went from 16% (2016) to 10% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 202.8 | 39.6 | -80.5% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 33.1 | 30 | -9.4% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. has traded in a 13x–277x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~48x. Colgate-Palmolive Company has traded in a 22x–37x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~38x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | -1.14 | 1.92 | +268.4% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 2.72 | 2.63 | -3.3% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.14 (2016) to $1.92 (2025). Colgate-Palmolive Company's EPS grew from $2.72 (2016) to $2.63 (2025) — a -0% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. generated $115M FCF in 2025 (+401% vs 2021). Colgate-Palmolive Company generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+32% vs 2021).
ELF vs CL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ELF or CL a better buy right now?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) offers the better valuation at 37.7x trailing P/E (25.7x 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 — ELF or CL?
On trailing P/E, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the cheapest at 37.7x versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. at 47.9x. On forward P/E, Colgate-Palmolive Company is actually cheaper at 25.7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ELF or CL?
Over the past 5 years, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) delivered a total return of +238.4%, compared to +43.9% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). 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 CL's +78.5%. 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 — ELF or CL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.02β versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s 1.66β — meaning ELF is approximately 9531% more volatile than CL 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 22% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ELF or CL?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the more profitable company, earning 10.5% net margin versus 8.5% for e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CL leads at 21.3% versus 12.0% for ELF. 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 ELF or CL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) trades at 25.7x forward P/E versus 29.7x for e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. — 4.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ELF: 22.6% to $112.86.
07Which pays a better dividend — ELF or CL?
In this comparison, CL (2.3% yield) pays a dividend. ELF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ELF or CL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.02), 2.3% 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 (CL: +78.5%, 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 ELF and CL?
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. CL 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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