ELF
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$3.42B
5Y Perf.+258.4%
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Stock Comparison
ELF vs KOS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KOS
Kosmos Energy Ltd.
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$1.46B
5Y Perf.+58.8%
ELF vs KOS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ELF | KOS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $3.42B | $1.46B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.52B | $1.37B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $104M | $-815M |
| Gross Margin | 70.3% | 0.7% |
| Operating Margin | 11.1% | -7.2% |
| Forward P/E | 19.8x | 160.6x |
| Total Debt | $313M | $3.06B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $149M | $92M |
ELF vs KOS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ELF
KOS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 100 | 358.4 | +258.4% |
| Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS) | 100 | 158.8 | +58.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ELF vs KOS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ELF leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Kosmos Energy Ltd. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
ELF
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.
The Income Pick
ELF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 2.36
- Rev growth 28.3%, EPS growth -13.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 49.6%
- 131.8% 10Y total return vs KOS's -41.4%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
KOS
Kosmos Energy Ltd.
The Defensive Pick
KOS is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 0.49, current ratio 0.75x
- Beta 0.49 vs ELF's 2.36
- +87.7% vs ELF's -9.2%
Best for: defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ELF | 28.3% revenue growth vs KOS's -22.5% |
| Value | ELF | Lower P/E (19.8x vs 160.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | ELF | 6.8% margin vs KOS's -59.4% |
| Stability / Safety | KOS | Beta 0.49 vs ELF's 2.36 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | KOS | +87.7% vs ELF's -9.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ELF | 4.5% ROA vs KOS's -16.5%, ROIC 13.5% vs -5.5% |
ELF vs KOS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
ELF vs KOS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLELFLAGGINGKOS
KOSKosmos Energy Ltd.
2leads
ELFe.l.f. Beauty, Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KOSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ELF6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KOS4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ELF9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ELF4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
KOS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ELF1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ELF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ELF and KOS operate at a comparable scale, with $1.5B and $1.4B in trailing revenue. ELF is the more profitable business, keeping 6.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KOS's -59.4%. On growth, ELF holds the edge at +37.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $235M | $227M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $104M | -$815M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $215M | $17M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.3% | +0.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | -7.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | -59.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +1.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +37.8% | +27.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +116.7% | -95.7% |
ELF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KOS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, KOS's 13.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ELF's 17.7x.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.4B | $1.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.6B | $4.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 31.99x | -1.97x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.78x | 160.56x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.79x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.75x | 13.74x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.61x | 1.13x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.71x | 2.62x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 29.69x | — |
KOS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ELF leads this category, winning 9 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 $-110 for KOS. ELF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KOS's 5.80x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ELF scores 7/9 vs KOS's 2/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | -110.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | -16.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.5% | -5.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.6% | -6.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 5.80x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $164M | $3.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $149M | $92M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $313M | $3.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.48x | -1.38x |
ELF leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
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 $9,897 for KOS. Over the past 12 months, KOS leads with a +87.7% total return vs ELF's -9.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ELF at -12.0% vs KOS's -23.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -21.1% | +224.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -9.2% | +87.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.8% | -54.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.9% | -1.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +131.8% | -41.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -12.0% | -23.0% |
ELF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KOS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KOS is the less volatile stock with a 0.49 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. KOS currently trades 87.0% from its 52-week high vs ELF's 40.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.36x | 0.49x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $150.99 | $3.32 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.05 | $0.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +40.7% | +87.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 37.6 | 61.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.3M | 26.8M |
KOS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ELF leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ELF as "Buy" and KOS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 54.9% upside for ELF (target: $95) vs -16.3% for KOS (target: $2).
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $95.17 | $2.42 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | 0.0% |
ELF leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
ELF leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). KOS leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Best Overalle.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ELF vs KOS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ELF or KOS 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 -22. 5% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS). 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 — ELF or KOS?
On forward P/E, e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ELF or KOS?
Over the past 5 years, e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) delivered a total return of +100. 9%, compared to -1. 0% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ELF returned +131. 8% versus KOS's -41. 4%. 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 KOS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kosmos Energy Ltd.
(KOS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 49β versus e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. 's 2. 36β — meaning ELF is approximately 383% more volatile than KOS 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 6% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ELF or KOS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is pulling ahead at 28. 3% versus -22. 5% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: e. l. f. Beauty, Inc. grew EPS -13. 1% year-over-year, compared to -467. 5% for Kosmos Energy Ltd.. 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 — ELF or KOS?
e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 5% net margin versus -53. 9% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. — 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 -20. 9% for KOS. 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 ELF or KOS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, e.
l. f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) trades at 19. 8x forward P/E versus 160. 6x for Kosmos Energy Ltd. — 140. 8x 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 — ELF or KOS?
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 ELF or KOS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kosmos Energy Ltd.
(KOS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 49)). 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 (KOS: -41. 4%, 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 ELF and KOS?
These companies operate in different sectors (ELF (Consumer Defensive) and KOS (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: ELF is a small-cap high-growth stock; KOS is a small-cap quality compounder 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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