Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) 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.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ELF | 28.3% revenue growth vs EPC's -1.3% |
| Value | EPC | Lower P/E (11.8x vs 29.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | ELF | 6.8% net margin vs EPC's -1.8% |
| Stability / Safety | EPC | Beta 0.62 vs ELF's 1.66 |
| Dividends | EPC | 2.7% yield; 2-year raise streak; ELF pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ELF | +31.0% vs EPC's -25.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ELF | 4.5% ROA vs EPC's -1.0%, ROIC 13.5% vs 2.6% |
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
Edgewell Personal Care is a consumer goods company that manufactures and sells personal care products across three main categories. It generates revenue primarily from wet shave products (~50% of sales), sun and skin care (~30%), and feminine care products (~20%) under brands like Schick, Banana Boat, and Playtex. The company's competitive advantage lies in its portfolio of established, trusted brands with strong shelf presence in retail channels worldwide.
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). EPC leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
EPC and ELF operate at a comparable scale, with $2.2B and $1.5B in trailing revenue. ELF is the more profitable business, keeping 6.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to EPC's -1.8%. On growth, ELF holds the edge at +37.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | EPCEdgewell Personal… | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.2B | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $164M | $235M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$38M | $104M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $36M | $215M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.3% | +70.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +11.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.8% | +6.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.7% | +14.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.6% | +37.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -31.7% | +116.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 42.9x trailing earnings, EPC trades at a 11% valuation discount to ELF's 47.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EPC's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ELF's 26.2x.
| Metric | EPCEdgewell Personal… | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.1B | $5.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.4B | $5.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 42.91x | 47.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.82x | 29.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.18x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.83x | 26.19x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.48x | 3.91x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.70x | 7.06x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.66x | 44.48x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ELF delivers a 8.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-3 for EPC. ELF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to EPC's 0.99x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ELF scores 7/9 vs EPC's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | EPCEdgewell Personal… | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.6% | +8.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.0% | +4.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.6% | +13.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.0% | +16.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.99x | 0.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | $164M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $226M | $149M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $313M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.84x | 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 $8,327 for EPC. Over the past 12 months, ELF leads with a +31.0% total return vs EPC's -25.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ELF at 7.2% vs EPC's -16.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EPCEdgewell Personal… | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +34.9% | +18.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -25.8% | +31.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.5% | +23.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -16.7% | +238.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -66.1% | +247.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -16.9% | +7.2% |
Risk & Volatility
EPC is the less volatile stock with a 0.62 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. EPC currently trades 69.0% from its 52-week high vs ELF's 61.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | EPCEdgewell Personal… | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.62x | 1.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.96 | $150.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.88 | $49.40 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +69.0% | +61.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 72.6 | 60.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 558K | 1.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EPC as "Hold" and ELF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.6% upside for ELF (target: $113) vs -0.3% for EPC (target: $23). EPC is the only dividend payer here at 2.71% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | EPCEdgewell Personal… | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $22.67 | $112.86 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.7% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.62 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.5% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | 100 | 59.89 | -40.1% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 100 | 521.8 | +421.8% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) returned +238% over 5 years vs Edgewell Personal C… (EPC)'s -17%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | $2.4B | $2.2B | -5.9% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | $191M | $1.3B | +586.2% |
Edgewell Personal Care Company's revenue grew from $2.4B (2016) to $2.2B (2025) — a -0.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | 7.6% | 1.1% | -84.9% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 2.3% | 8.5% | +274.9% |
Edgewell Personal Care Company's net margin went from 8% (2016) to 1% (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | 19.7 | 32.2 | +63.5% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 202.8 | 39.6 | -80.5% |
Edgewell Personal Care Company has traded in a 17x–32x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~43x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | 2.99 | 0.53 | -82.3% |
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | -1.14 | 1.92 | +268.4% |
Edgewell Personal Care Company's EPS grew from $2.99 (2016) to $0.53 (2025) — a -17% CAGR. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.14 (2016) to $1.92 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Edgewell Personal Care Company generated $41M FCF in 2025 (-76% vs 2021). e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. generated $115M FCF in 2025 (+401% vs 2021).
EPC vs ELF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EPC or ELF a better buy right now?
Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) offers the better valuation at 42.9x trailing P/E (11.8x 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 — EPC or ELF?
On trailing P/E, Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) is the cheapest at 42.9x versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. at 47.9x. On forward P/E, Edgewell Personal Care Company is actually cheaper at 11.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EPC or ELF?
Over the past 5 years, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) delivered a total return of +238.4%, compared to -16.7% for Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC). 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 EPC's -66.1%. 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 — EPC or ELF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.62β versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s 1.66β — meaning ELF is approximately 166% more volatile than EPC 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 99% for Edgewell Personal Care Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — EPC or ELF?
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is the more profitable company, earning 8.5% net margin versus 1.1% for Edgewell Personal Care Company — 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 4.3% for EPC. 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 EPC or ELF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) trades at 11.8x forward P/E versus 29.7x for e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. — 17.8x 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 — EPC or ELF?
In this comparison, EPC (2.7% yield) pays a dividend. ELF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is EPC or ELF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.62), 2.7% 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 (EPC: -66.1%, 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 EPC 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. EPC 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.