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NUS vs HLF
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Packaged Foods
NUS vs HLF — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Packaged Foods |
| Market Cap | $354M | $1.70B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.56B | $5.13B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $110M | $240M |
| Gross Margin | 67.2% | 76.5% |
| Operating Margin | -0.7% | 6.4% |
| Forward P/E | 7.3x | 6.4x |
| Total Debt | $282M | $2.34B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $239M | $353M |
NUS vs HLF — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nu Skin Enterprises… (NUS) | 100 | 19.7 | -80.3% |
| Herbalife Nutrition… (HLF) | 100 | 37.5 | -62.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NUS vs HLF
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
NUS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.49, yield 3.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.49, Low D/E 35.0%, current ratio 2.08x
- Beta 1.49, yield 3.2%, current ratio 2.08x
HLF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 0.9%, EPS growth -12.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.1%
- -48.3% 10Y total return vs NUS's -49.1%
- 0.9% revenue growth vs NUS's -14.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 0.9% revenue growth vs NUS's -14.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (6.4x vs 7.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 7.0% margin vs HLF's 4.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.49 vs HLF's 1.79 | |
| Dividends | 3.2% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +139.7% vs NUS's +31.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 8.6% ROA vs NUS's 7.7%, ROIC 24.3% vs 5.5% |
NUS vs HLF — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
NUS vs HLF — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HLF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HLF is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.1B annually — 3.3x NUS's $1.6B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 7.0% (NUS) to 4.7% (HLF). On growth, HLF holds the edge at +7.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $5.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $45M | $417M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $110M | $240M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $53M | $374M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.2% | +76.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -0.7% | +6.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +4.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +7.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -15.3% | +7.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +16.3% |
Valuation Metrics
NUS leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 2.3x trailing earnings, NUS trades at a 69% valuation discount to HLF's 7.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NUS's 6.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HLF's 6.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $354M | $1.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $397M | $3.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 2.31x | 7.47x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.34x | 6.39x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.04x | 6.55x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.24x | 0.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.46x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.69x | 6.72x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NUS leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NUS scores 6/9 vs HLF's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.7% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.7% | +8.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.5% | +24.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.7% | +27.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.35x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $43M | $2.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $239M | $353M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $282M | $2.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.60x | 1.64x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HLF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HLF five years ago would be worth $3,313 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,082 for NUS. Over the past 12 months, HLF leads with a +139.7% total return vs NUS's +31.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HLF at 5.4% vs NUS's -38.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -23.6% | +28.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +31.1% | +139.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -76.3% | +16.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -79.2% | -66.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -49.1% | -48.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -38.1% | +5.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NUS and HLF each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NUS is the less volatile stock with a 1.49 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HLF's 1.79 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HLF currently trades 80.6% from its 52-week high vs NUS's 50.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.49x | 1.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $14.62 | $20.40 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.63 | $6.59 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +50.2% | +80.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.1 | 51.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 458K | 1.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NUS as "Hold" and HLF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 49.9% upside for NUS (target: $11) vs -2.7% for HLF (target: $16). NUS is the only dividend payer here at 3.21% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $11.00 | $16.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.24 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.7% | +0.5% |
HLF leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). NUS leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
NUS vs HLF: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NUS or HLF a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.
(HLF) is the stronger pick with 0. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 3% for Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NUS). Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NUS) offers the better valuation at 2. 3x trailing P/E (7. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. (HLF) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 — NUS or HLF?
On trailing P/E, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.
(NUS) is the cheapest at 2. 3x versus Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. at 7. 5x. On forward P/E, Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. is actually cheaper at 6. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NUS or HLF?
Over the past 5 years, Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.
(HLF) delivered a total return of -66. 9%, compared to -79. 2% for Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NUS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLF returned -48. 3% versus NUS's -49. 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 — NUS or HLF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.
(NUS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 49β versus Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. 's 1. 79β — meaning HLF is approximately 20% more volatile than NUS relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — NUS or HLF?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.
(HLF) is pulling ahead at 0. 9% versus -14. 3% for Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NUS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. grew EPS 207. 8% year-over-year, compared to -12. 0% for Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HLF leads at -1. 1% 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 — NUS or HLF?
Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.
(NUS) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 8% net margin versus 4. 5% for Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. — meaning it keeps 10. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HLF leads at 8. 8% versus 4. 4% for NUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HLF leads at 75. 6%, 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 NUS or HLF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.
(HLF) trades at 6. 4x forward P/E versus 7. 3x for Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. — 0. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NUS: 49. 9% to $11. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — NUS or HLF?
In this comparison, NUS (3.
2% yield) pays a dividend. HLF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is NUS or HLF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.
(NUS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (3. 2% yield). Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. (HLF) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NUS: -49. 1%, HLF: -48. 3%), 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 NUS and HLF?
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.
NUS pays a dividend while HLF 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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