Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Unilever PLC (UL) vs Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) 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 | UL | 1.9% revenue growth vs CHD's 1.6% |
| Value | UL | Lower P/E (19.6x vs 27.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | CHD | 11.9% net margin vs UL's 10.2% |
| Stability / Safety | UL | Beta 0.03 vs CHD's 0.04 |
| Dividends | UL | 2.8% yield, vs CHD's 1.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UL | +35.3% vs CHD's -4.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UL | 16.0% ROA vs CHD's 8.3%, ROIC 15.3% vs 13.9% |
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
Unilever is a global consumer goods giant selling everyday household and personal care products through a vast portfolio of trusted brands. It generates revenue primarily from three segments: Beauty & Personal Care (~40% of sales), Foods & Refreshment (~35%), and Home Care (~25%), with strong emerging markets exposure. Its competitive moat lies in its massive scale, extensive distribution network, and portfolio of iconic brands that command consumer loyalty across price points.
Church & Dwight is a consumer goods company that manufactures and markets household, personal care, and specialty products under well-known brands like ARM & HAMMER, TROJAN, and OXICLEAN. It generates revenue primarily through its Consumer Domestic segment — which accounts for roughly 70% of sales — selling products across laundry, oral care, sexual wellness, and home cleaning categories. The company's key advantage is its portfolio of leading value brands that dominate niche categories — like ARM & HAMMER in baking soda and TROJAN in condoms — giving it pricing power and shelf space.
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
UL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CHD leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
UL is the larger business by revenue, generating $120.1B annually — 19.4x CHD's $6.2B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 11.9% (CHD) to 10.2% (UL). On growth, CHD holds the edge at +3.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CHDChurch & Dwight C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $120.1B | $6.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $21.7B | $1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $12.2B | $737M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $14.5B | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +71.3% | +44.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | +17.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.2% | +11.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +17.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.2% | +3.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.4% | -21.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 27.3x trailing earnings, UL trades at a 21% valuation discount to CHD's 34.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, UL's 14.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CHD's 20.1x.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CHDChurch & Dwight C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $161.1B | $24.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $190.1B | $26.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.30x | 34.72x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.61x | 27.81x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 20.02x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.44x | 20.09x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.25x | 4.00x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.95x | 6.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.56x | 22.71x |
Profitability & Efficiency
UL delivers a 61.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $61 in annual profit, vs $18 for CHD. CHD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.55x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UL's 1.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CHD scores 7/9 vs UL's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CHDChurch & Dwight C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +61.2% | +18.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +16.0% | +8.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.3% | +13.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.7% | +14.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.36x | 0.55x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $24.5B | $1.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6.1B | $409M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $30.7B | $2.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 20.96x | 10.22x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in UL five years ago would be worth $16,056 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,027 for CHD. Over the past 12 months, UL leads with a +35.3% total return vs CHD's -4.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UL at 17.1% vs CHD's 8.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CHDChurch & Dwight C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.2% | +27.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +35.3% | -4.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.8% | +29.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.6% | +40.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +120.1% | +152.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.1% | +8.9% |
Risk & Volatility
UL is the less volatile stock with a 0.03 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CHD's 0.04 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UL currently trades 98.4% from its 52-week high vs CHD's 90.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CHDChurch & Dwight C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.03x | 0.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $74.98 | $116.46 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $56.20 | $81.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.4% | +90.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.8 | 70.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.7M | 2.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UL as "Hold" and CHD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -6.2% upside for CHD (target: $98) vs -11.1% for UL (target: $66). For income investors, UL offers the higher dividend yield at 2.76% vs CHD's 1.12%.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CHDChurch & Dwight C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $65.55 | $98.40 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 35 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.8% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 23 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.72 | $1.18 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.1% | +3.6% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 100 | 123.18 | +23.2% |
| Church & Dwight Co.… (CHD) | 100 | 129.86 | +29.9% |
Unilever PLC (UL) returned +61% over 5 years vs Church & Dwight Co.… (CHD)'s +40%. A $10,000 investment in UL 5 years ago would be worth $16,056 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | $52.7B | $60.8B | +15.3% |
| Church & Dwight Co.… (CHD) | $3.5B | $6.2B | +77.6% |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.'s revenue grew from $3.5B (2016) to $6.2B (2025) — a 6.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 9.8% | 9.5% | -3.9% |
| Church & Dwight Co.… (CHD) | 13.1% | 11.9% | -9.6% |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.'s net margin went from 13% (2016) to 12% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 25.9 | 24.8 | -4.2% |
| Church & Dwight Co.… (CHD) | 17.3 | 27.8 | +60.7% |
Unilever PLC has traded in a 15x–29x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. has traded in a 17x–48x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 1.82 | 2.29 | +25.8% |
| Church & Dwight Co.… (CHD) | 1.75 | 3.02 | +72.6% |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.75 (2016) to $3.02 (2025) — a 6% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Unilever PLC generated $8B FCF in 2024 (+13% vs 2021). Church & Dwight Co., Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+25% vs 2021).
UL vs CHD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UL or CHD a better buy right now?
Unilever PLC (UL) offers the better valuation at 27.3x trailing P/E (19.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) a "Buy" — based on 34 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 — UL or CHD?
On trailing P/E, Unilever PLC (UL) is the cheapest at 27.3x versus Church & Dwight Co., Inc. at 34.7x. On forward P/E, Unilever PLC is actually cheaper at 19.6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UL or CHD?
Over the past 5 years, Unilever PLC (UL) delivered a total return of +60.6%, compared to +40.3% for Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD). A $10,000 investment in UL five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHD returned +152.7% versus UL's +120.1%. 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 — UL or CHD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Unilever PLC (UL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.03β versus Church & Dwight Co., Inc.'s 0.04β — meaning CHD is approximately 26% more volatile than UL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 55% versus 136% for Unilever PLC — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — UL or CHD?
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) is the more profitable company, earning 11.9% net margin versus 9.5% for Unilever PLC — meaning it keeps 11.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CHD leads at 17.4% versus 15.5% for UL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UL leads at 100.0%, 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 UL or CHD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Unilever PLC (UL) trades at 19.6x forward P/E versus 27.8x for Church & Dwight Co., Inc. — 8.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CHD: -6.2% to $98.40.
07Which pays a better dividend — UL or CHD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Unilever PLC (UL) offers the highest yield at 2.8%, versus 1.1% for Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD).
08Is UL or CHD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.04), 1.1% yield, +152.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CHD: +152.7%, UL: +120.1%), 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 UL and CHD?
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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