Yahoo Finance Bear of the Day: Estee Lauder (EL)
Company Overview
Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) Estee Lauder (EL) is a renowned beauty and cosmetics company specializing in the manufacturing and marketing of skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. Founded by Estee Lauder herself, the company has become a global leader in the beauty industry. Estee Lauder offers a wide range of high-quality beauty products under various brands, including Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC, Bobbi Brown, and others. Most of Estee Lauder’s products are available at department stores, specialty retailers, and online, catering to a diverse customer base.
International Exposure Weighs on Growth
Weakness in Asia, particularly in China, is weighing on EL shares. Unfortunately, China’s economic woes have dragged on for years with no end in sight. For example, the iShares China ETF (FXI), a proxy for large-cap Chinese equities, is working on its fifth consecutive monthly loss and is down ~18% year-to-date. Meanwhile, the earnings picture looks bleak. For the December quarter, Zacks Consensus Analyst Estimates anticipate EPS growth to slow by a whopping 64.29%
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Stretched Valuation Despite Drop in Shares
Though shares of Estee Lauder have plummeted 46% year-to-date, they remain unattractive from a valuation perspective. Estee Lauder’s p/e ratio of 57x is much higher than that of the S&P 500 Index and its peers. Slowing growth coupled with a rich valuation is not a good sign for EL investors.
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Competition is Taking its Toll
A slew of new, innovative, and flexible competitors has entered the market and is stealing market share from old, legacy, and less “cool” brands like EL. For example, over the past five years, E.L.F Beauty (ELF) have increased by over 1,000%, while Estee Lauder shares are lower. Unfavorable global currency trends and geopolitical disruptions in critical areas like the Middle East are making it more challenging for more prominent players like EL.
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Bottom Line
Estee Lauder faces significant challenges as it navigates a landscape market by international economic uncertainties, a stretched valuation, and fierce competition. Once a global leader, the company is grappling with the impact of China’s economic struggles, a concerning earnings outlook, and increased competition from innovative rivals.
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The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI): ETF Research Reports
e.l.f. Beauty (ELF) : Free Stock Analysis Report
