Badger Meter Inc vs Estee Lauder Companies Inc — how do they compare? Badger Meter Inc trades at $135.56 (market cap $3.95B), while Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $88.12 (market cap $31.54B). The key difference: Estee Lauder Companies Inc is far larger — about 8× Badger Meter Inc's market cap, and Estee Lauder Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (1.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BMI | EL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.95B | $31.54B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $193.09 | $119.61 |
52-Week Low | $113.41 | $67.23 |
Enterprise Value | $3.86B | $37.72B |
Dividend Yield | 1.17% | 1.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Badger Meter (BMI) trades at $138.86, up 1.23% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $155.20. Recent earnings show a Q2 2026 beat but misses in prior quarters, while financials indicate solid profitability with a 14.27% net income margin. The stock faces headwinds from multiple class-action lawsuits alleging securities fraud, as reported by Business Wire and GlobeNewsWire in early August 2026, though insider buying by a VP in late July signals confidence.
The outlook is mixed: strong fundamentals and analyst upside support growth, but legal risks and earnings volatility pose challenges. Investors may find value if legal concerns resolve, but caution is warranted due to potential sentiment pressure from ongoing litigation.
Estée Lauder (EL) trades at $88.35, up 3.35% with a bullish technical signal and recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong institutional interest with Bank of America increasing its stake by 950.9% in Q1 2026. Despite negative net income margins, the company maintains a robust gross margin of 74.71% and has upcoming Q2 2026 earnings expected at $0.3197 per share. Recent corporate developments include a new fragrance launch and executive appointments.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $91.67 offering 3.8% upside potential. Key risks include declining revenue trends and negative profitability, while opportunities lie in product innovation and digital engagement. The stock faces resistance near $90-$93 levels with support at $86.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Badger Meter provides industry-leading water management solutions. Its smart measurement hardware and software analytics help water utilities and industrial customers optimize operations and conserve natural resources.
Read more on BMI →Estee Lauder is the world leader in the global prestige beauty market, participating across skincare (56% of fiscal 2022 sales), makeup (26%), fragrance (14%), and haircare (4%) categories, with popular brands such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC, La Mer, Jo Malone, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, Origins, Dr. Jart+, and The Ordinary. The firm operates in 150 countries, with 26% of fiscal 2022 revenue stemming from the Americas, 43% from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and 31% from Asia-Pacific. The company sells its products through department stores, travel retail, multi-brand specialty beauty stores, brand-dedicated freestanding stores, e-commerce, salons/spas, and perfumeries.
Read more on EL →