Estee Lauder Companies Inc vs Humana Inc — how do they compare? Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $87.54 (market cap $31.76B), while Humana Inc trades at $388.05 (market cap $44.77B). The key difference: Humana Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Estee Lauder Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (1.59%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EL | HUM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $31.76B | $44.77B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $119.61 | $409.42 |
52-Week Low | $67.23 | $163.67 |
Enterprise Value | $37.93B | $52.12B |
Dividend Yield | 1.59% | 0.95% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EL trades at $87.70, up 0.58% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus price target of $91.67. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently beaten expectations, though the company reported a net loss of $1.13 billion for 2025. Revenue has declined from $17.7 billion in 2022 to $14.33 billion in 2025, but positive cash flow from operations of $1.27 billion provides liquidity. A new fragrance launch and executive appointment signal ongoing brand development efforts.
The stock presents a mixed outlook. Analyst sentiment is divided with a slight Hold bias, yet technical momentum and earnings beats offer near-term upside potential. Key risks include sustained negative net income margins, high debt levels, and competitive pressures in the beauty sector. The upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on August 19, 2026, will be critical for validating the recent positive earnings trend and guiding future price direction.
Humana (HUM) trades at $388.96, up 0.9% with a neutral technical signal. The stock shows strong revenue growth reaching $129.7B in 2025 but faces margin compression with net income margin declining to 0.88%. Recent earnings beat expectations for three consecutive quarters, while analyst consensus targets $409.93. The company maintains solid cash flow generation and recently announced key leadership appointments to strengthen its Medicaid business.
Humana presents a mixed outlook with robust revenue expansion offset by margin pressures. Investment opportunity lies in Medicare Advantage growth and cost reduction initiatives, while risks include competitive pressures and regulatory changes in healthcare. Wall Street maintains cautious optimism with 39% buy ratings amid margin recovery challenges.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Humana is one of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. with a focus on administering Medicare Advantage plans. The firm has built a niche specializing in government-sponsored programs, with nearly all its medical membership stemming from individual and group Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the military's Tricare program. The firm is also a leader in stand-alone prescription drug plans for seniors enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Humana offers employer-based plans primarily for small businesses along with specialty insurance offerings such as dental, vision, and life. Beyond medical insurance, the company provides other healthcare services, including primary-care services, at-home services, and pharmacy benefit management.
Read more on HUM →