Estee Lauder Companies Inc vs Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. — how do they compare? Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $82.63 (market cap $29.78B), while Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. trades at $181.36 (market cap $84.90B). The key difference: Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. is far larger — about 2.9× Estee Lauder Companies Inc's market cap, and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.25%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EL | MRSH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $29.78B | $84.90B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Financials |
52-Week High | $119.61 | $212.28 |
52-Week Low | $67.23 | $157.32 |
Enterprise Value | $35.95B | $105.74B |
Dividend Yield | 1.7% | 2.25% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Estée Lauder (EL) trades at $82.72, up 2.3% with recent earnings beats but faces fundamental challenges including a negative net income margin of -1.67% and elevated P/E ratio of 147.8. Technical indicators show bearish momentum with support at $81 and resistance at $84. The company maintains strong gross margins at 74.71% and positive analyst sentiment with 44% buy ratings and $90.60 consensus target.
While recent earnings outperformance and strong brand positioning provide upside potential, investors face risks from declining revenue trends, negative profitability, and high valuation multiples. The stock's near-term direction will depend on Q2 2026 earnings delivery and management's ability to restore sustainable growth amid competitive pressures.
Marsh (MRSH) trades at $181.18, up 1.76% today, near its R3 resistance of $181. The stock shows a bullish technical signal, with recent earnings beats and a 10% dividend increase to $0.99 per share. Revenue grew to $26.98B in 2025, with a net income margin of 14.26%, while the P/E ratio stands at 22.03. Analyst consensus is a buy rating from 11 of 33 analysts, with a price target of $203.67.
The outlook is positive with sustained organic growth and shareholder returns, but risks include rising operating expenses and a premium valuation. Earnings growth and AI initiatives are key catalysts, though softer insurance pricing and debt levels warrant monitoring for potential volatility.
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 →Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc is a professional services firm that provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital. The company operates through two main segments: risk and insurance services and consulting. In risk and insurance services, the firm offers services via Marsh (an insurance broker) and Guy Carpenter (a risk and reinsurance specialist). The consulting division comprises Mercer (a provider of human resource services) and Oliver Wyman (management and economic consultancy).
Read more on MRSH →