Estee Lauder Companies Inc vs Paycom Software Inc — how do they compare? Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $82.56 (market cap $29.78B), while Paycom Software Inc trades at $149 (market cap $6.75B). The key difference: Estee Lauder Companies Inc is far larger — about 4.4× Paycom Software Inc's market cap, and Estee Lauder Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (1.7%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EL | PAYC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $29.78B | $6.75B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $119.61 | $238.80 |
52-Week Low | $67.23 | $113.59 |
Enterprise Value | $35.95B | $7.36B |
Dividend Yield | 1.7% | 1.04% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Estée Lauder (EL) trades at $80.86, down 0.36% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and recent earnings beats. The stock shows a high P/E of 147.8 and negative net income margin of -1.67%, though revenue remains substantial at $14.33 billion for 2025. Recent news highlights innovation in beauty trends, but cash flow trends show net outflows over recent years.
Outlook is mixed: analyst consensus targets $90.60 with 44% buy ratings, but high valuation and profitability challenges pose risks. Recovery depends on margin improvement and sustained revenue growth amid competitive pressures.
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $148.20, up 3.15% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $151.00. The company reported strong Q1 2026 earnings of $3.15 per share, beating estimates, and maintains robust profitability with a 22.44% net income margin. Recent developments include the launch of an asset management tool and new board appointments, highlighting ongoing innovation and governance strength.
The outlook for PAYC is positive, supported by consistent revenue growth, high margins, and strategic product expansions. Key risks include competitive pressures in HCM software and execution challenges. With a balanced analyst rating split and solid institutional backing, the stock presents a moderate growth opportunity, though investors should monitor upcoming Q2 2026 earnings for further direction.
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 →Paycom is a fast-growing provider of payroll and human capital management, or HCM, software primarily targeting clients with 50-10,000 employees in the United States. Paycom was established in 1998 and services about 18,000 clients as of 2021, based on parent company grouping. Alongside its core payroll software, Paycom offers various HCM add-on modules, including time and attendance, talent management, and benefits administration.
Read more on PAYC →