Estee Lauder Companies Inc vs Smith & Nephew plc — how do they compare? Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $82.46 (market cap $29.78B), while Smith & Nephew plc trades at $31.24 (market cap $12.81B). The key difference: Estee Lauder Companies Inc is far larger — about 2.3× Smith & Nephew plc's market cap, and Smith & Nephew plc pays the higher dividend (2.54%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EL | SNN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $29.78B | $12.81B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $119.61 | $38.70 |
52-Week Low | $67.23 | $28.73 |
Enterprise Value | $35.95B | $15.58B |
Dividend Yield | 1.7% | 2.54% |
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.
Smith & Nephew (SNN) trades at $29.83, down 4.02% today, with a bearish technical signal. The company reported revenue of $5.81 billion in 2024, with net income of $412 million, showing improved profitability. Recent news highlights product launches in robotics and wound care, supported by a $500 million share buyback. Analyst consensus is mixed, with 27% buy ratings but 68% hold, reflecting cautious optimism amid earnings volatility.
Outlook is balanced: strong free cash flow and innovation in medical technology offer growth potential, but near-term risks include competitive pressures and debt levels. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 21.51 is reasonable if earnings growth sustains, yet technical weakness suggests caution. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against market sentiment and execution risks.
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 →Smith & Nephew designs, manufactures, and markets orthopedic devices, sports medicine and arthroscopic technologies, and wound-care solutions. Roughly 42% of the U.K.-based firm's revenue comes from orthopedic products, and another 30% is sports medicine and ENT. The remaining 28% of revenue is from the advanced wound therapy segment. Roughly half of Smith & Nephew's total revenue comes from the United States, just over 30% is from other developed markets, and emerging markets account for the remainder.
Read more on SNN →