Estee Lauder Companies Inc vs UnitedHealth Group Inc — how do they compare? Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $87.54 (market cap $31.76B), while UnitedHealth Group Inc trades at $404.95 (market cap $361.00B). The key difference: UnitedHealth Group Inc is far larger — about 11.4× Estee Lauder Companies Inc's market cap, and UnitedHealth Group Inc pays the higher dividend (2.31%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EL | UNH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $31.76B | $361.00B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $119.61 | $436.35 |
52-Week Low | $67.23 | $259.02 |
Enterprise Value | $37.93B | $402.86B |
Dividend Yield | 1.59% | 2.31% |
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.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) trades at $408.74, showing modest daily gains of 0.41% amid a bearish technical signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamental performance with consistent earnings beats in recent quarters and robust analyst support (82.7% buy ratings). Recent developments include dividend payments and strategic initiatives to streamline pediatric care authorizations, positioning UNH well in the healthcare sector.
UNH presents a compelling investment case with strong cash flow generation and market leadership, though investors face risks from regulatory scrutiny and margin compression. The stock trades at a discount to analyst consensus target of $476.50, offering potential upside if operational improvements and growth initiatives materialize as projected.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to 50 million members globally, including 5 million outside the U.S. at the end of 2021. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in managed care. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's continued investments in its Optum franchises have created a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from medical and pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
Read more on UNH →