Estee Lauder Gains on Citi’s Upgrade

Estee Lauder (NYSE:EL) shares gained more than 2% pre-market today after Citi analysts adjusted their rating on the company to Buy from Neutral, while also increasing the price target to $175 from $160.

The analysts expressed optimism that Estee Lauder is approaching a turning point in sales as channel inventories in the Asia Pacific Travel Retail sector are stabilizing, and the company is achieving a more balanced sell-in versus sell-out.

Citi highlighted that Estee Lauder's stock faced a downturn in 2023, declining by 41% due to substantial sales and profit impacts from the travel retail inventory reduction and adverse margin mix. However, they noted that over the last six months, Estee Lauder has consistently indicated that Asia Pacific Travel Retail inventories would align by the end of the third fiscal quarter of 2024.

This stance, coupled with CEO Fabrizio Freda's positive remarks and demeanor at recent company events, has bolstered Citi's belief that Estee Lauder is on the verge of reaching this critical inflection point.

Symbol Price %chg
UNVR.JK 1780 0
090435.KS 39350 0.13
090430.KS 125500 0.24
HINDUNILVR.NS 2335 0.15
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Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) Earnings Preview: Fiscal Q3 2025 Insights

  • Estée Lauder is set to release its fiscal 2025 third-quarter earnings with an estimated EPS of $0.30 and projected revenue of $3.52 billion.
  • The company faces challenges in China, issues within travel retail, and rising expenses, contributing to an anticipated decline in earnings and revenue.

Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) is a global leader in the beauty industry, known for its high-quality skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. The company operates in over 150 countries and territories, with a diverse portfolio of brands including Estée Lauder, Clinique, and MAC Cosmetics. As a major player in the beauty sector, Estée Lauder faces competition from other industry giants like L'Oréal and Procter & Gamble.

Estée Lauder is set to release its fiscal 2025 third-quarter earnings on May 1, 2025, before the market opens. Analysts estimate the earnings per share (EPS) to be $0.30, with projected revenue of approximately $3.52 billion. This represents a significant decline, as the Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a 10.9% decrease in net sales compared to the same quarter last year, and a 69.1% drop in EPS from the previous year's quarter.

The anticipated decline in Estée Lauder's earnings and revenue is attributed to challenges in China, issues within travel retail, and rising expenses. Despite these hurdles, the company has previously delivered an average earnings surprise of 101.9% over the last four quarters. This track record suggests that Estée Lauder might surpass earnings estimates in its upcoming report, potentially leading to an upward movement in its stock price.

The price-to-sales ratio is about 1.41, suggesting investors are willing to pay $1.41 for every dollar of sales. Additionally, the debt-to-equity ratio is 2.25, showing that the company has more than twice as much debt as equity, which could impact its financial stability.

The earnings call, hosted by President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie and CFO Akhil Shrivastava, will provide insights into the company's results, future prospects, and recent corporate developments. The management's discussion will be crucial in determining the sustainability of any immediate price changes and future earnings expectations. Investors will be keenly watching for any positive surprises that could influence Estée Lauder's stock performance.

Estee Lauder Shares Drop 7% on Weak Q3 Outlook Despite Strong Q2 Earnings

Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) saw its stock tumble over 7% in pre-market today after issuing a disappointing third-quarter outlook, overshadowing better-than-expected earnings for Q2 of fiscal 2025.

The cosmetics giant posted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.62 for Q2, far exceeding analyst projections of $0.31. Revenue came in at $4 billion, slightly ahead of the anticipated $3.98 billion.

By region, North American sales dipped 1.5% to $1.22 billion, in line with expectations. EMEA revenue dropped 6% to $1.49 billion, while Asia Pacific sales declined 11% to $1.29 billion, narrowly topping the $1.27 billion consensus estimate.

Despite the solid Q2 performance, guidance for Q3 fell well short of expectations. The company projected EPS between $0.24 and $0.34, drastically below the $0.64 forecasted by analysts.

CEO Stéphane de La Faverie acknowledged the disappointing outlook, attributing the weakness primarily to sluggish retail sales in Asia's travel sector, which deteriorated further in Q2, particularly in Korea.

Looking ahead, the company expects the difficult retail conditions in Asia travel retail to persist, significantly weighing on organic net sales, despite the stabilization of in-trade inventory levels achieved in the first half of fiscal 2025.

Estee Lauder CEO Fabrizio Freda to Retire, Company Reports Strong Q4 Earnings

Estee Lauder (NYSE:EL) shares fell more than 2% on Monday after the company announced that CEO Fabrizio Freda will retire at the end of fiscal year 2025, signaling a significant leadership transition for the global beauty company. Freda, who has led Estee Lauder for more than 16 years, informed the Board of his decision ahead of the company's quarterly earnings release.

Estee Lauder confirmed that it has made considerable progress in its succession planning, evaluating both internal and external candidates to replace Freda.

In its latest quarterly earnings report, Estee Lauder reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.64 and net sales of $3.87 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations of $0.26 EPS on revenue of $3.81 billion. Despite ongoing slowdowns in key markets like mainland China, Asia travel retail, and North America, the company saw a 7% increase in sales compared to the prior-year period. Organic net sales rose by 8%, driven by growth across all product categories, particularly in Skin Care.

Looking ahead, Estee Lauder projected first-quarter adjusted EPS between $0.02 and $0.10, with reported and organic net sales expected to decline between 5% and 3%. For the full fiscal year, the company forecasted adjusted earnings of $2.75 to $2.95 per share, with reported and organic net sales ranging from a 1% decline to a 2% increase compared to the previous year.

Estée Lauder Beats Q3 2024 Earnings and Revenue Forecasts

Estée Lauder Surpasses Earnings and Revenue Estimates in Q3 2024

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) reported an impressive earnings per share (EPS) of $0.915, significantly outperforming the estimated EPS of $0.48. This remarkable achievement not only highlights the company's ability to exceed analyst expectations but also showcases its financial strength and operational efficiency. Furthermore, Estée Lauder's revenue for the period stood at approximately $5.05 billion, surpassing the anticipated $3.91 billion. This performance underscores the company's robust sales and marketing strategies, which have effectively captured market demand, particularly in its high-end skincare and fragrance segments.

The company's quarterly earnings report revealed a substantial earnings surprise of 102.08%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter where Estée Lauder has surpassed consensus EPS estimates. This consistent outperformance is a testament to the company's strategic planning and execution, which has enabled it to navigate market challenges successfully. The previous quarter's earnings of $0.97 per share, significantly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.48 per share, further demonstrate Estée Lauder's upward trajectory in profitability. This growth is reflective of a notable improvement from the previous year's earnings of $0.47 per share, indicating a strong recovery and positive momentum in the company's financial health.

Estée Lauder's revenue achievements are equally commendable, with the company reporting $3.94 billion for the quarter, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.39%. This marks the third time in the last four quarters that Estée Lauder has surpassed consensus revenue estimates, highlighting the company's consistent ability to drive sales growth. The revenue increase is attributed to a resurgence in demand for its luxury products in key markets such as the U.S. and Asia Pacific. The company's strategic focus on high-end skincare and fragrances, coupled with a recovery in the beauty and cosmetics sector, has played a crucial role in achieving these results.

The company's financial metrics further illuminate its market position and valuation. With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 72.89, Estée Lauder is valued at a premium in the market, reflecting investor confidence in its future growth prospects. The price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of about 2.86 and an enterprise value to sales (EV/Sales) ratio of roughly 3.18 indicate a strong valuation of the company's sales and revenue stream. Additionally, the enterprise value to operating cash flow (EV/OCF) ratio of approximately 31.65 highlights the market's positive outlook on the company's cash generation capabilities. Despite a debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio of about 1.56, suggesting a higher level of debt, the current ratio of 1.58 indicates a healthy balance between assets and liabilities, showcasing good short-term financial health.

In conclusion, Estée Lauder's fiscal 2024 third-quarter results reflect a company that is not only exceeding financial expectations but also demonstrating significant growth and resilience in the competitive cosmetics industry. The company's strategic initiatives and focus on high-demand product segments have enabled it to capitalize on market opportunities, resulting in strong sales and earnings performance. As Estée Lauder continues to navigate the evolving market landscape, its financial metrics and operational achievements position it well for sustained growth and profitability.

Estée Lauder Q3 Fiscal 2024 Earnings Preview: Insights and Expectations

Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL:NYSE) Earnings Preview: What to Expect

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL:NYSE) is poised to unveil its quarterly earnings before the market opens, with Wall Street setting the bar with an earnings per share (EPS) forecast of $0.48 and revenue expectations circling around $3.91 billion. This announcement is highly anticipated as it provides a snapshot of the company's financial health and operational performance. Estée Lauder, a renowned name in the beauty products industry, has been under the microscope of investors and analysts alike, especially considering the company's strategic positioning and market dynamics leading up to this earnings release.

The positive momentum in earnings estimate revisions for Estée Lauder, as highlighted by Zacks Investment Research, underscores a growing optimism among investors and analysts. This optimism is rooted in the company's Earnings Surprise Prediction (ESP), which hints at the potential for Estée Lauder to outperform earnings expectations. Such a trend is not new to the company, as it has consistently beaten earnings expectations in the past, with an average earnings surprise of 120.2% over the previous four quarters. This track record, combined with the upward adjustment of the EPS estimate by a penny over the last 30 days to 48 cents, reflects confidence in Estée Lauder's ability to maintain its growth trajectory.

The anticipated growth in both top and bottom lines for Estée Lauder's third-quarter fiscal 2024 earnings is a testament to the company's robust strategy and market presence. Analysts project revenues of $3.9 billion, marking a 4.6% increase from the same quarter in the previous year, and an EPS of 48 cents, indicating a 2.1% rise from the year-ago quarter. This growth is partly attributed to Estée Lauder's significant presence in emerging markets, which offers a cushion against the macroeconomic challenges faced in more developed markets. Additionally, the company's strong online sales have been a critical factor in its performance, although it faces potential headwinds from unfavorable currency exchange rates.

Despite the projection of Q3 results being slightly below street estimates, there is a sense of optimism surrounding Estée Lauder's stock. The company's strategic focus on the recovery in Asia travel and mainland China is expected to bolster its performance in the second half of the fiscal year. This focus is crucial, especially considering the stock's significant decline from its previous levels, presenting a potential growth opportunity for investors. The financial metrics, including a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 113.03 and a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of about 3.48, reflect the company's market valuation and its operational efficiency in generating sales.

In conclusion, Estée Lauder's upcoming earnings announcement is a pivotal moment for the company and its stakeholders. The positive earnings estimate revisions and the company's historical performance set a promising backdrop for the earnings release. Despite facing challenges such as unfavorable currency exchange rates, Estée Lauder's strategic market positioning, especially in emerging markets and its online sales strength, are expected to drive its growth. Investors and analysts will be keenly watching how these factors translate into the company's financial performance for the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

Estee Lauder Stock Jumps 14% on Q2 Beat & Job Cut Announcement

Estee Lauder (NYSE:EL) shares surged over 14% intra-day today following the announcement of its Q2 earnings that exceeded expectations and the unveiling of a workforce reduction plan.

The cosmetics giant reported second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $0.88, surpassing the consensus prediction of $0.54. Its revenue reached $4.28 billion, exceeding expectations of $4.19 billion.

However, Estee Lauder adjusted its yearly profit outlook downwards. It now anticipates an adjusted EPS for the full year 2024 to range between $2.08 and $2.23, a decrease from its earlier forecast of $2.17 to $2.42, against an analyst consensus of $2.33.

In a move to streamline operations and reduce expenses, Estee Lauder revealed plans to cut 3% to 5% of its staff as part of a broader restructuring effort.

This cost-cutting initiative is set to begin in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, with expected restructuring and related charges estimated between $500 million and $700 million, pre-tax.

The restructuring aims to yield annual gross savings of $350 million to $500 million, before taxes. Estee Lauder plans to reinvest a portion of these savings into consumer-focused areas to drive sustainable and profitable growth.