The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL)
Estée Lauder makes prestige skincare, makeup, and fragrance brands sold in department stores and travel retail.
EL vs KO: how the two businesses compare
- Bigger business: KO, with $47.9B of yearly revenue, about 3.3× EL's $14.3B.
- More profitable: KO keeps 27 cents of each sales dollar as profit; EL lost money over the year.
- More cash from each sale: KO turns 15 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 9 cents at EL.
From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.
Coca-Cola (KO) is the larger business by reported revenue: $47.9B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 3.3× EL's $14.3B (fiscal year ended Jun 2025). EL's net margin was -7.9% and KO's 27.3%. The SEC classifies them differently (Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations; Beverages); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry.
Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.
- Consumer Staples
- Different
- Separate classifications
- Different
- EL June 30 · KO December 31
- Aug 19, 2026
EL vs KO: quick comparison
| Company fact | EL | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Company | The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Headquarters | — | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Founded | — | 1886 |
| SEC industry | Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations | Beverages |
| Fiscal year-end | June 30 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-08-19 | 10-K · 2026-02-20 |
EL vs KO: audited financials
- Scale: KO's $47.9B of revenue is about 3.3× EL's $14.3B.
- Net margin: KO kept 27.3% of revenue as net income versus -7.9% at EL.
- Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled EL 8.9% of revenue; KO 15.5% of revenue, or 0.57× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
- Periods: the fiscal years end about 6 months apart (2025-06-30 for EL, 2025-12-31 for KO), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.
| Metric | EL | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $14.3B2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30 · SEC filing | $47.9B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing |
| Net income | −$1.1B2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30 · SEC filing | $13.1B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing |
| Operating cash flow | $1.3B2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30 · SEC filing | $7.4B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing |
| Diluted EPS | −$3.152024-07-01 to 2025-06-30 · SEC filing | $3.042025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing |
| Net margin | -7.9%2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30 · SEC filing | 27.3%2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing |
EL: FY ending 2025-06-30 · KO: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
Where EL and KO overlap, and where they don't
Overlap
- Shared research theme: International markets.
Differences
- Different SEC industries: EL files as Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations; KO as Beverages.
- Offset fiscal calendars: EL's year ends June 30 and KO's December 31, about 6 months apart.
- Scale: KO reported about 3.3× the annual revenue of EL.
- Profitability: net margin of -7.9% for EL versus 27.3% for KO.
- EL reported a net loss of $1.1B in its fiscal year ended Jun 2025.
Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.
The Coca-Cola Company (KO)
Coca-Cola is the world's largest nonalcoholic beverage company, selling sparkling drinks, water, juice, and coffee through a global bottling network. Its brand strength and international reach make it a classic defensive holding.
What moves each company
Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.
What moves EL
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for EL. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-08-19.
What moves KO
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for KO. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-20.
The investment question
You now know KO reports about 3.3× EL's revenue, and KO keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to international markets, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.
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Read the full researchSEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. EL's fiscal year ends June 30, while KO's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 9 matched transaction rows for EL and 30 matched transaction rows for KO. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
EL primary filings
KO primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
EL vs KO FAQs
Are EL and KO direct competitors?
Not necessarily. Estée Lauder Companies files as Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations and Coca-Cola as Beverages. The pair is compared because both map to the International markets research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.
Is EL or KO the bigger company by revenue?
Coca-Cola (KO) is the larger business by reported revenue: $47.9B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 3.3× EL's $14.3B (fiscal year ended Jun 2025). EL's net margin was -7.9% and KO's 27.3%. The SEC classifies them differently (Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations; Beverages); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.
Which is better, EL or KO?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this EL vs KO comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?
EL vs KO compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.
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