Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) vs The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL)
ADM leads on 12 of 15 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company and The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 24, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
ADM
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
$75.84Consumer Defensive
EL
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
$83.76Consumer Defensive
Total return — ADM vs EL
growth of $100 · last 30yADM +414.5%EL +759.1%EL compounded faster
ADM EL
ADM vs EL: by the numbers
- •ADM is the larger company ($36.55B vs $30.29B market cap).
- •ADM is profitable (1.34% net margin) while EL runs a net loss (-1.67%).
- •ADM grew revenue faster over the past five years (3.38% vs 0.17% CAGR).
- •ADM pays the higher dividend yield (2.72% vs 1.67%).
Which is better, ADM or EL?
Metric tally: ADM 12 · EL 3It depends on what you're optimizing for:
GrowthADM(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeADM(higher dividend yield)
QualityEL(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | ADM | EL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 34.01 | — |
| Forward P/E | 14.02● | 26.28 |
| P/S ratio | 0.46● | 2.06 |
| P/B ratio | 1.61● | 7.66 |
| EV / EBITDA | 12.00● | 27.41 |
| FCF yield | 13.05%● | 4.20% |
Profitability
| Metric | ADM | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 5.83% | 73.40%● |
| Operating margin | 1.52% | 7.56%● |
| Net margin | 1.34%● | -1.67% |
| ROE | 4.74%● | -6.21% |
| ROIC | 3.51% | 6.44%● |
Dividends
| Metric | ADM | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.72%● | 1.67% |
| Payout ratio | 92.38% | — |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | ADM | EL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 3.38%● | 0.17% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -6.73%● | -25.98% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 18.75%● | -12.95% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 7.36%● | -21.48% |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, ADM or EL?
- It depends on your goal. growth: ADM (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: ADM (higher dividend yield); quality: EL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ADM leads 12 to 3.
- Which has grown faster, ADM or EL?
- Over the past five years, ADM grew revenue faster — ADM at a 3.38% CAGR versus EL at 0.17%.
- Does ADM or EL pay a bigger dividend?
- ADM yields 2.72% and EL yields 1.67% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is ADM or EL more profitable?
- ADM runs the higher net margin — ADM at 1.34% versus EL at -1.67%.
- Which has been the better investment, ADM or EL?
- Over the past 10-year, ADM delivered the higher annualized total return — ADM at 9.09% versus EL at 0.03%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Archer-Daniels-Midland P/E ratioEstée Lauder Companies P/E ratioArcher-Daniels-Midland dividend yieldEstée Lauder Companies dividend yieldArcher-Daniels-Midland ROEEstée Lauder Companies ROEArcher-Daniels-Midland operating marginEstée Lauder Companies operating marginArcher-Daniels-Midland revenue growthEstée Lauder Companies revenue growthArcher-Daniels-Midland free cash flowEstée Lauder Companies free cash flow
Archer-Daniels-Midland & Estée Lauder Companies appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 24, 2026.