The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) vs The Kroger Co. (KR)
KR leads on 12 of 15 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and The Kroger Co. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 20, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
EL
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
$84.81Consumer Defensive
KR
The Kroger Co.
$56.61Consumer Defensive
Total return — EL vs KR
growth of $100 · last 30yEL +795.6%KR +1072.0%KR compounded faster
EL KR
EL vs KR: by the numbers
- •KR is the larger company ($34.90B vs $30.67B market cap).
- •KR is profitable (0.71% net margin) while EL runs a net loss (-1.67%).
- •KR grew revenue faster over the past five years (2.33% vs 0.17% CAGR).
- •KR pays the higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 1.65%).
Which is better, EL or KR?
Metric tally: EL 3 · KR 12It depends on what you're optimizing for:
GrowthKR(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeKR(higher dividend yield)
QualityEL(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | EL | KR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | — | 33.11 |
| Forward P/E | 26.63 | 10.21● |
| P/S ratio | 2.09 | 0.23● |
| P/B ratio | 7.76 | 5.37● |
| EV / EBITDA | 27.69 | 10.38● |
| FCF yield | 4.15% | 8.29%● |
Profitability
| Metric | EL | KR |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 73.40%● | 23.18% |
| Operating margin | 7.56%● | 1.33% |
| Net margin | -1.67% | 0.71%● |
| ROE | -6.21% | 16.26%● |
| ROIC | 6.44%● | 4.70% |
Dividends
| Metric | EL | KR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 1.65% | 2.47%● |
| Payout ratio | — | 89.74% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | EL | KR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 0.17% | 2.33%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -25.98% | -13.96%● |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -12.95% | 9.43%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -20.94% | 10.19%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, EL or KR?
- It depends on your goal. growth: KR (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: KR (higher dividend yield); quality: EL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, KR leads 12 to 3.
- Which has grown faster, EL or KR?
- Over the past five years, KR grew revenue faster — EL at a 0.17% CAGR versus KR at 2.33%.
- Does EL or KR pay a bigger dividend?
- EL yields 1.65% and KR yields 2.47% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is EL or KR more profitable?
- KR runs the higher net margin — EL at -1.67% versus KR at 0.71%.
- Which has been the better investment, EL or KR?
- Over the past 10-year, KR delivered the higher annualized total return — EL at 0.47% versus KR at 7.05%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Estée Lauder Companies P/E ratioKroger P/E ratioEstée Lauder Companies dividend yieldKroger dividend yieldEstée Lauder Companies ROEKroger ROEEstée Lauder Companies operating marginKroger operating marginEstée Lauder Companies revenue growthKroger revenue growthEstée Lauder Companies free cash flowKroger free cash flow
Estée Lauder Companies & Kroger 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 20, 2026.