How Does e.l.f. Beauty Stock Stack Up Against Its Peers?
e.l.f. Beauty’s stock delivered positive returns over the past year, but how does it measure up against beauty peers given recent sector pressures? As of March 10, 2026, ELF boasts industry-leading revenue growth and robust free cash flow generation. However, its premium P/E ratio and operating margins, coupled with tariff headwinds, suggest a stretched valuation. Upside may hinge on sustained market share gains amidst competitive challenges.
- ELF’s 11.1% operating margin, though strong, trails IPAR’s 19.3%, reflecting ELF’s aggressive marketing for market share vs. IPAR’s efficient luxury fragrance licensing.
- ELF’s 16.7% revenue growth, driven by “masstige” appeal and social media, outpaces peers facing luxury market shifts or mass beauty weakness.
- ELF’s 8.7% stock gain and 45.9 PE, reflecting high growth hopes, trail EL/ULTA returns amid ELF’s volatility and tariff/debt concerns.
Here’s how e.l.f. Beauty stacks up across size, valuation, and profitability versus key peers.
| ELF | COTY | EL | ULTA | IPAR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 4.8 | 2.0 | 34.1 | 29.0 | 3.0 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 1.5 | 5.8 | 14.7 | 12.0 | 1.5 |
| PE Ratio | 45.9 | -3.9 | -191.8 | 24.3 | 18.4 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 16.7% | -4.6% | -3.3% | 5.5% | 3.1% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 11.1% | 6.2% | 9.6% | 13.2% | 19.3% |
| LTM FCF Margin | 14.1% | 6.7% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 9.7% |
| 12M Market Return | 8.7% | -61.3% | 32.9% | 82.6% | -23.9% |
For more details on e.l.f. Beauty, read Buy or Sell ELF Stock. Below we compare ELF’s growth, margin, and valuation with peers across years
Revenue Growth Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELF | 16.7% | 28.3% | 76.9% | 47.6% | |
| COTY | -4.6% | -3.7% | 10.2% | 4.7% | |
| EL | -3.3% | -8.2% | -1.9% | -10.3% | |
| ULTA | 5.5% | 0.8% | 9.8% | 18.3% | |
| IPAR | 3.1% | – | 10.2% | 21.3% | 23.6% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELF | 11.1% | 12.0% | 14.6% | 11.8% | |
| COTY | 6.2% | 9.0% | 9.5% | 9.7% | |
| EL | 9.6% | 8.0% | 10.0% | 11.1% | |
| ULTA | 13.2% | 14.0% | 15.0% | 16.2% | |
| IPAR | 19.3% | – | 19.2% | 19.1% | 18.6% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELF | 45.9 | 38.1 | 53.8 | 123.1 | |
| COTY | -3.9 | -7.3 | 68.1 | 20.7 | |
| EL | -191.8 | -33.3 | 69.0 | 52.0 | |
| ULTA | 24.3 | 23.8 | 16.6 | 20.3 | |
| IPAR | 18.4 | – | 16.5 | 27.6 | 37.9 |
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