The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. · EL · FY2026 Q4 · Calendar Q3 2026

Estée Lauder raises FY27 margin outlook as digital and fragrance growth build

The supplied analysis supports a constructive but conditional view: stronger organic growth, margin expansion, digital penetration and brand momentum provide evidence of operating improvement, while travel-retail volatility, restructuring cash needs and execution questions remain material checks on durability.

Reported Before market openNYSEConsumer Defensive $33.79B market cap
100quality score

Earnings scorecard

Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS $0.39 Consensus $0.32
EPS surprise +22.2% Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue $3.63B Consensus $3.55B
Revenue surprise +2.3% Reported versus consensus

Market reaction

prior-close to event-session close
Stock move +16.3% Event window
SPY move +0.2% Same window
Abnormal move +16.1% Stock minus SPY
Volume 5.8× Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift -4.2% Up to 20 sessions
ELSPY benchmark

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Transcript intelligence

What changed

The current analysis shows FY27 operating-margin guidance raised to 12.7%–13.5%, record online-sales contribution of 34%, and Jo Malone and Tom Ford joining the billion-dollar brand group. Management also emphasized AI-enabled consumer insights, additional direct-to-consumer rollout and a more limited minority-acquisition approach.

Guidance delta

Management raised FY27 operating-margin guidance to 12.7%–13.5% and maintained organic sales growth guidance of 3%–5%.

Key takeaways

  • Fiscal 2026 organic sales rose 3%, while operating margin expanded 320 basis points and diluted EPS increased 66%.
  • Jo Malone and Tom Ford each surpassed $1 billion in revenue.
  • Online sales reached 34% of total reported sales, a record contribution in the supplied analysis.
  • Management highlighted China, travel retail, skincare, fragrance and AI-enabled consumer insights as growth drivers.
  • The company plans continued One ELC execution, innovation investment and limited strategic minority acquisitions.

Management priorities

  • Accelerate North American growth through brand presence and channel mix
  • Increase innovation's share of sales through skincare launches
  • Expand direct-to-consumer capabilities, including Shopify rollouts
  • Continue SG&A optimization and PRGP restructuring benefits
  • Use cash flow to deleverage debt, fund consumer-facing capital expenditure and maintain the dividend

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Earnings History

Estimate Beat Miss Match
EL EPS earnings history estimate and actual scatter chart 9 reported fiscal quarters and 3 future estimate-only quarters. Q3 '24 estimate $0.49 Q3 '24 actual $0.97, beat Q4 '24 estimate $0.27 Q4 '24 actual $0.64, beat Q1 '25 estimate $0.09 Q1 '25 actual $0.14, beat Q4 '25 estimate $0.09 Q4 '25 actual $0.09, match Q1 '26 estimate $0.18 Q1 '26 actual $0.32, beat Q2 '26 estimate $0.83 Q2 '26 actual $0.89, beat Q3 '26 estimate $0.65 Q3 '26 actual $0.91, beat Q4 '26 estimate $0.32 Q4 '26 actual $0.39, beat Q1 '27 estimate $0.51 Q2 '27 estimate $1.17 Q3 '27 estimate $1.08
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Analyst Consensus ?

ConsensusHold45 ratings
Bullish1942.2%
Neutral2248.9%
Bearish48.9%

Analyst 52W Price Targets

$94.21Current
$60Low
$135.66Average
$360High

Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Sep 21, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.

Firm-level rating actions

FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.

FirmRatingPrior ratingActionDate
Barclays Equal Weight Equal WeightMaintainAug 21, 2026
Wells Fargo Equal Weight Equal WeightMaintainAug 20, 2026
UBS Neutral NeutralMaintainAug 20, 2026
Telsey Advisory Group Market Perform Market PerformMaintainAug 20, 2026
TD Cowen Hold HoldMaintainAug 20, 2026
RBC Capital Outperform OutperformMaintainAug 20, 2026
Piper Sandler Overweight OverweightMaintainAug 20, 2026
Morgan Stanley Equal Weight Equal WeightMaintainAug 20, 2026
JP Morgan Overweight OverweightMaintainAug 20, 2026
Jefferies Hold HoldMaintainAug 20, 2026
Goldman Sachs Buy BuyMaintainAug 20, 2026
Citigroup Buy BuyMaintainAug 20, 2026
Canaccord Genuity Hold HoldMaintainAug 20, 2026
B. Riley Securities Neutral NeutralMaintainAug 20, 2026
Deutsche Bank Buy BuyMaintainMar 30, 2026
Raymond James Strong Buy Market PerformUpgradeJan 5, 2026
Evercore ISI Group Outperform OutperformMaintainDec 16, 2025
Rothschild & Co Sell NeutralDowngradeNov 25, 2025
Argus Research Buy HoldUpgradeNov 11, 2025
HSBC Buy HoldUpgradeJun 27, 2025
Stifel Hold HoldMaintainApr 10, 2025
DA Davidson Buy BuyMaintainFeb 25, 2025
B of A Securities Neutral NeutralMaintainNov 1, 2024
Oppenheimer Perform PerformMaintainApr 15, 2024
Berenberg Hold BuyDowngradeNov 3, 2023
Redburn Atlantic Neutral SellUpgradeSep 15, 2023
Bernstein Market Perform OutperformDowngradeAug 24, 2023
Credit Suisse Outperform OutperformMaintainFeb 6, 2023
Redburn Partners Sell SellMaintainDec 15, 2022
Piper Jaffray Neutral OverweightDowngradeOct 28, 2019
Stifel Nicolaus Buy BuyMaintainAug 20, 2019
Bank of America Buy BuyMaintainAug 20, 2019
Macquarie Outperform OutperformMaintainMay 2, 2019
D.A. Davidson Neutral BuyDowngradeMay 2, 2019
BMO Capital Market Perform Market PerformMaintainMay 2, 2019
Atlantic Equities Overweight OverweightMaintainSep 20, 2018
B. Riley FBR Neutral BuyDowngradeMay 5, 2018
Argus Hold BuyDowngradeMay 5, 2018
Keybanc Overweight OverweightMaintainNov 2, 2017
Societe Generale Hold BuyDowngradeMay 5, 2017
PiperJaffray Overweight NeutralUpgradeMar 2, 2017
CSLA Underperform BuyDowngradeNov 3, 2016
CLSA Underperform BuyDowngradeNov 3, 2016
B. Riley Neutral NeutralMaintainNov 3, 2015
FBR Capital Outperform OutperformMaintainAug 21, 2015
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Named analyst price targets

Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $94.21. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.

FirmAnalyst52W targetPrice when postedUpsideDate
Berenberg BankFulvio Cazzol$92$104.1 -2.3%Aug 25, 2026
Telsey AdvisoryAnalyst unavailable$108$97.72 +14.6%Aug 20, 2026
Deutsche BankAnalyst unavailable$117$97.48 +24.2%Aug 20, 2026
JefferiesSydney Wagner$100$97.1 +6.1%Aug 20, 2026
RBC CapitalAnalyst unavailable$120$96.86 +27.4%Aug 20, 2026
Piper SandlerAnalyst unavailable$115$98.01 +22.1%Aug 20, 2026
BernsteinCristian Rios$106$98.01 +12.5%Aug 20, 2026
Canaccord GenuitySusan Anderson$90$98.01 -4.5%Aug 20, 2026
Morgan StanleyDara Mohsenian$102$98.01 +8.3%Aug 20, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$97$98.01 +3.0%Aug 20, 2026
Wells FargoAnalyst unavailable$104$98.01 +10.4%Aug 20, 2026
Goldman SachsAnalyst unavailable$112$98.01 +18.9%Aug 19, 2026
Seaport GlobalAnalyst unavailable$95$87.03 +0.8%Aug 14, 2026
JefferiesAnalyst unavailable$88$83.2 -6.6%Jul 28, 2026
Cowen & Co.Analyst unavailable$90$82.12 -4.5%Jul 21, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$80$83.64 -15.1%Jul 21, 2026
UBSPeter Grom$86$82.75 -8.7%Jul 16, 2026
Goldman SachsBonnie Herzog$100$84.81 +6.1%Jun 22, 2026
BernsteinCristian Rios$82$88.02 -13.0%Jun 11, 2026
Piper SandlerAnalyst unavailable$95$80.83 +0.8%May 15, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$75$81.33 -20.4%May 5, 2026
UBSPeter Grom$85$81.7 -9.8%May 4, 2026
Telsey AdvisoryDana Telsey$90$82.25 -4.5%May 4, 2026
Morgan StanleyDara Mohsenian$90$81.96 -4.5%May 4, 2026
Wells FargoAnalyst unavailable$85$79.3 -9.8%May 4, 2026
BarclaysLauren Lieberman$72$74.86 -23.6%Apr 14, 2026
RBC CapitalNik Modi$111$73.29 +17.8%Apr 9, 2026
Wells FargoAnalyst unavailable$75$71.44 -20.4%Apr 8, 2026
HSBCErwan Rambourg$106$99.01 +12.5%Feb 10, 2026
Wells FargoAnalyst unavailable$105$96.66 +11.5%Feb 6, 2026
UBSAnalyst unavailable$107$96.66 +13.6%Feb 6, 2026
BarclaysLauren Lieberman$94$96.66 -0.2%Feb 6, 2026
Deutsche BankSteve Powers$128$115.4 +35.9%Jan 29, 2026
Argus ResearchAnalyst unavailable$140$117.69 +48.6%Jan 26, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$100$114.22 +6.1%Jan 16, 2026
UBSAnalyst unavailable$119$115.37 +26.3%Jan 14, 2026
JefferiesAnalyst unavailable$110$115.37 +16.8%Jan 14, 2026
Wells FargoAnalyst unavailable$111$107.58 +17.8%Jan 5, 2026
Raymond JamesStrong Buy$130$106.76 +38.0%Jan 5, 2026
Evercore ISIRobert Ottenstein$125$102.46 +32.7%Dec 16, 2025
Redburn PartnersChris Pitcher$70$93.39 -25.7%Nov 25, 2025
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$91$96.69 -3.4%Nov 3, 2025
RBC CapitalNik Modi$113$97.33 +19.9%Oct 31, 2025
UBSPeter Grom$105$96.63 +11.5%Oct 31, 2025
Canaccord GenuityAnalyst unavailable$100$102.16 +6.1%Oct 27, 2025
Goldman SachsAnalyst unavailable$115$87.65 +22.1%Oct 13, 2025
Canaccord GenuitySusan Anderson$85$91.2 -9.8%Aug 18, 2025
Berenberg BankAnalyst unavailable$60$66.08 -36.3%Mar 25, 2025
Telsey AdvisoryDana Telsey$76$66.58 -19.3%Nov 1, 2024
Stifel NicolausMark Astrachan$125$87.15 +32.7%Oct 31, 2024
Deutsche BankSteve Powers$98$89.26 +4.0%Oct 22, 2024
HSBCErwan Rambourg$100$90.93 +6.1%Oct 16, 2024
Evercore ISIRobert Ottenstein$130$85.13 +38.0%Sep 10, 2024
D.A. DavidsonLinda Bolton Weiser$130$92.53 +38.0%Sep 3, 2024
Piper SandlerKorinne Wolfmeyer$114$93.99 +21.0%Aug 22, 2024
Telsey AdvisoryDana Telsey$105$92.85 +11.5%Aug 20, 2024
UBSPeter Grom$104$92.85 +10.4%Aug 20, 2024
Deutsche BankSteve Powers$105$92.85 +11.5%Aug 20, 2024
J.P. MorganAndrea Teixeira$129$94.97 +36.9%Aug 19, 2024
Bank of America SecuritiesBryan Spillane$100$95.14 +6.1%Aug 16, 2024
RBC CapitalNik Modi$131$99.96 +39.1%Jul 24, 2024
BarclaysLauren Lieberman$117$96.9 +24.2%Jul 19, 2024
BarclaysLauren Lieberman$136$113.93 +44.4%Jun 14, 2024
Morgan StanleyDara Mohsenian$140$132.94 +48.6%May 3, 2024
Raymond JamesOlivia Tong$155$132.51 +64.5%May 2, 2024
Telsey AdvisoryDana Telsey$142$127.37 +50.7%May 2, 2024
Wells FargoChris Carey$175$138.21 +85.8%Apr 17, 2024
D.A. DavidsonLinda Bolton Weiser$191$138.8 +102.7%Apr 15, 2024
Piper SandlerKorinne Wolfmeyer$158$145.43 +67.7%Apr 9, 2024
RBC CapitalNik Modi$195$162.93 +107.0%Aug 16, 2023
Telsey AdvisoryDana Telsey$250$205.81 +165.4%May 8, 2023
Canaccord GenuitySusan Anderson$228$222.91 +142.0%Nov 16, 2022
Goldman SachsJason English$303$239.5 +221.6%Sep 20, 2022
Morgan StanleyDara Mohsenian$320$265.1 +239.7%Aug 22, 2022
UBSPeter Grom$289$281.62 +206.8%Aug 19, 2022
Telsey AdvisoryDana Telsey$377$281.75 +300.2%Aug 18, 2022
RBC CapitalNik Modi$322$249.12 +241.8%May 4, 2022
Credit SuisseAnalyst unavailable$320$246.14 +239.7%May 4, 2022
Deutsche BankAnalyst unavailable$289$259.28 +206.8%Apr 27, 2022
Piper SandlerAnalyst unavailable$350$275.1 +271.5%Apr 19, 2022
BarclaysLauren Lieberman$342$314.43 +263.0%Feb 7, 2022
UBSPeter Grom$326$312.71 +246.0%Feb 4, 2022
Bank of America SecuritiesBryan Spillane$330$312.71 +250.3%Feb 4, 2022
Goldman SachsJason English$341$302.5 +262.0%Feb 3, 2022
JefferiesStephanie Wissink$360$302.5 +282.1%Feb 3, 2022
Wells FargoChristopher Carey$355$302.5 +276.8%Feb 3, 2022
Piper SandlerKorinne Wolfmeyer$380$293.61 +303.4%Jan 25, 2022
D.A. DavidsonLinda Bolton Weiser$439$339.07 +366.0%Nov 3, 2021
Raymond JamesOlivia Tong$390$337.32 +314.0%Nov 2, 2021
Societe GeneraleVictoria Nice$335$324.8 +255.6%Jul 14, 2021
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Company context

Snapshot as of publication

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is a global entity dedicated to the development, marketing, and sale of a diverse range of premium beauty and personal care items worldwide. Its extensive product catalog encompasses numerous offerings across four primary categories. For skin care, it provides moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body treatments, exfoliants, acne and oil control solutions, facial masks, specialized cleansing devices, and sun protection. In makeup, consumers can find lipsticks, glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, powders, compacts, brushes, and various other cosmetic tools. The fragrance segment includes eau de parfum sprays, colognes, scented lotions, powders, creams, candles, and soaps.…

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Sources

  1. Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-08-19T18:14:58.461272+00:00
  2. FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-09-21T01:23:13.071796+00:00
  3. Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-09-21T12:40:50.867094+00:00
  4. Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-09-21T12:40:50.864063+00:00

Methodology

Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.

Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.

Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.

By FN2 Research · Updated . For educational purposes only; not investment advice.