Estee Lauder Companies Inc Valuation – May 2016 $EL
Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing the 10 Companies Benjamin Graham Would Invest In Today – March 2016. By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a stock analysis showing a specific look at how Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., is a manufacturer and marketer of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company’s products are sold in over 150 countries and territories under a number of brand names, including Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Origins, Le Labo, M.A.C, Bobbi Brown, La Mer and Aveda. It is also the global licensee for fragrances and/or cosmetics sold under brand names, such as Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Tom Ford and Coach. It sells its products principally through limited distribution channels to complement the images associated with its brands. These channels include points of sale consisting of upscale department stores, specialty retailers, upscale perfumeries and pharmacies and prestige salons and spas. In addition, its products are sold in freestanding Company-operated stores, its own and authorized retailer Websites, stores on cruise ships, direct response television (DRTV), in-flight and duty-free shops.
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Downloadable PDF version of this valuation:
ModernGraham Valuation of EL – May 2016
Stage 1: Is this company suitable for the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor?
What kind of Intelligent Investor are you?
| Defensive Investor; must pass 6 out of the following 7 tests. | ||||
| 1. Adequate Size of the Enterprise | Market Cap > $2Bil | $33,138,722,203 | Pass | |
| 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Current Ratio > 2 | 1.75 | Fail | |
| 3. Earnings Stability | Positive EPS for 10 years prior | Pass | ||
| 4. Dividend Record | Dividend Payments for 10 years prior | Pass | ||
| 5. Earnings Growth | Increase of 33% in EPS in past 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end | 216.96% | Pass | |
| 6. Moderate PEmg Ratio | PEmg < 20 | 31.40 | Fail | |
| 7. Moderate Price to Assets | PB Ratio < 2.5 OR PB*PEmg < 50 | 8.92 | Fail | |
| Score | ||||
| Enterprising Investor; must pass 4 out of the following 5 tests, or be suitable for the Defensive Investor. | ||||
| 1. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Current Ratio > 1.5 | 1.75 | Pass | |
| 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Debt to NCA < 1.1 | 0.89 | Pass | |
| 3. Earnings Stability | Positive EPS for 5 years prior | Pass | ||
| 4. Dividend Record | Currently Pays Dividend | Pass | ||
| 5. Earnings Growth | EPSmg greater than 5 years ago | Pass | ||
Stage 2: Determination of Intrinsic Value
| EPSmg | $2.88 |
| MG Growth Estimate | 12.44% |
| MG Value | $96.21 |
| Opinion | Fairly Valued |
| MG Grade | C |
| MG Value based on 3% Growth | $41.79 |
| MG Value based on 0% Growth | $24.50 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 11.45% |
| Current Price | $90.50 |
| % of Intrinsic Value | 94.06% |
Estee Lauder Companies Inc is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, high PEmg and PB ratios. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Fairly Valued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.58 in 2012 to an estimated $2.88 for 2016. This level of demonstrated earnings growth supports the market’s implied estimate of 11.45% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value within a margin of safety relative to the price.
Estee Lauder Companies Inc receives an average overall rating in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a C.
Stage 3: Information for Further Research
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$2.00 |
| Graham Number | $26.79 |
| PEmg | 31.40 |
| Current Ratio | 1.75 |
| PB Ratio | 8.92 |
| Current Dividend | $1.08 |
| Dividend Yield | 1.19% |
| Number of Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth | 2 |
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Useful Links:
| ModernGraham tagged articles | Morningstar |
| Google Finance | MSN Money |
| Yahoo Finance | Seeking Alpha |
| GuruFocus | SEC Filings |
Most Recent Balance Sheet Figures
| Balance Sheet Information | 3/1/2016 |
| Total Current Assets | $4,252,300,000 |
| Total Current Liabilities | $2,433,700,000 |
| Long-term Debt | $1,612,500,000 |
| Total Assets | $8,816,300,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $1,577,600,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $5,004,500,000 |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) | 375,600,000 |
Earnings Per Share History
| Next Fiscal Year Estimate | $3.09 |
| 6/1/2015 | $2.82 |
| 6/1/2014 | $3.06 |
| 6/1/2013 | $2.58 |
| 6/1/2012 | $2.16 |
| 6/1/2011 | $1.74 |
| 6/1/2010 | $1.19 |
| 6/1/2009 | $0.55 |
| 6/1/2008 | $1.20 |
| 6/1/2007 | $1.08 |
| 6/1/2006 | $0.56 |
| 6/1/2005 | $0.89 |
| 6/1/2004 | $0.74 |
| 6/1/2003 | $0.63 |
| 6/1/2002 | $0.35 |
| 6/1/2001 | $0.58 |
| 6/1/2000 | $0.60 |
| 6/1/1999 | $0.52 |
| 6/1/1998 | $0.45 |
| 6/1/1997 | $0.37 |
| 6/1/1996 | $0.30 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham History
| Next Fiscal Year Estimate | $2.88 |
| 6/1/2015 | $2.68 |
| 6/1/2014 | $2.45 |
| 6/1/2013 | $1.98 |
| 6/1/2012 | $1.58 |
| 6/1/2011 | $1.24 |
| 6/1/2010 | $0.96 |
| 6/1/2009 | $0.85 |
| 6/1/2008 | $0.97 |
| 6/1/2007 | $0.83 |
| 6/1/2006 | $0.68 |
| 6/1/2005 | $0.71 |
| 6/1/2004 | $0.60 |
| 6/1/2003 | $0.53 |
| 6/1/2002 | $0.49 |
| 6/1/2001 | $0.54 |
| 6/1/2000 | $0.49 |
Recommended Reading:
Other ModernGraham posts about the company
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Disclaimer:
The author did not hold a position in any company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.  See my current holdings here.  This article is not investment advice; any reader should speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions.  ModernGraham is not affiliated with the company in any manner.  Please be sure to review our detailed disclaimer.
