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Estee Lauder Online Sales Hit 31%: Structural Shift in Beauty Retail?
ZACKS· 2025-09-23 15:56
Core Insights - Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is experiencing significant digital acceleration, with online sales reaching 31% of total sales in fiscal 2025, an increase of 3 percentage points from the previous year, indicating a structural shift in consumer engagement with prestige beauty [1][9]. Digital Expansion - The company has expanded its presence on Amazon's Premium Beauty stores, offering 11 brands in the U.S. and three in Canada. Southeast Asia has become a testing ground for Estee Lauder, utilizing platforms like Shopee and TikTok Shop, while maintaining a strong presence on Tmall and Douyin [2]. - Estee Lauder is experimenting with innovative retail technologies, such as AI-powered flagship stores in China, showcasing its commitment to channel expansion and technological advancement [2]. Sales Performance - Online sales momentum improved in the latter half of fiscal 2025, with organic sales growth rising from low single digits in the first half to mid-single digits in the second half. Digital sales are expected to continue driving growth, compensating for the decline in travel retail, which fell to 15% of total sales, down 4 percentage points from 2024 [3][4]. Market Position - Estee Lauder's share price has increased by 13.3% over the past three months, outperforming the broader Consumer Staples sector, which declined by 3.8%, as well as the industry and S&P 500 index growth of 9% and 11.3%, respectively [5]. - The company currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 39.38, significantly higher than the industry average of 27.43 and the sector's 16.48, indicating market expectations of its business stability [10]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Estee Lauder's earnings per share has seen downward revisions, with current estimates at $2.06 for the fiscal year and $2.79 for the next fiscal year, reflecting year-over-year growth rates of 36.4% and 35.7%, respectively [13].