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On Thursday, DA Davidson reaffirmed a positive stance on Estee Lauder (NYSE:EL) shares, maintaining a Buy rating with an $81.00 price target. The endorsement comes as the stock trades near its 52-week low of $62.29, having declined over 53% in the past year. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company appears undervalued at current levels. The endorsement follows a proprietary social media survey conducted by the firm, which analyzed over 200 prestige beauty brands. The survey revealed that three of Estee Lauder’s top brands, accounting for approximately 65%-70% of sales, have seen a 1% increase in social media followers over the last year. Notably, the Estee Lauder brand itself climbed one position to rank 22nd in the survey.
The Ordinary, one of Estee Lauder’s larger brands, displayed significant social media momentum, ascending four places as its follower count surged by 14%. Despite recent challenges, the company maintains impressive gross profit margins of 73%. However, the survey indicated that Origins, Too Faced, and GlamGlow might be the company’s underperforming brands. DA Davidson suggests that Estee Lauder could consider exiting or divesting these brands in response to their weaker performance. InvestingPro subscribers can access 8 additional key insights about Estee Lauder’s financial health and growth prospects.
The $81.00 price target set by DA Davidson is anchored in a valuation of 40 times the firm’s estimated calendar year 2026 earnings per share (EPS) of $2.02. This target reflects the firm’s confidence in Estee Lauder’s growth trajectory and market position within the beauty and cosmetics industry.
Estee Lauder’s stock performance will continue to be watched closely by investors as the company leverages its social media presence and evaluates its brand portfolio strategy. The company’s ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences and maintain a strong digital footprint is central to DA Davidson’s assessment and the sustained Buy rating on the stock.
In other recent news, Estee Lauder reported a 6% decrease in net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, with significant declines in skincare and hair care, partially offset by a slight growth in fragrance. The company also faced substantial impairment charges on Tom Ford products, prompting a 47% dividend cut to preserve cash flow. Estee Lauder has partnered with Serpin Pharma to innovate in skincare, leveraging biotechnology to develop products targeting skin irritation and aging. Meanwhile, S&P Global Ratings downgraded Estee Lauder due to a prolonged business recovery in Asia, projecting increased leverage by the end of fiscal 2025. Estee Lauder’s financial outlook remains challenging, with travel retail sales in Hainan improving but facing new difficulties in Korea. DA Davidson maintained its Buy rating and $81 price target, reflecting confidence in the company’s strategic initiatives despite a lower-than-expected third-quarter EPS forecast. Estee Lauder’s new CEO is focusing on streamlining operations, potentially leading to further workforce reductions. The company’s ongoing restructuring efforts include significant job cuts, aiming to enhance agility and innovation.
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