EL vs ULTA: which was the better investment?
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. against Ulta Beauty, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Oct 25, 2007 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did EL beat ULTA?
No — measured from Oct 25, 2007 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, ULTA came out ahead: $159,722 versus $47,519 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 16.0% annual return against 8.7%.
What would $10,000 in EL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) on Oct 25, 2007 would be worth about $47,519 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 375.2% (8.7% per year). The same $10,000 in ULTA would be worth $159,722.
Which was riskier — EL or ULTA?
EL swung with an annualized volatility of 34.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -85.8%; ULTA ran at 45.4% volatility with a -87.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.20 for EL vs 0.31 for ULTA.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Oct 25, 2007 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with EL vs ULTA. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.