Wells Fargo Lowers Estee Lauder Price Target to $105
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 06 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EL?
Wells Fargo lowered the firm's price target on Estee Lauder to $105 from $111 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares following substantial move. The firm notes "the bar was exceptionally high," more than 40 times FY27 EPS. Results/guidance needed to be pristine, but reality is rarely so linear, Wells adds. With one blip in China TR and tougher second half of the year comparable sales ahead, the bull case was dinged, argues the firm.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy EL?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on EL
Wall Street analysts forecast EL stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
9 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 76.420
Low
70.00
Averages
106.76
High
130.00
Current: 76.420
Low
70.00
Averages
106.76
High
130.00
About EL
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is a manufacturer, marketer and seller of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. Its products are sold in over 150 countries and territories under a number of brand names, including Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M.A.C, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, La Mer, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, GLAMGLOW, Kilian Paris, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, and the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty. It is a licensee for fragrances, cosmetics and/or related products for AERIN, BALMAIN, and Dr. Andrew Weil. Its skin care products include moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, exfoliators, facial masks, body care, sun care products and others. Its makeup products include foundations, powders, concealers and setting sprays, lipsticks, lip liners and lip glosses, and mascaras, eyeshadows and eyeliners.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Market Dynamics and Company Earnings Analysis
- ASML Surpasses Expectations: ASML's first-quarter results significantly exceeded expectations, and the company raised its 2026 guidance, indicating strong demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which could further boost the stock prices of related companies.
- Morgan Stanley's Strong Quarter: Morgan Stanley reported substantial beats in equities and fixed-income trading, leading to a more than 2% increase in its stock price, showcasing its competitive edge in investment banking, with CEO Ted Pick's leadership gaining market recognition.
- Wells Fargo's Underwhelming Performance: Although Wells Fargo reported decent quarterly results, concerns over its private credit portfolio led analysts to lower its price target and remove it from their best ideas list, resulting in the stock stabilizing after a 5.7% decline.
- Johnson & Johnson Price Target Hikes: Following its earnings report, Barclays and Stifel raised Johnson & Johnson's price targets to $255 and $250 respectively, reflecting market optimism about its strong pharmaceutical portfolio, particularly driven by cancer treatments and Tremfya.
See More
Meta and Broadcom Extend Partnership for AI Accelerators Through 2029
- Partnership Extension: Meta and Broadcom have signed a deal extending their partnership through 2029 to design Meta's custom AI accelerators, with an initial deployment of 1 gigawatt and plans to scale to multiple gigawatts, significantly enhancing Meta's computational capabilities in AI.
- Executive Changes: Broadcom CEO Hock Tan has decided not to seek reelection to Meta's board, where he joined in 2024, a move that could impact Meta's strategic decisions and collaborative direction moving forward.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement of the partnership, Broadcom's shares rose by 3%, indicating market optimism regarding the collaboration, while Meta's stock remained flat, reflecting investor focus on its AI strategy.
- Accelerated AI Investment: Meta plans to invest up to $135 billion in AI in 2023, with recent commitments to deploy 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs and millions of Nvidia chips, showcasing its ambition in building AI infrastructure.
See More
Kevin Warsh Nomination Discloses Over $192M in Assets
- Asset Disclosure: Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh and his wife disclosed assets exceeding $192 million, including two Juggernaut Funds valued over $50 million each, highlighting his significant financial background and influence.
- Divestment Plan: Warsh submitted a statement indicating he will resign from roles at Duquesne Family Office and Bessemer Securities and divest his two major assets upon confirmation, ensuring independence from the Federal Reserve.
- Spousal Asset Overview: Warsh's wife, Jane Lauder, holds over $1.5 billion in Estee Lauder stock directly and through trusts, along with 31 investments valued over $1 million each, showcasing the family's strong influence in the beauty industry.
- Historical Comparison: If confirmed, Warsh will be one of the wealthiest members in Federal Reserve history, with assets surpassing $100 million, compared to current Chair Powell's estimated assets of over $100 million at his 2017 nomination, indicating a rising wealth trend among Fed leadership.
See More
Kevin Warsh's Nomination Progress Update
- Nomination Progress: Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh has submitted the required paperwork to the Senate, marking a step closer to a Senate hearing, although the originally scheduled hearing this week was delayed due to paperwork holdups.
- Financial Disclosure: Warsh's financial disclosure documents have been filed, and the Senate also needs to receive his answers to questions from the Senate Banking Committee before formally notifying the hearing, which is expected to take place as early as next week.
- Political Resistance: Despite progress, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has stated he will block Warsh's final approval until the federal criminal probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell is resolved, which could impact Warsh's nomination process.
- Time Pressure: Powell's term is set to expire on May 15, and the Trump administration aims to have Warsh in place by then to ensure stability in the Federal Reserve's leadership.
See More
Intense Competition in the Cosmetics Industry
- Increased Market Competition: The cosmetics industry is experiencing fierce competition as multiple brands vie for market share, leading to frequent price wars that impact overall profitability.
- Shifting Consumer Preferences: With rising demand for natural and organic products, traditional cosmetics brands must adjust their product lines to align with market trends and ensure continued customer attraction.
- Innovation-Driven Growth: Companies in the industry are enhancing product quality and production efficiency through technological innovations, particularly in developing new formulations and sustainable packaging to meet environmental standards.
- Global Market Expansion: Brands are actively expanding into international markets, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, to seize growth opportunities in emerging markets and strengthen their global competitiveness.
See More
Intense Competition in the Cosmetics Industry
- Industry Competition Analysis: The cosmetics industry is fiercely competitive, particularly with the rise of AI technology, which could significantly alter market dynamics, necessitating continuous innovation from companies to maintain market share.
- Investment Advisory Warning: Despite Estée Lauder Companies holding a position in the market, it was not included in The Motley Fool's current list of top investment stocks, indicating a cautious outlook on its future performance.
- Historical Return Comparison: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor boasts an average return of 968%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 191%, highlighting the importance of focusing on long-term performance and market trends when selecting stocks.
- Market Potential Outlook: With advancements in technology, particularly the increasing demand for critical technologies from companies like Nvidia and Intel, new market opportunities may arise, prompting investors to closely monitor developments in related firms.
See More
Market Dynamics and Company Earnings Analysis
- ASML Surpasses Expectations: ASML's first-quarter results significantly exceeded expectations, and the company raised its 2026 guidance, indicating strong demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which could further boost the stock prices of related companies.
- Morgan Stanley's Strong Quarter: Morgan Stanley reported substantial beats in equities and fixed-income trading, leading to a more than 2% increase in its stock price, showcasing its competitive edge in investment banking, with CEO Ted Pick's leadership gaining market recognition.
- Wells Fargo's Underwhelming Performance: Although Wells Fargo reported decent quarterly results, concerns over its private credit portfolio led analysts to lower its price target and remove it from their best ideas list, resulting in the stock stabilizing after a 5.7% decline.
- Johnson & Johnson Price Target Hikes: Following its earnings report, Barclays and Stifel raised Johnson & Johnson's price targets to $255 and $250 respectively, reflecting market optimism about its strong pharmaceutical portfolio, particularly driven by cancer treatments and Tremfya.
See More
Meta and Broadcom Extend Partnership for AI Accelerators Through 2029
- Partnership Extension: Meta and Broadcom have signed a deal extending their partnership through 2029 to design Meta's custom AI accelerators, with an initial deployment of 1 gigawatt and plans to scale to multiple gigawatts, significantly enhancing Meta's computational capabilities in AI.
- Executive Changes: Broadcom CEO Hock Tan has decided not to seek reelection to Meta's board, where he joined in 2024, a move that could impact Meta's strategic decisions and collaborative direction moving forward.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement of the partnership, Broadcom's shares rose by 3%, indicating market optimism regarding the collaboration, while Meta's stock remained flat, reflecting investor focus on its AI strategy.
- Accelerated AI Investment: Meta plans to invest up to $135 billion in AI in 2023, with recent commitments to deploy 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs and millions of Nvidia chips, showcasing its ambition in building AI infrastructure.
See More
Kevin Warsh Nomination Discloses Over $192M in Assets
- Asset Disclosure: Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh and his wife disclosed assets exceeding $192 million, including two Juggernaut Funds valued over $50 million each, highlighting his significant financial background and influence.
- Divestment Plan: Warsh submitted a statement indicating he will resign from roles at Duquesne Family Office and Bessemer Securities and divest his two major assets upon confirmation, ensuring independence from the Federal Reserve.
- Spousal Asset Overview: Warsh's wife, Jane Lauder, holds over $1.5 billion in Estee Lauder stock directly and through trusts, along with 31 investments valued over $1 million each, showcasing the family's strong influence in the beauty industry.
- Historical Comparison: If confirmed, Warsh will be one of the wealthiest members in Federal Reserve history, with assets surpassing $100 million, compared to current Chair Powell's estimated assets of over $100 million at his 2017 nomination, indicating a rising wealth trend among Fed leadership.
See More
Kevin Warsh's Nomination Progress Update
- Nomination Progress: Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh has submitted the required paperwork to the Senate, marking a step closer to a Senate hearing, although the originally scheduled hearing this week was delayed due to paperwork holdups.
- Financial Disclosure: Warsh's financial disclosure documents have been filed, and the Senate also needs to receive his answers to questions from the Senate Banking Committee before formally notifying the hearing, which is expected to take place as early as next week.
- Political Resistance: Despite progress, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has stated he will block Warsh's final approval until the federal criminal probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell is resolved, which could impact Warsh's nomination process.
- Time Pressure: Powell's term is set to expire on May 15, and the Trump administration aims to have Warsh in place by then to ensure stability in the Federal Reserve's leadership.
See More
Intense Competition in the Cosmetics Industry
- Increased Market Competition: The cosmetics industry is experiencing fierce competition as multiple brands vie for market share, leading to frequent price wars that impact overall profitability.
- Shifting Consumer Preferences: With rising demand for natural and organic products, traditional cosmetics brands must adjust their product lines to align with market trends and ensure continued customer attraction.
- Innovation-Driven Growth: Companies in the industry are enhancing product quality and production efficiency through technological innovations, particularly in developing new formulations and sustainable packaging to meet environmental standards.
- Global Market Expansion: Brands are actively expanding into international markets, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, to seize growth opportunities in emerging markets and strengthen their global competitiveness.
See More
Intense Competition in the Cosmetics Industry
- Industry Competition Analysis: The cosmetics industry is fiercely competitive, particularly with the rise of AI technology, which could significantly alter market dynamics, necessitating continuous innovation from companies to maintain market share.
- Investment Advisory Warning: Despite Estée Lauder Companies holding a position in the market, it was not included in The Motley Fool's current list of top investment stocks, indicating a cautious outlook on its future performance.
- Historical Return Comparison: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor boasts an average return of 968%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 191%, highlighting the importance of focusing on long-term performance and market trends when selecting stocks.
- Market Potential Outlook: With advancements in technology, particularly the increasing demand for critical technologies from companies like Nvidia and Intel, new market opportunities may arise, prompting investors to closely monitor developments in related firms.
See More
