The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is an American multinational cosmetics company, recognized as a global leader in prestige beauty. Founded in 1946 by Estée and Joseph Lauder, the company manufactures and markets a diverse portfolio of makeup, skincare, perfume, and hair care products. Its mission is "to be the global leader in prestige beauty, a business built on creativity, innovation, and a thorough understanding of consumers' desires." The company's headquarters are located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, at 767 Fifth Avenue.

Operating in approximately 150 countries and territories, The Estée Lauder Companies offers a wide array of products across its more than 20 prestige brands. Key product categories include high-quality skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care. The company distributes its products through various channels, including department stores, specialty multi-brand retailers, freestanding stores, e-commerce platforms, and travel retail. Its target market primarily consists of consumers seeking premium beauty products, with a core demographic of women aged 25 to 55 with high disposable incomes, while also actively engaging younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z, and expanding into the male grooming market.

Currently, William P. Lauder serves as the Chairman, and Stéphane de La Faverie is the President and CEO. The company recently reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with double-digit organic sales growth in fragrance and growth across three of its four geographic regions, notably led by Mainland China. As part of its ongoing Profit Recovery and Growth Plan, The Estée Lauder Companies has increased its estimated net reduction in positions to between 9,000 and 10,000, largely impacting point-of-sale roles. In April 2026, the company announced a minority investment in 111SKIN, a luxury clinical skincare brand, and fully established its "One ELC" operating model, raising its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook. The company maintains its position as the second-largest cosmetics company globally after L'Oréal, driven by its "Beauty Reimagined" strategy aimed at restoring organic sales growth and expanding adjusted operating margins.