13 Best Bear Market Stocks to Buy Right Now

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2. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 48 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL), a global leader in prestige beauty, offers a broad portfolio spanning skin care, makeup, and fragrance. The company has accelerated its digital transformation, with online sales reaching a record 31% of total sales in fiscal 2025, up three percentage points from the prior year. Growth is driven by expanded presence in Amazon’s Premium Beauty sections, rising engagement in Southeast Asia via platforms like TikTok and Tmall, and AI-driven retail experiments in China. This digital momentum helps offset declines in travel retail, which fell to 15% of sales in 2025.

In September 2025, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) launched ARAMIS Intuition, a new men’s fragrance showcased at New York Fashion Week with global ambassador Dwyane Wade, alongside consumer engagement events. The firm is also enhancing innovation capacity with the upcoming appointment of René Lammers, Ph.D., as Chief Research & Innovation Officer in October. This move aims to accelerate science-driven product development and shorten time-to-market, strengthening the brand’s competitive edge amid digital growth trends.

Financially, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) posted a moderate revenue decline of 11.9% year-over-year in the latest quarter but exceeded earnings expectations with EPS of $0.09 versus $0.07. EL projects fiscal 2026 EPS guidance between $1.90 and $2.10 per share. It continues to deliver shareholder value through dividends, with a recent quarterly payout yielding 1.6%. While global travel retail and broader economic uncertainties remain challenges, digital sales momentum and innovation initiatives provide a strong growth outlook for the company.

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