L'Oréal (OR.PA): analysis in plain words
Is L'Oréal cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
L'Oréal (OR.PA) is listed on Euronext Paris and we classify it in consumer staples. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against L'Oréal according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
L'Oréal (OR.PA) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | €444.75 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 37.8x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +5.8% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 13.9% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.2x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.66% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | €237.2 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The L'Oréal figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any OR.PA figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How L'Oréal makes money
L'Oréal reports four divisions: Consumer Products (L'Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline), the largest; L'Oréal Luxe (Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, Kiehl's); Dermatological Beauty (La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, Vichy); and Professional Products for hair salons (Kérastase). It sells skincare, makeup, haircare and fragrances worldwide.
Over the last 12 months, L'Oréal brought in revenue of €45.4 billion. For every 100 it sells, L'Oréal keeps 74.4 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 21.3 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 95,000 full-time employees, that is about €477,000 of revenue per employee.
L'Oréal against its sector
To know whether a L'Oréal figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares L'Oréal with the median of the 17 consumer staples companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | L'Oréal | consumer staples median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 37.8x | 21.3x (17) |
| Revenue growth | +5.8% | +3.6% (19) |
| Net margin | 13.9% | 12.8% (19) |
| Dividend yield | 1.66% | 3.19% (19) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.2x | 1.7x (19) |
In short, against the typical consumer staples company, L'Oréal trades on a higher P/E, grows faster and pays a lower dividend yield. By size, L'Oréal ranks number 1 of 6 consumer staples companies quoted in EUR on Fintols.
The bull case for L'Oréal
What works in favour of L'Oréal, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Analysts expect L'Oréal earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 29.2x, below the current 37.8x.
- L'Oréal earns 19.4% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- It is the largest by market value of the 6 consumer staples companies quoted in EUR that Fintols covers, and scale gives it bargaining power with customers and suppliers.
The main risk for L'Oréal
The price already assumes a lot: L'Oréal trades at 37.8x its last 12 months of earnings, against 21.3x for the consumer staples median. If growth disappoints, the multiple can shrink and the share price with it.
And, like the rest of consumer staples, L'Oréal is exposed to customers switching to cheaper store brands and rising prices for the raw materials it buys.
Frequently asked questions about L'Oréal
Is it a good time to buy L'Oréal stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell L'Oréal, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, L'Oréal stock trades at €444.75, 1% below its 52-week high (€448.10) and 31% above its low (€338.85). Its P/E is 37.8x against a consumer staples median of 21.3x, and 29.2x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With L'Oréal, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does L'Oréal pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, L'Oréal pays €7.20 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.66%. It uses 61% of its profit to pay it. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 1.53%. The consumer staples median on Fintols is 3.19%.
Is L'Oréal stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, L'Oréal trades at 37.8x its last 12 months of earnings: more expensive than the consumer staples median (21.3x). Including its debt, L'Oréal is valued at 24.1x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make L'Oréal expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are L'Oréal's competitors?
On Fintols we compare L'Oréal with AB InBev, Danone and Logista, which are also in consumer staples. As of November 4, 2026, AB InBev is worth €148.2 billion and trades on a P/E of 17.8; Danone is worth €43.6 billion and trades on a P/E of 22.4; Logista is worth €4.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 17.3. Each has a side-by-side comparison with L'Oréal below.
L'Oréal competitors
- AB InBev (ABI.BR) analysis · L'Oréal vs AB InBev comparison
- Danone (BN.PA) analysis · L'Oréal vs Danone comparison
- Logista (LOG) analysis · L'Oréal vs Logista comparison
To understand L'Oréal better
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like L'Oréal: consumer staples stocks and Euro Stoxx 50 companies. Open the full OR.PA analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about L'Oréal, not investment advice.