Shares of Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) are up 8% at $91 before the open, after the beauty giant reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results and raised its full-year forecast amid strong China demand. Earnings of 39 cents per share topped the 32 cents anticipated by analysts, while revenue of $3.63 billion beat estimates of $3.55 billion. Organic net sales also rose 5% during the quarter.
Today's pop has EL set to snap a five-day losing streak. Although the shares are up 10.7% over the past three months, they remain down 19.5% in 2026. Should these gains hold, the shares will also break above recent pressure at the 320-day moving average.
A cautious analyst group has yet to chime in with any adjustments today. Of the 26 covering the stock, 16 carry a "hold" or worse rating, compared to 10 "buy" or better recommendations. Meanwhile, the 12-month consensus price target of $96.14 is a 14.1% premium to last night's close.
Options traders have been unusually bullish. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and Nasdaq OMX PHLX (PHLX), EL's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 4.14 ranks higher than 96% of readings from the past year, showing calls have been picked up at a much faster-than-usual pace over the past 10 weeks.
