Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q4 behind us, let’s have a look at The Honest Company (NASDAQ: HNST) and its peers.

While personal care products products may seem more discretionary than food, consumers tend to maintain or even boost their spending on the category during tough times. This phenomenon is known as "the lipstick effect" by economists, which states that consumers still want some semblance of affordable luxuries like beauty and wellness when the economy is sputtering. Consumer tastes are constantly changing, and personal care companies are currently responding to the public’s increased desire for ethically produced goods by featuring natural ingredients in their products.

The 12 personal care stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1.2% above.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 9.4% since the latest earnings results.

The Honest Company (NASDAQ: HNST)

Co-founded by actress Jessica Alba, The Honest Company (NASDAQ: HNST) sells diapers and wipes, skin care products, and household cleaning products.

The Honest Company reported revenues of $88.04 million, down 11.8% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with EPS in line with analysts’ estimates and a miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

"Our fourth quarter delivered results in line with our expectations and provides clear momentum as we enter 2026," said Chief Executive Officer, Carla Vernón.

Interestingly, the stock is up 20.1% since reporting and currently trades at $2.77.

Read our full report on The Honest Company here, it’s free.

Best Q4: e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF)

Short for "eyes, lips, face", e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) is a developer of high-quality beauty products at accessible price points.

e.l.f. Beauty reported revenues of $489.5 million, up 37.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 6.4%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

e.l.f. Beauty scored the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 13% since reporting. It currently trades at $73.61.

Is now the time to buy e.l.f. Beauty? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Medifast (NYSE: MED)

Known for its Optavia program that combines portion-controlled meal replacements with coaching, Medifast (NYSE: MED) has a broad product portfolio of bars, snacks, drinks, and desserts for those looking to lose weight or consume healthier foods.

Medifast reported revenues of $75.1 million, down 36.9% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 5.2%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

Medifast delivered the highest full-year guidance raise but had the slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 7.5% since the results and currently trades at $9.99.

Read our full analysis of Medifast’s results here.

Olaplex (NASDAQ: OLPX)

Rising to fame on TikTok because of its “bond building" hair products, Olaplex (NASDAQ: OLPX) offers products and treatments that repair the damage caused by traditional heat and chemical-based styling goods.

Olaplex reported revenues of $105.1 million, up 4.3% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is down 28.7% since reporting and currently trades at $1.27.

Read our full, actionable report on Olaplex here, it’s free.

Estée Lauder (NYSE: EL)

Named after its founder, who was an entrepreneurial woman from New York with a passion for skincare, Estée Lauder (NYSE: EL) is a one-stop beauty shop with products in skincare, fragrance, makeup, sun protection, and men’s grooming.

Estée Lauder reported revenues of $4.23 billion, up 5.6% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a strong quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is down 25.7% since reporting and currently trades at $88.86.

Read our full, actionable report on Estée Lauder here, it’s free.

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