HELE Consumer Defensive

Helen of Troy Limited

$29.54-2.31%

Price as of close on Nov 3, 2026 · Financials updated Oct 9, 2026

Basics

Sector: Consumer Defensive
Industry: Household & Personal Products
Country: United States
Market cap: 688.0M USD
Enterprise value: 1.3B USD
Full-time employees: 1,854

Overall health

Drawback: less profitable than most peersless profitable than peers
Drawback: growing more slowly than most peersgrowing more slowly than peers
Drawback: higher risk than most peers: its share price swings more than most peers’ (beta 1.34 vs a peer median of 0.41) and more debt relative to equity (0.79× vs a peer median of 0.42×)higher risk: bigger price swings (beta 1.34 vs peers 0.41) and more debt vs equity (0.79× vs peers 0.42×)
About average: valuation

Ranks #680 of 761 consumer defensive companies (bottom 11%)

See how it ranks against its peers

Worth knowing

Annual revenue fell three years running. Fiscal-year revenue down each year from FY Feb 2023 to FY Feb 2026.
Helen of Troy's fiscal-year revenue declined in each of the three years to FY Feb 2026.
Valuation signals disagree. Cheaper than 93% of peers on free cash flow, but only 0% on earnings.
Relative to its free cash flow, Helen of Troy looks cheaper than 93% of peers; relative to its earnings, cheaper than only 0%. The valuation score blends the two, so look at which measure fits this business best.
Loss over 12 months, profit last quarter. Lost money in the 12 months to August 2026, but made a $4.6M profit in the quarter to August 2026.
Helen of Troy reported a net loss over the last twelve months, but its most recent quarter was profitable ($4.6M). One quarter isn't a trend, but it's closer to profitability than the 12-month figure suggests.
Thin margins. Operating margin 1.3% (12 months to Aug 2026) vs a peer median of 7.6%.Operating margin 1.3% vs peers 7.6%.
Helen of Troy keeps 1.3% of revenue as operating profit, less than most peers (median 7.6%), leaving less room if costs rise.

StockQuotient Score

25/ 100

Oct 5 12 → Nov 4 25 (+13)

Valuation

Is the price right?

45/100

Moderate

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major changeValuation also moves with the share price every day.

Why

Mixed versus peers:

▲ FCF yield
▼ Earnings yield
▼ EBITDA yield

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Sector-normalized EBITDA, earnings, and free cash flow yields.

Earnings yield-14.4%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026Negative (a loss or cash outflow), so it counts as zero whatever the share price30% base weight · Z-score -1.51Sector median: 0.0453 · MAD: 0.0301

EBITDA yield5.7%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026Reported value50% base weight · Z-score -0.67Sector median: 0.0865 · MAD: 0.0435

Free cash flow yield21.3%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026 · operating cash flow − capital spendingReported value20% base weight · Z-score 3.42Sector median: 0.0622 · MAD: 0.0441

Other data (not scored)

Book yield123.6%

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.5381 · MAD: 0.2865

Growth

Is it growing?

33/100

Weak

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major change

Why

Weaker than most peers on:

▼ 3-yr revenue
▼ Revenue growth

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Revenue and earnings-per-share growth over one year, and revenue growth over three years.

Earnings per share growthUnavailable

Still loss-making, but the loss per share narrowed33% base weight · Z-score 0.30Sector median: 0.0154 · MAD: 0.2529

3-year revenue growth-3.1%

SEC filings · 3 years to Aug 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score -1.45Sector median: 0.0366 · MAD: 0.0470

Revenue growth0.3%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score -0.42Sector median: 0.0278 · MAD: 0.0585

Profitability

Does it earn well?

11/100

Weak

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: ▲ Stronger

Operating margin rose 18.6 points to 1.3%

Why

Weaker than most peers on:

▼ ROA
▼ Operating margin
▼ ROIC

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Return on invested capital, operating margin, and return on assets.

Operating margin1.3%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score -1.24Sector median: 0.0759 · MAD: 0.0508

Return on assets-4.7%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score -3.31Sector median: 0.0396 · MAD: 0.0262

Return on invested capital1.3%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score -0.95Sector median: 0.0766 · MAD: 0.0673

Other data (not scored)

Gross margin47.4%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026Reported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.3182 · MAD: 0.1263

Return on equity-11.6%

SEC filings · 12 months to Aug 2026Reported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.0831 · MAD: 0.0675

Risk

Debt, liquidity, price swings

Higher

Higher relative risk

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major change

Why it changed since the Oct 27, 2026 close: Safety percentile 13 → 12

Peer companies moved-1

Each step re-scores the company against its peers as they were on Oct 28, 2026; the parts add up to the change. Price effects on EBITDA yield are approximate.

Why

Weaker than most peers on:

▼ Beta
▼ Debt / equity

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Relative to sector peers: 0 = lower relative risk · 1 = moderate · 2 = higher. Based on leverage, beta and liquidity.

Beta1.34

Yahoo Finance · 5-year monthly beta vs the marketOutlier capped at sector 5th/95th percentile33% base weight · Z-score -4.30Sector median: 0.4070 · MAD: 0.1690

Current ratio1.65×

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported value33% base weight · Z-score 0.19Sector median: 1.5250 · MAD: 0.6460

Debt / equity0.79×

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported value33% base weight · Z-score -1.02Sector median: 0.4234 · MAD: 0.3581

Valuation, growth and profitability scores: higher is better. Risk: 0 is lower, 2 is higher. Risk is a relative proxy, not a bankruptcy probability. Scores depend on available sector peers.

Questions investors ask about Helen of Troy

Is Helen of Troy getting weaker?: Its latest SEC filing (Oct 8, 2026) got stronger: operating margin rose 18.6 points to 1.3%. Its overall score is unchanged at 25/100 since Oct 28, 2026.
How is Helen of Troy valued vs its peers?: Priced about in line with its peers. Valuation scores 45/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. Free cash flow yield 21.3% vs a peer median of 6.2% (stronger than 93% of peers).Free cash flow yield 21.3% vs peers 6.2% (stronger than 93% of peers). Earnings yield -14.4% vs a peer median of 4.5% (weaker than 100% of peers).Earnings yield -14.4% vs peers 4.5% (weaker than 100% of peers).
Is Helen of Troy growing?: More slowly than most of its peers. Growth scores 33/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. 3-year revenue growth -3.1% vs a peer median of 3.7% (weaker than 83% of peers).3-year revenue growth -3.1% vs peers 3.7% (weaker than 83% of peers).
How profitable is Helen of Troy?: Less profitable than most of its peers. Profitability scores 11/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. Return on assets -4.7% vs a peer median of 4.0% (weaker than 94% of peers).Return on assets -4.7% vs peers 4.0% (weaker than 94% of peers).
How risky is Helen of Troy?: Higher risk relative to 823 consumer defensive peers, judged on debt, liquidity and share-price swings. Beta 1.34 vs a peer median of 0.41 (weaker than 100% of peers).Beta 1.34 vs peers 0.41 (weaker than 100% of peers). A relative measure, not a bankruptcy probability.

Latest filing: what changed

Quarter ended Aug 31, 2026 · filed Oct 8, 2026 · compared with the quarter ended May 31, 2026

Got stronger

Operating margin rose 18.6 points to 1.3%

Worth watching: Helen of Troy is in the bottom fifth of its sector on profitability. From 2021 to 2025, 63% of companies in that position posted a loss over the following year, against 4% for the top fifth.

	Previous quarter	Latest quarter	Change
Revenue (12 months)	1.8B USD	1.8B USD	+0.5%
Net income (12 months)	−412.5M USD	−99.2M USD	−75.9%
Operating margin	-17.3%	1.3%	+18.6 pts
Free cash flow (12 months)	80.5M USD	147.2M USD	+82.9%
Debt	716.1M USD	672.6M USD	−6.1%
Cash	21.7M USD	22.6M USD	+4.2%
Shares outstanding	23.3M	23.4M	+0.4%

From the company’s own SEC filings, as filed. Twelve-month figures roll forward one quarter at a time.

Industry valuation context

Sector: Consumer Defensive · 91 companies

Valuations in Consumer Defensive are within their usual range since 2016.

30% of months since 2016 were valued lower than now.
18% of companies are in the most expensive fifth of their own price-to-sales history.
Over 24 months, company values −4% and earnings +7% (medians): prices and earnings moved broadly together.
Median price-to-sales is −58% vs the whole market, against a usual −39%.

2016Shaded: most expensive fifth of its range2026

Shown for Consumer Defensive: too few Household & Personal Products companies have a long enough history of their own.

Financials

Fiscal years from SEC annual filings · change vs the prior year

Key ratios	FY Feb 2022	FY Feb 2023	FY Feb 2024	FY Feb 2025	FY Feb 2026	Change
Gross margin	42.9%	43.4%	47.3%	47.9%	45.7%	▼ 2.3 pts
Operating margin	12.3%	10.2%	13.0%	7.5%	-43.8%	▼ 51 pts
Net margin	10.1%	6.9%	8.4%	6.5%	-50.3%	▼ 57 pts
Return on assets (ROA)	7.9%	4.9%	5.9%	4.0%	-42.5%	▼ 46 pts
Return on equity (ROE)	16.9%	9.6%	10.3%	7.4%	-112.6%	▼ 120 pts
Free cash flow margin	2.8%	1.6%	13.4%	4.4%	7.4%	▲ 3.0 pts
Current ratio	1.80×	2.16×	1.87×	2.00×	1.71×	▼ 14%
Quick ratio	0.87×	1.06×	0.99×	1.03×	0.81×	▼ 21%
Debt to equity	0.61×	0.63×	0.41×	0.55×	0.98×	▲ 80%
Interest coverage	21.22×	5.20×	4.91×	2.75×	-13.55×	▼ 593%

HELE price history

Price history is added with the daily price update and will appear after the next one.

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Bringing the fundamentals into focus…

Overall health

Drawback: less profitable than most peersless profitable than peers

Drawback: growing more slowly than most peersgrowing more slowly than peers

Drawback: higher risk than most peers: its share price swings more than most peers’ (beta 1.34 vs a peer median of 0.41) and more debt relative to equity (0.79× vs a peer median of 0.42×)higher risk: bigger price swings (beta 1.34 vs peers 0.41) and more debt vs equity (0.79× vs peers 0.42×)

About average: valuation

Ranks #680 of 761 consumer defensive companies (bottom 11%)

See how it ranks against its peers

Worth knowing

Annual revenue fell three years running. Fiscal-year revenue down each year from FY Feb 2023 to FY Feb 2026.

Helen of Troy's fiscal-year revenue declined in each of the three years to FY Feb 2026.

Valuation signals disagree. Cheaper than 93% of peers on free cash flow, but only 0% on earnings.

Relative to its free cash flow, Helen of Troy looks cheaper than 93% of peers; relative to its earnings, cheaper than only 0%. The valuation score blends the two, so look at which measure fits this business best.

Loss over 12 months, profit last quarter. Lost money in the 12 months to August 2026, but made a $4.6M profit in the quarter to August 2026.

Helen of Troy reported a net loss over the last twelve months, but its most recent quarter was profitable ($4.6M). One quarter isn't a trend, but it's closer to profitability than the 12-month figure suggests.

Thin margins. Operating margin 1.3% (12 months to Aug 2026) vs a peer median of 7.6%.Operating margin 1.3% vs peers 7.6%.

Helen of Troy keeps 1.3% of revenue as operating profit, less than most peers (median 7.6%), leaving less room if costs rise.

Questions investors ask about Helen of Troy

Is Helen of Troy getting weaker?

Its latest SEC filing (Oct 8, 2026) got stronger: operating margin rose 18.6 points to 1.3%. Its overall score is unchanged at 25/100 since Oct 28, 2026.

How is Helen of Troy valued vs its peers?

Priced about in line with its peers. Valuation scores 45/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. Free cash flow yield 21.3% vs a peer median of 6.2% (stronger than 93% of peers).Free cash flow yield 21.3% vs peers 6.2% (stronger than 93% of peers). Earnings yield -14.4% vs a peer median of 4.5% (weaker than 100% of peers).Earnings yield -14.4% vs peers 4.5% (weaker than 100% of peers).

Is Helen of Troy growing?

More slowly than most of its peers. Growth scores 33/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. 3-year revenue growth -3.1% vs a peer median of 3.7% (weaker than 83% of peers).3-year revenue growth -3.1% vs peers 3.7% (weaker than 83% of peers).

How profitable is Helen of Troy?

Less profitable than most of its peers. Profitability scores 11/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. Return on assets -4.7% vs a peer median of 4.0% (weaker than 94% of peers).Return on assets -4.7% vs peers 4.0% (weaker than 94% of peers).

How risky is Helen of Troy?

Higher risk relative to 823 consumer defensive peers, judged on debt, liquidity and share-price swings. Beta 1.34 vs a peer median of 0.41 (weaker than 100% of peers).Beta 1.34 vs peers 0.41 (weaker than 100% of peers). A relative measure, not a bankruptcy probability.

Previous quarter

Latest quarter

Change

Revenue (12 months)

1.8B USD

1.8B USD

+0.5%

Net income (12 months)

−412.5M USD

−99.2M USD

−75.9%

Operating margin

-17.3%

1.3%

+18.6 pts

Free cash flow (12 months)

80.5M USD

147.2M USD

+82.9%

Debt

716.1M USD

672.6M USD

−6.1%

Cash

21.7M USD

22.6M USD

+4.2%

Shares outstanding

23.3M

23.4M

+0.4%

Key ratios

FY Feb 2022

FY Feb 2023

FY Feb 2024

FY Feb 2025

FY Feb 2026

Change

Gross margin

42.9%

43.4%

47.3%

47.9%

45.7%

▼ 2.3 pts

Operating margin

12.3%

10.2%

13.0%

7.5%

-43.8%

▼ 51 pts

Net margin

10.1%

6.9%

8.4%

6.5%

-50.3%

▼ 57 pts

Return on assets (ROA)

7.9%

4.9%

5.9%

4.0%

-42.5%

▼ 46 pts

Return on equity (ROE)

16.9%

9.6%

10.3%

7.4%

-112.6%

▼ 120 pts

Free cash flow margin

2.8%

1.6%

13.4%

4.4%

7.4%

▲ 3.0 pts

Current ratio

1.80×

2.16×

1.87×

2.00×

1.71×

▼ 14%

Quick ratio

0.87×

1.06×

0.99×

1.03×

0.81×

▼ 21%

Debt to equity

0.61×

0.63×

0.41×

0.55×

0.98×

▲ 80%

Interest coverage

21.22×

5.20×

4.91×

2.75×

-13.55×

▼ 593%