Motley Fool’s author favors Monster Beverage over e.l.f. Beauty for 2026, citing its scale, profits and international growth. Monster’s latest quarter topped $2.5 billion in revenue, with double-digit growth in every region; international sales are nearly half its business.
For the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2025, Monster reported nearly $8.3 billion in revenue and $1.9 billion in net income, with a roughly 23% net margin. e.l.f. reported nearly $1.6 billion in revenue, up about 24.6%, and roughly $26.3 million in net income for the year ended March 31, 2026. FMP data put Monster’s forward P/E at 37.0x and price-to-sales ratio at 9.1x, compared with 27.8x and 3.4x for e.l.f.; the source notes figures may vary by provider.
Monster had no total debt and a 3.7x current ratio on its December 2025 balance sheet; FY2025 free cash flow was nearly $2.0 billion. e.l.f.’s March 2026 figures included a 0.8x debt-to-equity ratio, a 2.3x current ratio and about $190.1 million in free cash flow. Stock-based compensation represented roughly 40.9% of its operating cash flow, inflating reported cash generation. e.l.f. relies on third-party manufacturers in China and must manage its rhode acquisition; Monster depends heavily on Coca-Cola’s distribution partnership and faces competition, potential regulation over energy drinks’ health impacts and changing environmental requirements.
