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Estee Lauder Acquires Remaining Forest Essentials Stake → Stock +2.81% on Improved Margins, $109 PT

Estee Lauder acquired the remaining equity stake in Forest Essentials, the premium Indian Ayurvedic beauty brand, while the stock rose 2.81% following improved gross margin data, with analysts holding a Buy consensus and an average price target of $109.70. The luxury beauty company continues to rationalize its brand portfolio and reduce costs while rebuilding profitability from the post-COVID travel retail and China recovery. Risks include continued Asia travel retail weakness, China luxury consumer spending deceleration, and ongoing restructuring costs impacting near-term earnings.