Diageo vs Unilever, side by side
Both are UK-listed giants built on well-known consumer brands, and both are often called defensive because people keep reaching for their products in good times and bad. The difference is what fills the basket. Diageo makes premium alcoholic drinks, with names like Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff. Unilever spans food, home and personal care, owning brands such as Dove, Hellmann's and Magnum. Both depend on consumer spending and on currency movements across many countries.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on quality and income, and weakest on growth.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on quality and income, and weakest on value.
The numbers, side by side
| Measure |  Diageo plc |  Unilever |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £16.34 | £47.43 |
| Market cap: The company's total value on the stock market - share price times the number of shares. Big = 'large-cap', small = 'small-cap'. | £36.34B | £102.13B |
| P/E: Price-to-earnings: the share price divided by yearly profit per share. Lower can mean cheaper; higher often means investors expect fast growth. | 20.2 | 21.4 |
| Div yield: Dividend yield: the yearly dividend as a percentage of the share price - roughly the income you'd earn just from dividends. | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Revenue growth | -4.0% | 0.5% |
| 1Y: How much the share price has moved over the past year. | -10% | -2% |
More measures
| Forward P/E: Price-to-earnings: the share price divided by yearly profit per share. Lower can mean cheaper; higher often means investors expect fast growth. | 13.8 | 16.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 12.2% | 18.3% |
| ROE | 19.7% | 31.9% |
| Beta: How bumpy the share price is versus the whole market. Above 1 swings more than the market; below 1 is calmer. It's about the ride, not whether it goes up or down. | 0.31 | 0.45 |
The bolder figure is simply the larger of the two - higher is not automatically good (a higher P/E means more expectation in the price; a higher beta means bigger swings).
How they differ
Unilever is roughly 3x the size of Diageo plc by market value. On our factor screen Diageo plc currently screens higher on value. Over the past year the share prices moved -10% (Diageo plc) vs -2% (Unilever).
Descriptive only - how the two compare on today's data, never a verdict on either.
Diageo plc, in one line
Diageo is a global drinks giant that owns famous brands like Guinness, Johnnie Walker, and Smirnoff.
Read the full Diageo plc explainer →Unilever, in one line
Unilever is a global giant behind everyday household staples like Dove soap, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
Read the full Unilever explainer →Common questions
What is the core difference between Diageo and Unilever?
Both make branded consumer goods sold worldwide, but the products differ. Diageo focuses on premium alcoholic drinks, from beer to spirits, so its sales lean on bars, restaurants and shops. Unilever makes everyday food, cleaning and personal-care items found in most kitchens and bathrooms, giving it a broader, more everyday product spread.
Why are both called defensive shares?
Because demand for their products tends to hold up even when money is tight - people still need everyday items like soap, sauces and a drink. That can make sales steadier than for makers of big-ticket goods. Both still face pressure when shoppers trade down to cheaper brands, and both are affected by exchange rates.