e.l.f. Beauty's biggest risks in the FY2025 10-K
- e.l.f.
- Beauty faces intense competition and relies heavily on trends and Chinese manufacturing.
- Operations depend on key retail customers and information technology systems.
- Growth includes potential acquisitions such as rhode.
The risks most specific to e.l.f. Beauty
Acquisitions or investments, such as our potential acquisition of rhode, could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition
Acquisitions or investments, such as our potential acquisition of rhode, could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition.
The success of our acquisition of rhode will depend, in part, on our ability to successfully integrate and retain key employees of, and other certain personnel affiliated with, rhode
The success of our acquisition of rhode will depend on retaining key personnel, including founder Hailey Bieber.
Additional US tariffs or other restrictions placed on imports, retaliatory trade measures taken by other countries and resulting trade wars may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations
The majority of our products are sourced in China and subject to a US 25% tariff since May 2019.
Our indebtedness may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations
As of March 31, 2025, we had a total of $256.7 million of indebtedness under credit facilities and finance leases.
We depend on a limited number of retailers for a large portion of our net sales, and the loss of one or more of these retailers, or business challenges at one or more of these retailers, could adversely affect our results of operations
A limited number of retail customers account for a large percentage of our net sales.
We have significant operations in China, which exposes us to risks inherent in doing business in that country
We source and manufacture the majority of our products in China and had 108 employees there as of March 31, 2025.
Any inquiry into the regulatory status of our cosmetics and any related interruption in the marketing and sale of these products could damage our reputation and image in the marketplace
If the FDA determines we disseminated inappropriate drug claims, we could receive warning letters or be forced to modify product claims.
All 58 risk factors
Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.
Other
- 01The beauty industry is highly competitive, and if we are unable to compete effectively our results will suffer
- 02Our new product introductions may not be as successful as we anticipate
- 03We believe that developing and maintaining our brands is critical and that our financial success is directly dependent on consumer perception of our brands. Furthermore, the importance of brand recognition may become even greater as competitors offer more products similar to ours
- 04Our success depends, in part, on the quality, performance and safety of our products
- 05We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy
- 06Our growth and profitability are dependent on a number of factors, and our historical growth may not be indicative of our future growth
- 07We may be unable to continue to grow our business effectively or efficiently, which would harm our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 08Acquisitions or investments, such as our potential acquisition of rhode, could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition
- 09We have made certain assumptions relating to our potential acquisition of rhode that may prove to be materially inaccurate
- 10rhode may have liabilities that are not known to us
- 11The success of our acquisition of rhode will depend, in part, on our ability to successfully integrate and retain key employees of, and other certain personnel affiliated with, rhode
- 12employees and certain personnel of rhode, in particular Hailey Bieber, could have a negative impact on rhode’s business, our ability to successfully complete the acquisition of rhode, and our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 13Additional US tariffs or other restrictions placed on imports, retaliatory trade measures taken by other countries and resulting trade wars may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations
- 14A disruption in our operations, including a disruption in the supply chains for our products, could materially and adversely affect our business
- 15Adverse economic conditions in the United States or any of the other countries in which we conduct significant business could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 16If we fail to manage our inventory effectively, our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity may be materially and adversely affected
- 17Our success depends, in part, on our retention of key members of our senior management team and ability to attract and retain qualified personnel
- 18Public health crises could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 19Volatility in the financial markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 20Our indebtedness may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 21If our cash from operations is not sufficient to meet our current or future operating needs, expenditures and debt service obligations, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected
- 22Changes in tax law, in our tax rates or in exposure to additional income tax liabilities or assessments could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 23Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations
- 24We depend on a limited number of retailers for a large portion of our net sales, and the loss of one or more of these retailers, or business challenges at one or more of these retailers, could adversely affect our results of operations
- 25Our quarterly results of operations fluctuate due to seasonality, order patterns from key retail customers and other factors, and we may not have sufficient liquidity to meet our seasonal working capital requirements
- 26We are increasingly dependent on information technology, and if we are unable to protect against service interruptions, data corruption, cyber-based attacks or network security breaches, our operations could be disrupted
- 27We must continue to maintain and make requisite or critical upgrades to our information technology systems, and our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 28If we fail to adopt new technologies or adapt our e-commerce websites and systems to changing consumer requirements or emerging industry standards, our business may be materially and adversely affected
- 29We use AI in our business, and challenges with properly managing its use could result in harm to our brand, reputation, business or customers, and adversely affect our results of operations
- 30Failure to protect sensitive information of our consumers and information technology systems against security breaches could damage our reputation and brand and substantially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 31Payment methods used on our e-commerce websites subject us to third-party payment processing-related risks
- 32We have significant operations in China, which exposes us to risks inherent in doing business in that country
- 33We are subject to international business uncertainties
- 34New laws, regulations, enforcement trends or changes in existing regulations governing the introduction, marketing and sale of our products to consumers could harm our business
- 35Any inquiry into the regulatory status of our cosmetics and any related interruption in the marketing and sale of these products could damage our reputation and image in the marketplace
- 36Our facilities and those of our third-party manufacturers are subject to regulation under the FDCA and FDA implementing regulations
- 37Government regulations and private party actions relating to the marketing and advertising of our products and services may restrict, inhibit or delay our ability to sell our products and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 38Failure to comply with the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, other applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, and applicable trade control laws could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences
- 39Government regulation of the Internet and e-commerce is evolving, and unfavorable changes or failure by us to comply with these regulations could substantially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 40We are involved, and may become involved in the future, in disputes and other legal or regulatory proceedings that, if adversely decided or settled, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 41We may be required to recall products and may face product liability claims, either of which could result in unexpected costs and damage our reputation
- 42If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, the value of our brands and other intangible assets may be diminished, and our business may be adversely affected
- 43Our success depends on our ability to operate our business without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the trademarks, patents, copyrights and other proprietary rights of third parties
- 44on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or we may need to redesign or rebrand our marketing strategies or products, which may not be possible
- 45Use of social media may materially and adversely affect our reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties, and any failure in our marketing efforts through our social media presence could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 46Use of influencers may materially and adversely affect our reputation and business
- 47Our business relies heavily on email and other messaging services, and any restrictions on the sending of emails or messages or an inability to timely deliver such communications could materially adversely affect our net revenue and business
- 48Our business could be negatively impacted by corporate citizenship and sustainability matters
- 49We are subject to a series of risks related to climate change
- 50Actions of activist stockholders could be costly and time-consuming, divert management’s attention and resources, and have an adverse effect on our business
- 51Because we have no current plans to pay cash dividends on our common stock, stockholders may not receive any return on investment unless they sell our common stock for a price greater than that which they paid for it
- 52We cannot guarantee that our share repurchase program will be utilized to the full value approved or that it will enhance long-term stockholder value
- 53Stockholders may be diluted by the future issuance of additional common stock in connection with our incentive plans, acquisitions or otherwise
- 54Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and Delaware law might discourage or delay acquisition attempts for us that stockholders might consider favorable
- 55Our board of directors is authorized to issue and designate shares of our preferred stock in additional series without stockholder approval
- 56Although our common stock is listed on the NYSE, there can be no assurances that an active trading market for our common stock will be sustained. In the absence of an active trading market for our common stock, stockholders may not be able to sell their common stock at the time or price they would like to sell
- 57Future sales, or the perception of future sales, by us or our stockholders in the public market could cause the market price for our common stock to decline
- 58If securities analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline
Other e.l.f. Beauty 10-Ks
- FY2026 10-K risk factors59 risks4 new3 dropped17 reworded
New disclosures add risks from major-retailer ordering and liquidity, payment fraud and processing rules, international expansion, and Delaware exclusive-forum provisions.
Filed May 21, 2026
About this page
The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.