What's Going On With Ulta Beauty Stock Wednesday?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 16 2024
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Ulta Beauty's Business Strategy: Ulta Beauty is focusing on profitable growth through a long-term strategy that includes opening over 1,800 new stores and expanding its loyalty program to 50 million members by 2028, while adjusting its fiscal year 2024 sales guidance down to $11.0 billion - $11.2 billion.
Financial Performance and Share Repurchase: The company has reduced its earnings per share guidance for FY24 and announced a new $3.0 billion share repurchase authorization, as it anticipates transitional years ahead but aims for sustainable growth and shareholder value in the long term.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy ULTA?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on ULTA
Wall Street analysts forecast ULTA stock price to rise
22 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 508.850
Low
450.00
Averages
647.83
High
780.00
Current: 508.850
Low
450.00
Averages
647.83
High
780.00
About ULTA
Ulta Beauty, Inc. is a specialty United States beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skincare products, haircare products and salon services. The Company operates approximately 1,451 retail stores across 50 states and distributes products through its Website, which includes a collection of tips, tutorials, and social content. The Company’s business includes a differentiated assortment of approximately 29,000 beauty products across a variety of categories and price points, as well as a variety of beauty services, including salon services, in more than 1,400 stores predominantly located in convenient, high-traffic locations. It also offers digital experiences delivered through its Website, Ulta.com, and its mobile applications. The Company’s brands include Ulta Beauty Collection, about-face, Ariana Grande, CHANEL, FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna, It Cosmetics, LolaVie, OUAI, PAT McGRATH LABS, Tula, and NYX Professional Makeup.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Ulta Beauty to Announce Q1 Earnings on June 2
- Earnings Announcement Schedule: Ulta Beauty is set to release its Q1 earnings on June 2 after market close, with consensus EPS estimates at $6.89 and revenue expectations at $3.12 billion, which, if achieved, would further solidify its market position in the beauty industry.
- Performance Prediction Analysis: Over the past year, Ulta Beauty has beaten EPS estimates 75% of the time and revenue estimates 50% of the time, indicating stability in profitability and market performance, which enhances investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen 2 upward revisions and 20 downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced 11 upward and 6 downward revisions, reflecting mixed market sentiments regarding Ulta Beauty's future performance, potentially influencing investment decisions.
- Partnerships and Market Expansion: Ulta Beauty's collaboration with DC Studios for the Supergirl campaign and the extension of its delivery partnership with Uber not only enhance brand visibility but may also drive sales growth by improving customer experience.
See More
Alphabet's $80 Billion AI Investment Plan
- Historic Stock Sale: Alphabet confirmed it will sell $80 billion in stock, including a $10 billion stake to Berkshire Hathaway, to raise capital for AI compute infrastructure to meet unprecedented customer demand, although its stock fell about 2.5% ahead of the opening bell.
- Berkshire's Increased Stake: Berkshire's current holding in Alphabet is valued at around $20 billion, and this additional $10 billion investment is likely to make it the third-largest portfolio holding, behind Apple and American Express, reflecting confidence in Alphabet's growth potential.
- Strong HPE Performance: Hewlett Packard Enterprise's quarterly results exceeded expectations, with cloud and AI revenue driving its stock up over 25% in pre-market trading, and management now expects revenue growth of 29%-33% for the full year, indicating robust market demand.
- Space Stock Volatility: Ahead of the SpaceX IPO, space-related stocks like Rocket Lab and Redwire fell 14.7% and 15.83% respectively, as investors opted to reduce exposure due to concerns over short-term volatility, despite Rocket Lab outperforming the S&P 500 by 204% since July 2025.
See More
Investment Choices in Beauty: Ulta vs. Estée Lauder
- Ulta's Revenue Growth: In FY 2025, Ulta Beauty reported nearly $12.4 billion in revenue, reflecting a 9.7% increase year-over-year, and despite a slight decline in net income to approximately $1.2 billion, it demonstrates profitability in a cautious consumer environment, indicating the resilience of its retail model.
- Estée Lauder's Challenges: Estée Lauder's revenue for FY 2025 reached nearly $14.3 billion, an 8.5% decline compared to the previous year, resulting in a net loss of approximately $1.1 billion, highlighting significant challenges in key markets like Mainland China and the vulnerability of its brand reliance.
- Competitive Risk Analysis: Ulta Beauty faces fierce competition from mass merchandisers like Target and online marketplaces such as Amazon, with its top ten suppliers accounting for 51% of net sales, indicating that any disruption in the supply chain could impact its market position.
- Valuation Comparison: Ulta's forward P/E ratio stands at 17.6x and P/S ratio at 1.8x, compared to Estée Lauder's 36.7x and 2.3x, suggesting a more conservative valuation for Ulta, which may appeal to investors seeking stability in their investments.
See More
Analysis of Competitive Landscape in Beauty Industry
- Ulta Beauty Revenue Growth: In FY 2025, Ulta Beauty reported nearly $12.4 billion in revenue, reflecting a 9.7% increase year-over-year, and despite a slight decrease in net income to approximately $1.2 billion, the company maintained profitability in a challenging economic environment, showcasing the resilience of its retail model.
- Estée Lauder Revenue Decline: For FY 2025, Estée Lauder's revenue reached nearly $14.3 billion, down approximately 8.5% compared to the previous year, resulting in a net loss of about $1.1 billion, highlighting significant challenges faced in key markets, particularly in China.
- Competitive Landscape Analysis: Ulta Beauty faces fierce competition from mass retailers like Target and online marketplaces such as Amazon, with its top ten suppliers accounting for roughly 51% of net sales, making supply chain stability crucial for its operations.
- Market Positioning Differences: Ulta Beauty attracts a broad customer base through diverse product offerings and a loyalty program, while Estée Lauder relies on high-end brand positioning, facing an increasingly tough retail environment, and the success of its restructuring plans will directly impact its stock performance.
See More
Investment Comparison: Ulta Beauty vs. Estée Lauder
- Ulta Beauty's Market Performance: In FY 2025, Ulta Beauty reported nearly $12.4 billion in revenue, reflecting a 9.7% increase year-over-year, and despite a slight decline in net income to approximately $1.2 billion, its sustained profitability highlights the resilience of its retail platform in a cautious consumer environment.
- Estée Lauder's Challenges: Estée Lauder's revenue for FY 2025 reached about $14.3 billion, an 8.5% decline, resulting in a net loss of approximately $1.1 billion, which underscores significant challenges faced in key markets, particularly in China.
- Financial Health Comparison: As of January 2026, Ulta's debt-to-equity ratio stood at around 0.8 with a current ratio of 1.4, indicating strong liquidity, while Estée Lauder's debt-to-equity ratio was nearly 2.4 with a current ratio of 1.3, suggesting tighter financial conditions.
- Competitive Environment Analysis: Ulta Beauty faces fierce competition from mass retailers like Target and online giants such as Amazon, while Estée Lauder is impacted by weak international markets and its reliance on retail channels, creating uncertainty around future growth potential.
See More
Investors Eye Key Earnings Reports on June 2
- Earnings Announcement: Dollar General is set to report earnings before the market opens, with analysts expecting mid-single-digit sales growth driven by new store openings and improved traffic; however, same-store sales growth may slow, putting management's outlook on lower-income consumers under scrutiny.
- Beauty Sector Performance: Ulta Beauty will report earnings after the market closes, with analysts anticipating that the beauty retailer will perform well despite a challenging economic backdrop, as same-store sales are expected to land at the high end of the company's full-year guidance.
- Labor Market Data: The latest JOLTS report will be released on Tuesday, with economists forecasting job openings in April to remain roughly unchanged from March, as the Fed closely monitors signs of cooling in the labor market.
- Tech Expo Highlights: Computex kicks off in Taiwan, with Nvidia making headlines after unveiling its new chip aimed at bringing AI directly to personal computers during the GTC Taipei event, drawing significant attention.
See More
Ulta Beauty to Announce Q1 Earnings on June 2
- Earnings Announcement Schedule: Ulta Beauty is set to release its Q1 earnings on June 2 after market close, with consensus EPS estimates at $6.89 and revenue expectations at $3.12 billion, which, if achieved, would further solidify its market position in the beauty industry.
- Performance Prediction Analysis: Over the past year, Ulta Beauty has beaten EPS estimates 75% of the time and revenue estimates 50% of the time, indicating stability in profitability and market performance, which enhances investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen 2 upward revisions and 20 downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced 11 upward and 6 downward revisions, reflecting mixed market sentiments regarding Ulta Beauty's future performance, potentially influencing investment decisions.
- Partnerships and Market Expansion: Ulta Beauty's collaboration with DC Studios for the Supergirl campaign and the extension of its delivery partnership with Uber not only enhance brand visibility but may also drive sales growth by improving customer experience.
See More
Alphabet's $80 Billion AI Investment Plan
- Historic Stock Sale: Alphabet confirmed it will sell $80 billion in stock, including a $10 billion stake to Berkshire Hathaway, to raise capital for AI compute infrastructure to meet unprecedented customer demand, although its stock fell about 2.5% ahead of the opening bell.
- Berkshire's Increased Stake: Berkshire's current holding in Alphabet is valued at around $20 billion, and this additional $10 billion investment is likely to make it the third-largest portfolio holding, behind Apple and American Express, reflecting confidence in Alphabet's growth potential.
- Strong HPE Performance: Hewlett Packard Enterprise's quarterly results exceeded expectations, with cloud and AI revenue driving its stock up over 25% in pre-market trading, and management now expects revenue growth of 29%-33% for the full year, indicating robust market demand.
- Space Stock Volatility: Ahead of the SpaceX IPO, space-related stocks like Rocket Lab and Redwire fell 14.7% and 15.83% respectively, as investors opted to reduce exposure due to concerns over short-term volatility, despite Rocket Lab outperforming the S&P 500 by 204% since July 2025.
See More
Investment Choices in Beauty: Ulta vs. Estée Lauder
- Ulta's Revenue Growth: In FY 2025, Ulta Beauty reported nearly $12.4 billion in revenue, reflecting a 9.7% increase year-over-year, and despite a slight decline in net income to approximately $1.2 billion, it demonstrates profitability in a cautious consumer environment, indicating the resilience of its retail model.
- Estée Lauder's Challenges: Estée Lauder's revenue for FY 2025 reached nearly $14.3 billion, an 8.5% decline compared to the previous year, resulting in a net loss of approximately $1.1 billion, highlighting significant challenges in key markets like Mainland China and the vulnerability of its brand reliance.
- Competitive Risk Analysis: Ulta Beauty faces fierce competition from mass merchandisers like Target and online marketplaces such as Amazon, with its top ten suppliers accounting for 51% of net sales, indicating that any disruption in the supply chain could impact its market position.
- Valuation Comparison: Ulta's forward P/E ratio stands at 17.6x and P/S ratio at 1.8x, compared to Estée Lauder's 36.7x and 2.3x, suggesting a more conservative valuation for Ulta, which may appeal to investors seeking stability in their investments.
See More
Analysis of Competitive Landscape in Beauty Industry
- Ulta Beauty Revenue Growth: In FY 2025, Ulta Beauty reported nearly $12.4 billion in revenue, reflecting a 9.7% increase year-over-year, and despite a slight decrease in net income to approximately $1.2 billion, the company maintained profitability in a challenging economic environment, showcasing the resilience of its retail model.
- Estée Lauder Revenue Decline: For FY 2025, Estée Lauder's revenue reached nearly $14.3 billion, down approximately 8.5% compared to the previous year, resulting in a net loss of about $1.1 billion, highlighting significant challenges faced in key markets, particularly in China.
- Competitive Landscape Analysis: Ulta Beauty faces fierce competition from mass retailers like Target and online marketplaces such as Amazon, with its top ten suppliers accounting for roughly 51% of net sales, making supply chain stability crucial for its operations.
- Market Positioning Differences: Ulta Beauty attracts a broad customer base through diverse product offerings and a loyalty program, while Estée Lauder relies on high-end brand positioning, facing an increasingly tough retail environment, and the success of its restructuring plans will directly impact its stock performance.
See More
Investment Comparison: Ulta Beauty vs. Estée Lauder
- Ulta Beauty's Market Performance: In FY 2025, Ulta Beauty reported nearly $12.4 billion in revenue, reflecting a 9.7% increase year-over-year, and despite a slight decline in net income to approximately $1.2 billion, its sustained profitability highlights the resilience of its retail platform in a cautious consumer environment.
- Estée Lauder's Challenges: Estée Lauder's revenue for FY 2025 reached about $14.3 billion, an 8.5% decline, resulting in a net loss of approximately $1.1 billion, which underscores significant challenges faced in key markets, particularly in China.
- Financial Health Comparison: As of January 2026, Ulta's debt-to-equity ratio stood at around 0.8 with a current ratio of 1.4, indicating strong liquidity, while Estée Lauder's debt-to-equity ratio was nearly 2.4 with a current ratio of 1.3, suggesting tighter financial conditions.
- Competitive Environment Analysis: Ulta Beauty faces fierce competition from mass retailers like Target and online giants such as Amazon, while Estée Lauder is impacted by weak international markets and its reliance on retail channels, creating uncertainty around future growth potential.
See More
Investors Eye Key Earnings Reports on June 2
- Earnings Announcement: Dollar General is set to report earnings before the market opens, with analysts expecting mid-single-digit sales growth driven by new store openings and improved traffic; however, same-store sales growth may slow, putting management's outlook on lower-income consumers under scrutiny.
- Beauty Sector Performance: Ulta Beauty will report earnings after the market closes, with analysts anticipating that the beauty retailer will perform well despite a challenging economic backdrop, as same-store sales are expected to land at the high end of the company's full-year guidance.
- Labor Market Data: The latest JOLTS report will be released on Tuesday, with economists forecasting job openings in April to remain roughly unchanged from March, as the Fed closely monitors signs of cooling in the labor market.
- Tech Expo Highlights: Computex kicks off in Taiwan, with Nvidia making headlines after unveiling its new chip aimed at bringing AI directly to personal computers during the GTC Taipei event, drawing significant attention.
See More
