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Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
NASDAQ:ULTA
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Ulta Beauty (ULTA) AI Stock Analysis

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ULTA

Ulta Beauty

(NASDAQ:ULTA)

Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$521.00
▲(1.16%Upside)
Ulta Beauty's strong financial performance and strategic initiatives in brand and digital engagement are significant strengths. However, overbought technical indicators and uncertainties in economic outlook present cautionary notes. The company's valuation is reasonable, but lack of a dividend may deter some investors.
Positive Factors
Financial Stability
Ulta uses a mix of cash on hand and existing credit facility to fund the acquisition, showcasing financial stability.
International Growth
ULTA expands into UK with acquisition of Space NK, aligning with management's strategy of growing internationally.
Leadership Strategy
New CEO Kecia Steelman is making swift strategic decisions, which has led to improved market perception and an upward revision in ULTA's performance.
Negative Factors
Competitive Pressure
WMT is expanding into the beauty arena, adding over 60 brands and launching their own shop-in-shop pilot, positioning itself as a competitor to ULTA.
Expansion Challenges
ULTA announced they would pause expansions of TGT shop-in-shops, leaving around 610 shops, which is below their stated goal of 800.
Market Concerns
International expansion not typically liked by the market. The market tends to view international acquisitions as a potential risk of distraction from core domestic growth.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Ulta Beauty Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUlta Beauty, Inc. operates as a retailer of beauty products in the United States. The company's stores offer cosmetics, fragrances, skincare and haircare products, bath and body products, and salon styling tools; professional hair products; salon services, including hair, skin, makeup, and brow services; and nail services. It also provides its private label products, such as the Ulta Beauty Collection branded cosmetics, skincare, and bath products, as well as Ulta Beauty branded products; and the Ulta Beauty branded gifts. As of March 10, 2022, the company operated 1,308 retail stores across 50 states. It also distributes its products through its website ulta.com; and mobile applications. The company was formerly known as Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. and changed its name to Ulta Beauty, Inc. in January 2017. Ulta Beauty, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyUlta Beauty generates revenue primarily through the sale of beauty products across multiple categories, including cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. The company's revenue model is centered around its retail operations, both in physical stores and online, where it sells products from a wide array of well-known brands. Additionally, Ulta Beauty earns money through its salon services, which offer hair, skin, and brow treatments to customers seeking personalized beauty services. The company's loyalty program, Ultamate Rewards, also plays a critical role in driving repeat business and customer engagement. Key revenue streams for Ulta Beauty include product sales, salon services, and membership fees from its rewards program. Strong vendor partnerships and exclusive product launches further contribute to Ulta Beauty's earnings, enhancing its appeal to a broad customer demographic.

Ulta Beauty Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Store Count
Store Count
Indicates the total number of retail locations, highlighting the company's physical footprint and expansion strategy. A growing store count can signal market penetration and revenue growth potential.
Chart InsightsUlta Beauty's store count has been steadily increasing, with a notable expansion in 2024, adding 60 net new stores and planning further international growth into Mexico and the Middle East in 2025. Despite this expansion, the company faces challenges with decreased sales and market share loss in the beauty category due to increased competition. Strategic investments in brand building and digital acceleration under the 'Ulta Beauty Unleashed' plan aim to counter these challenges, though they may pressure profitability in the short term.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Ulta Beauty Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 30, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 9.24%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 28, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflects a balanced view with notable achievements in sales growth, brand engagement, and digital sales. However, challenges such as profit margin decline and uncertainties in the economic outlook weigh against these positives.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Net Sales and Earnings Growth
Net sales increased 4.5% to $2.8 billion, with diluted earnings per share reaching $6.70, reflecting better than planned financial performance.
Record Loyalty Membership
The active loyalty member base expanded to a record 45 million, up 3% year over year, driving higher engagement and brand visibility.
Fragrance Category Success
Fragrance was the strongest performing category, delivering double-digit growth driven by newness in women's and gender-neutral fragrance brands.
E-commerce Performance
E-commerce sales increased about 10%, with more than 60% of e-commerce sales coming from the app, indicating strong digital engagement.
New Brand Launches
Ulta launched 19 new brands, many exclusive, including Tatcha, Milk Makeup, and Ilia, driving strong guest engagement.
Negative Updates
Profit Margin Decline
Operating margin decreased 60 basis points to 14.1% of sales, impacted by higher store payroll and expenses.
Skincare and Hair Care Challenges
Prestige skincare was flat, and mass skincare decreased modestly. Hair care was roughly flat with some category declines.
Makeup Category Decline
Comp sales in the makeup category decreased slightly, driven by mass makeup, although prestige makeup was flat.
Uncertain Economic Outlook
Cautious approach to fiscal 2025 guidance due to macroeconomic uncertainties and evolving global trade landscape.
Company Guidance
In Ulta Beauty, Inc.'s first quarter earnings call for fiscal 2025, the company reported a 4.5% increase in net sales, reaching $2.8 billion, with operating profit at 14.1% of sales and diluted earnings per share of $6.70. The quarter saw positive responses to strategic actions such as improved execution, new brand launches, and marketing initiatives, leading to market share gains. Key performance indicators improved, including member growth and app engagement. The company recorded double-digit growth in the fragrance category, with skincare and wellness seeing high single-digit increases, while hair care and makeup had varied performances. Ulta's loyalty program expanded to 45 million members, and the company launched 19 new brands, emphasizing exclusivity and digital advancements. Despite a strong quarter, Ulta maintains a cautious outlook for fiscal 2025 due to macroeconomic uncertainties, projecting net sales between $11.5 billion and $11.7 billion and flat to 1.5% comp sales growth for the year.

Ulta Beauty Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Ulta Beauty demonstrates strong revenue growth, profitability, and cash flow generation. The income statement and cash flow metrics are robust, although there's room for improvement in equity strength on the balance sheet.
Income Statement
88
Very Positive
Ulta Beauty's income statement shows strong performance with consistent revenue growth and solid profitability metrics. The TTM revenue growth rate is robust at 1.08%, indicating steady expansion. Gross profit margin is healthy at 38.81%, and net profit margin at 10.45% demonstrates efficient cost management. Both EBIT and EBITDA margins are strong, at 13.71% and 16.23% respectively, reflecting operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a solid financial position with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, indicating balanced leverage. ROE is impressive at 49.10%, showcasing effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio of 40.59% signifies a stable asset base funded by equity, though there's room for improvement in strengthening equity further.
Cash Flow
85
Very Positive
Cash flow analysis indicates a strong cash-generating capability. The free cash flow growth rate is notable at 7.56%, reflecting improved cash generation. Operating cash flow to net income ratio is 1.17, showing efficient conversion of income to cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio at 0.87 suggests healthy cash retention relative to earnings.
BreakdownMar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue11.30B11.21B10.21B8.63B6.15B
Gross Profit4.39B4.38B4.04B3.37B1.95B
EBITDA1.85B1.94B1.88B1.57B534.59M
Net Income1.20B1.29B1.24B985.84M175.84M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets6.00B5.71B5.37B4.76B5.09B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments703.20M766.59M737.88M431.56M1.05B
Total Debt1.92B1.91B1.90B1.85B1.90B
Total Liabilities3.51B3.43B3.41B3.23B3.09B
Stockholders Equity2.49B2.28B1.96B1.54B2.00B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow964.15M1.04B1.17B887.08M658.49M
Operating Cash Flow1.34B1.48B1.48B1.06B810.36M
Investing Cash Flow-383.09M-441.43M-314.58M-176.48M-48.75M
Financing Cash Flow-1.02B-1.01B-861.01M-1.50B-107.93M

Ulta Beauty Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price515.01
Price Trends
50DMA
470.64
Positive
100DMA
421.15
Positive
200DMA
405.89
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
14.58
Negative
RSI
71.12
Negative
STOCH
80.02
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ULTA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 515.01 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 494.48, above the 50-day MA of 470.64, and above the 200-day MA of 405.89, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 14.58 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 71.12 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 80.02 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ULTA.

Ulta Beauty Risk Analysis

Ulta Beauty disclosed 28 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Ulta Beauty reported the most risks in the "Ability to Sell" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Ulta Beauty Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (67)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$36.19B18.7642.63%1.22%2.93%-10.82%
78
Outperform
$23.09B20.2150.44%1.06%-0.29%
74
Outperform
$982.71M5.5129.74%0.17%20.26%
74
Outperform
$15.04B40.2776.24%7.64%369.79%
67
Neutral
¥261.79B13.646.45%2.57%5.11%-13.15%
63
Neutral
$6.55B8.27-52.83%2.76%-0.93%-4.07%
63
Neutral
$6.29B49.57-39.97%2.38%-38.88%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ULTA
Ulta Beauty
515.01
174.00
51.02%
EBAY
eBay
91.75
36.52
66.12%
BBWI
Bath & Body Works
28.96
-3.42
-10.56%
SBH
Sally Beauty
9.74
-0.53
-5.16%
ETSY
Etsy
58.27
-1.08
-1.82%
CHWY
Chewy
36.70
14.39
64.50%

Ulta Beauty Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Ulta Beauty CFO Departure and Severance Agreement
Neutral
Jul 25, 2025

Paula Oyibo, the former CFO of Ulta Beauty, departed the company on June 24, 2025. As part of her exit, she entered into a Separation and Release Agreement, receiving severance benefits including two years of base salary, a lump sum cash bonus, and health care benefits, while agreeing to non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for 24 months.

The most recent analyst rating on (ULTA) stock is a Hold with a $395.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ulta Beauty stock, see the ULTA Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Ulta Beauty Appoints Interim CFO Amid Leadership Change
Neutral
Jun 30, 2025

On June 25, 2025, Ulta Beauty announced the appointment of Christopher Lialios as Interim Chief Financial Officer following the departure of Paula Oyibo. Lialios, who has been with the company since 1999, will lead the financial operations while an external search for a permanent CFO is conducted. The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 guidance, indicating stability in its financial outlook.

The most recent analyst rating on (ULTA) stock is a Hold with a $395.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ulta Beauty stock, see the ULTA Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Ulta Beauty Holds Annual Stockholder Meeting June 2025
Neutral
Jun 13, 2025

On June 11, 2025, Ulta Beauty, Inc. held its annual meeting of stockholders, where several key proposals were voted on. Stockholders elected ten directors to serve until the 2026 annual meeting, ratified Ernst & Young LLP as the independent accounting firm for fiscal year 2025, and approved the company’s executive compensation. Approximately 87.52% of shares were represented at the meeting, reflecting strong shareholder engagement.

The most recent analyst rating on (ULTA) stock is a Hold with a $395.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ulta Beauty stock, see the ULTA Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jul 25, 2025