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Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
:ULTA

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) AI Stock Analysis

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Ulta Beauty

(NASDAQ:ULTA)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
Ulta Beauty's overall stock score reflects its strong financial performance and sound valuation, tempered by mixed technical indicators and cautious guidance from the earnings call. The company's strategic investments in growth and efficiency are promising, but challenges like market share loss and inflationary pressures present risks. The score indicates a stable, yet cautious outlook for Ulta Beauty in the specialty retail industry.
Positive Factors
Earnings
Analysts see a favorable risk/reward into 1Q EPS.
Market Position
ULTA is benefiting from a unique combination of mass and prestige products, leading to share gains and improved margin flowthrough.
Product Pipeline
A successful 21 Days of Beauty event and a stronger product pipeline drove upside.
Negative Factors
Competitive Environment
The competitive environment remains intense with significantly expanded distribution of key brands.
Online Competition
There is a maintained thesis for share loss to online channels in the long term.
Promotions Impact
Pressure from Amazon is expected to drive increased promotion, challenging margin expansion.

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

Ulta Beauty Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUlta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) is a leading beauty retailer in the United States, offering a comprehensive range of cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and haircare products. The company operates a chain of retail stores and an e-commerce site, providing customers with access to over 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store, featuring hair, skin, and brow services. With a focus on providing an inclusive and welcoming shopping experience, Ulta Beauty caters to a diverse customer base with varying beauty needs and preferences.
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 presence and potential market reach. A growing store count can signal expansion and increased market penetration.
Chart InsightsUlta Beauty's store count has been steadily increasing, with a notable acceleration in 2024, reflecting strategic expansion efforts. The latest earnings call highlights the opening of 60 new stores and 100 Ulta Beauty at Target locations, alongside plans for international expansion into Mexico and the Middle East. Despite these growth initiatives, Ulta faces challenges with market share loss and decreased sales, indicating that while expansion is a priority, the company must also address competitive pressures and optimize in-store experiences to maintain its market position.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Ulta Beauty Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Ulta Beauty demonstrates strong financial health characterized by consistent revenue and profit growth, efficient operations, and robust cash flow generation. The company maintains a balanced capital structure, though a moderate level of debt highlights the importance of sustaining profitability and cash flow to mitigate any potential risks. Overall, Ulta Beauty is well-positioned for continued success in the specialty retail industry.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Ulta Beauty has shown a strong financial performance with consistent growth in revenue and profitability. The TTM gross profit margin stands at approximately 38.83%, indicating efficient cost management. The net profit margin for TTM is about 10.64%, reflecting solid profitability. Revenue growth has been strong, with a 31.07% increase from 2021 to 2022, although recent growth has been moderate. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are healthy, indicating robust operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
Ulta Beauty's balance sheet is relatively strong, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, suggesting moderate leverage. The return on equity for TTM is approximately 48.28%, indicating excellent efficiency in using equity to generate profits. The equity ratio is 41.45%, showing a stable capital structure. However, the company does carry a significant amount of debt, which could pose risks if profitability declines.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Cash flow performance is robust, with a TTM operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.11, indicating strong cash conversion efficiency. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.80, suggesting that a significant portion of net income translates into free cash flow. Free cash flow growth has been positive, supporting ongoing investments and debt repayments.
Breakdown
Mar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income StatementTotal Revenue
11.30B11.21B10.21B8.63B6.15B
Gross Profit
4.39B4.38B4.04B3.37B1.95B
EBIT
1.56B1.68B1.64B1.30B465.46M
EBITDA
1.85B1.94B1.88B1.57B534.59M
Net Income Common Stockholders
1.20B1.29B1.24B985.84M175.84M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
703.20M766.59M737.88M431.56M1.05B
Total Assets
6.00B5.71B5.37B4.76B5.09B
Total Debt
1.92B1.91B1.90B1.85B1.90B
Net Debt
1.22B1.14B1.17B1.42B850.75M
Total Liabilities
3.51B3.43B3.41B3.23B3.09B
Stockholders Equity
2.49B2.28B1.96B1.54B2.00B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
964.15M1.04B1.17B887.08M658.49M
Operating Cash Flow
1.34B1.48B1.48B1.06B810.36M
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 Price407.04
Price Trends
50DMA
377.58
Positive
100DMA
383.18
Positive
200DMA
381.86
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
9.69
Positive
RSI
58.18
Neutral
STOCH
38.61
Neutral
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 407.04 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 401.15, above the 50-day MA of 377.58, and above the 200-day MA of 381.86, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 9.69 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 58.18 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.61 is Neutral, 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 (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$18.38B16.0450.39%0.79%-2.70%
MM
70
Neutral
$3.22B5.6013.40%5.90%-3.60%442.87%
ELELF
67
Neutral
$4.67B49.2314.24%46.27%-26.45%
62
Neutral
$6.84B11.222.83%3.93%2.65%-21.93%
JWJWN
60
Neutral
$4.12B14.1729.58%3.08%2.20%120.00%
60
Neutral
$4.30B40.12-10.58%-1.68%-302.11%
ELEL
56
Neutral
$23.18B147.29-17.27%3.13%-3.70%-235.59%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ULTA
Ulta Beauty
407.04
25.26
6.62%
EL
The Estée Lauder Companies
63.69
-59.59
-48.34%
M
Macy's
11.57
-7.72
-40.02%
JWN
Nordstrom
24.66
3.84
18.44%
COTY
Coty
4.78
-5.77
-54.69%
ELF
e.l.f. Beauty
83.93
-107.49
-56.15%

Ulta Beauty Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 13, 2025
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: 29.44%|
Next Earnings Date:May 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Ulta Beauty experienced both notable achievements and significant challenges in 2024. While there was growth in the loyalty program and expansion efforts, the company faced market share loss, decreased sales, and inflationary pressures. The balance between positive expansions and the negative financial trends suggests a period of cautious optimism and strategic realignment.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Record High Loyalty Program Growth
Ulta Beauty's loyalty program grew by 3% to a record high of 44.6 million members in 2024.
Expansion and New Store Openings
Ulta Beauty expanded accessibility with the opening of 60 net new stores, 100 new Ulta Beauty at Target shop-in-shop locations, and announced expansion plans into Mexico and the Middle East in 2025.
Fragrance and Skincare Category Growth
Fragrance delivered double-digit comp growth, while skincare saw mid-single-digit growth, driven by new brands and increased engagement in body care.
Cost Savings and Financial Discipline
Since 2019, Ulta Beauty has delivered $550 million in cost savings and targets an additional $200 million in cost optimization over the next three years.
Negative Updates
Market Share Loss in Beauty Category
For the first time, Ulta Beauty lost market share in the beauty category in 2024, highlighting increased competition.
Decreased Sales and Profit Margins
Net sales for the fourth quarter decreased by 1.9% to $3.5 billion, and operating profit for the year was 13.9% of sales compared to 15% in 2023.
Challenges in Product Transitions and Guest Experience
Execution challenges in product transitions and launches led to a less-than-optimal in-store presentation and guest experience.
Inflationary Pressures
Ulta Beauty expects significant inflationary pressures on wages, healthcare, and transportation rates, impacting the operating margin for 2025.
Company Guidance
During Ulta Beauty's fourth quarter 2024 earnings call, the company provided detailed guidance for fiscal 2025. They expect net sales to range between $11.5 billion and $11.6 billion, with comparable sales growth projected between flat to 1%. Operating profit is anticipated to decrease in the low double-digit range, while operating margin is expected to be between 11.7% and 11.8% of net sales. The company plans to invest heavily in strategic initiatives under its "Ulta Beauty Unleashed" plan, focusing on brand building, digital acceleration, and wellness, which are anticipated to pressure profitability in 2025 but are deemed crucial for long-term growth. Capital expenditures are projected to be between $425 million and $500 million, with significant investments in new stores, remodels, and supply chain enhancements. Diluted earnings per share for 2025 are expected to be between $22.50 and $22.90. The company remains focused on driving core business growth, scaling new accretive businesses, and realigning its foundation for future competitiveness.

Ulta Beauty Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Ulta Beauty Announces Retirement of Key Executive
Neutral
Mar 14, 2025

On March 13, 2025, Ulta Beauty announced that Jodi J. Caro, their General Counsel, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary, plans to retire later this spring. A successor will join the company next month to ensure a smooth transition, highlighting the company’s commitment to maintaining stability in its leadership team.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

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.