Ulta Beauty reports Q4 EPS $8.08, consensus $7.53

Reports Q4 revenue $3.6B, consensus $3.53B. Comparable sales (sales for stores open at least 14 months and e-commerce sales) increased 2.5% compared to an increase of 15.6%, driven by a 4.5% increase in transactions and a 1.9% decrease in average ticket. “We closed out a strong 2023 with better-than-expected fourth quarter financial performance. Our compelling holiday plans and thoughtfully curated assortment resonated with our guests and delivered healthy traffic, record brand awareness, and strong member growth. I am proud of how our teams drove these results while making meaningful progress on our multi-year, transformational investment agenda to enable new capabilities for future growth,” said Dave Kimbell, chief executive officer. “We enter 2024 well-positioned to drive strong top and bottom-line growth, build on our foundational capabilities, and unlock further advantages of our differentiated model. While we are mindful the near-term macro environment remains dynamic, we are optimistic about the resiliency of the beauty category, energized by the growth opportunities ahead of us, and confident in our ability to deliver for our guests and our shareholders.”