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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)

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Neutral 66 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:
$500.00
▼(-9.64% Downside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:06/10/26
The score reflects solid underlying financial performance and a strong, confidence-boosting earnings update (raised EPS guidance and accelerated buybacks), tempered by clearly bearish technical signals (price below major moving averages with negative MACD) and only moderate recent top-line growth with some margin/cash-conversion and leverage watch items.
Positive Factors
Loyalty & First‑party Data
A ~47 million Rewards base is a durable competitive asset: it drives repeat purchases, higher average spend and provides large first‑party data for personalization and AI targeting. That scale supports long‑term customer economics and resilience against competitors.
Negative Factors
Rising Leverage
Leverage trending higher reduces financial flexibility to fund growth or absorb shocks. Rising debt ratios and short‑term borrowings to support buybacks increase refinancing and liquidity risk, making the company more sensitive to cyclical slowdowns or cost inflation.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Loyalty & First‑party Data
A ~47 million Rewards base is a durable competitive asset: it drives repeat purchases, higher average spend and provides large first‑party data for personalization and AI targeting. That scale supports long‑term customer economics and resilience against competitors.
Read all positive factors

Ulta Beauty Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Store Count
Store Count
Indicates the total number of retail locations, reflecting 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 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:The Fly

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

Ulta Beauty Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description
Ulta Beauty, Inc. functions as a prominent beauty product retailer throughout the United States. Its physical locations feature a broad assortment of goods, including cosmetics, perfumes, skincare, haircare items, bath and body essentials, and pro...
How the Company Makes Money
Ulta Beauty primarily generates revenue from retail sales of beauty and personal care products sold through its physical stores and digital commerce platforms. Product sales span multiple categories (cosmetics, fragrance, skin care, hair care, and...

Ulta Beauty Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jun 02, 2026
(Q1-2026)
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% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Aug 20, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed strong execution and profitable top-line growth: double-digit net sales growth (11.1%), mid-teens e-commerce growth, meaningful gross margin expansion (+100 bps to 40.1%), and a sizable increase in EPS (+15.5%). Management maintained full-year guidance, raised EPS guidance and increased the share buyback program, reflecting confidence. Key risks highlighted were elevated SG&A from strategic investments, inventory buildup, transportation/fuel cost pressures, and tougher near-term comp compares. New channels and exclusive brand building (TikTok Shop, marketplace, NOYZ, Space NK) showed early traction but are still scaling. Overall, positives (robust sales, margin improvement, EPS and buyback acceleration, loyalty scale and e-commerce momentum) outweigh the headwinds (investment-driven SG&A, inventory and macro/cost uncertainty), leading to a constructive outlook.
Positive Updates
Strong Top-Line Growth
Net sales increased 11.1% year-over-year to $3.2 billion (from $2.8 billion). Total sales growth excluding Space NK was in the high single-digit range.
Negative Updates
SG&A Increase and Ongoing Investment Spend
SG&A rose 14.6% to $815 million, driven by the impact of Space NK and continued investments to support Ulta Beauty Unleashed (wellness, marketplace, media and other initiatives).
Read all updates
Q1-2026 Updates
Negative
Strong Top-Line Growth
Net sales increased 11.1% year-over-year to $3.2 billion (from $2.8 billion). Total sales growth excluding Space NK was in the high single-digit range.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Ulta maintained fiscal 2026 guidance with net sales growth of 6–7% (stronger in H1), comparable sales of 2.5–3.5% (implying a high‑single‑digit 2‑year stacked comp), operating profit growth of 6.5–9% (operating margin flat to up ~20 bps) and gross margin roughly flat for the year, while planning SG&A growth in line to slightly below sales; diluted EPS is guided to $28.36–$28.80 (up ~10.6–12.3% vs. prior expectations) assuming ~43 million weighted average shares and a ~24.5% tax rate. Management said they will fund disciplined investments (Q1 capex $58M), expect strong operating cash flow, increased the buyback target from $1.0B to $1.5B (with $555M repurchased in Q1), and noted supporting Q1 results of net sales +11.1% to $3.2B, comp sales +5.3% and EPS of $7.74 (+15.5%).

Ulta Beauty Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Solid but not pristine fundamentals: modest TTM revenue growth (~2.5%) with stable gross margin (~39%) and healthy profitability (TTM net margin ~9.4%). Offsets include multi-year margin compression (down from ~12% net margin in 2023), moderately higher leverage on a TTM basis (debt-to-equity ~0.89), and weaker cash conversion (FCF ~68% of net income; operating cash flow below net income).
Income Statement
74
Positive
Balance Sheet
68
Positive
Cash Flow
64
Positive
BreakdownTTMJan 2026Jan 2025Jan 2024Jan 2023Jan 2022
Income Statement
Total Revenue12.71B12.39B11.30B11.21B10.21B8.63B
Gross Profit5.00B4.85B4.39B4.38B4.04B3.37B
EBITDA1.89B1.83B1.85B1.94B1.88B1.57B
Net Income1.19B1.15B1.20B1.29B1.24B985.84M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets6.90B7.00B6.00B5.71B5.37B4.76B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments221.30M494.24M703.20M766.59M737.88M431.56M
Total Debt2.30B2.18B1.92B1.91B1.90B1.85B
Total Liabilities4.31B4.20B3.51B3.43B3.41B3.23B
Stockholders Equity2.58B2.80B2.49B2.28B1.96B1.54B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.05B1.07B964.15M1.04B1.17B887.08M
Operating Cash Flow1.55B1.50B1.34B1.48B1.48B1.06B
Investing Cash Flow-988.78M-931.35M-383.09M-441.43M-314.58M-176.48M
Financing Cash Flow-886.98M-850.67M-1.02B-1.01B-861.01M-1.50B

Ulta Beauty Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price553.36
Price Trends
50DMA
510.15
Negative
100DMA
564.02
Negative
200DMA
563.69
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-15.09
Positive
RSI
36.57
Neutral
STOCH
16.65
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ULTA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 553.36 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 483.29, above the 50-day MA of 510.15, and below the 200-day MA of 563.69, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -15.09 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 36.57 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 16.65 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ULTA.

Ulta Beauty Risk Analysis

Ulta Beauty disclosed 31 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 (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$48.06B23.7744.12%1.38%13.15%5.89%
67
Neutral
$7.02B24.99-25.47%1.78%75.71%
66
Neutral
$19.61B16.8044.77%11.30%4.23%
63
Neutral
$4.14B5.71-52.38%4.16%-1.40%-4.34%
62
Neutral
$1.32B7.2722.86%0.77%2.73%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
60
Neutral
$7.46B37.8144.82%6.14%-32.48%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ULTA
Ulta Beauty
456.13
-17.72
-3.74%
EBAY
eBay
108.24
31.60
41.24%
BBWI
Bath & Body Works
20.56
-6.61
-24.32%
SBH
Sally Beauty
13.83
5.13
58.97%
ETSY
Etsy
73.95
17.79
31.68%
CHWY
Chewy
18.21
-23.70
-56.55%

Ulta Beauty Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and ComplianceShareholder Meetings
Ulta Beauty Shareholders Approve Governance and Incentive Changes
Positive
Jun 9, 2026
On June 9, 2026, Ulta Beauty stockholders approved amendments to the company’s certificate of incorporation to add officer exculpation consistent with Delaware law and to adopt exclusive forum provisions, centralizing certain corporate and s...
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: Jun 10, 2026