Ulta Beauty achieved 5.3% same-store sales growth in 2026's first quarter. Its gross margin rose 100 basis points to 40.1% on a higher merchandise margin and lower theft, but its operating margin increased just 10 basis points to 14.2% due to planned investments. EPS rose to $7.74 from $6.70.
As the largest specialty beauty retailer in the US, Ulta has access to leading brands and exclusive products. Its merchandising encourages frequent store visitation and draws shoppers from department stores.
Beauty products are available through many retail channels, putting Ulta in competition with the largest retailers in the US. Sephora's partnership with Kohl's and Amazon's big push into beauty have especially pressured Ulta.
|
Metric
|
ULTA
|
MC
|
M
|
|---|---|---|---|
Price/Earnings (Normalized) | 17.76 | 22.14 | 9.84 |
Price/Book Value | 8.07 | 3.55 | 1.21 |
Price/Sales | 1.68 | 2.97 | 0.27 |
Price/Cash Flow | 11.20 | 12.35 | 3.15 |
|
Metric
|
ULTA
|
MC
|
M
|
|---|---|---|---|
Quick Ratio | 0.20 | 0.69 | 0.34 |
Current Ratio | 1.31 | 1.58 | 1.48 |
Interest Coverage | 337.35 | 15.29 | 7.29 |
|
Metric
|
ULTA
|
MC
|
M
|
|---|---|---|---|
Return on Assets (Normalized) | 18.52% | 7.69% | 5.50% |
Return on Equity (Normalized) | 47.58% | 16.62% | 19.48% |
Return on Invested Capital (Normalized) | 25.55% | 10.86% | 10.07% |
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1-Day Chart
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United States