Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.35 EPS

Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The specialty retailer reported $6.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.20 by $0.35, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.99 billion. Ulta Beauty had a return on equity of 44.77% and a net margin of 9.36%. Ulta Beauty updated its FY 2026 guidance to 28.700-29.000 EPS.

Ulta Beauty Stock Performance

ULTA traded down $3.09 on Thursday, hitting $540.10. 1,130,244 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 693,730. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $494.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $535.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.22 billion, a PE ratio of 20.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.87. Ulta Beauty has a 12 month low of $443.60 and a 12 month high of $714.97.

Ulta Beauty News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Ulta Beauty this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Deutsche Bank expects Ulta’s fiscal second-quarter comparable-store sales to exceed consensus estimates, offering a potential catalyst if confirmed in the earnings report. Ulta Beauty Second-Quarter Same-Store Sales Poised for Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Ulta has exceeded Wall Street’s EPS estimates for four consecutive quarters. Analysts remain constructive despite the recent decline, and the stock is trading roughly 17% below published price targets, suggesting potential upside if results and guidance are solid. Ulta Beauty Earnings Preview
• Positive Sentiment: The retailer is broadening its assortment with The Potion Studio’s climate-adaptive hair-care products and Bio Ionic’s limited-edition styling tools. It also appointed retail executive Brieane L. Olson to its board, potentially adding useful industry experience. Ulta Beauty Products and Director Appointment

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Ulta Beauty news, Director George R. Mrkonic, Jr. sold 383 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.84, for a total value of $182,246.72. Following the sale, the director owned 2,404 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,143,919.36. This trade represents a 13.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ulta Beauty

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ULTA. BOKF NA bought a new stake in Ulta Beauty in the third quarter valued at $31,000. Virtus Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Ulta Beauty in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Greenline Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ulta Beauty in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. DV Equities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ulta Beauty during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ulta Beauty during the second quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Institutional investors own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Ulta Beauty from $741.00 to $652.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Ulta Beauty in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Loop Capital reissued a “hold” rating and set a $550.00 price objective on shares of Ulta Beauty in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. William Blair reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Ulta Beauty in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Ulta Beauty from $600.00 to $560.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $636.41.

About Ulta Beauty

Ulta Beauty, Inc (NASDAQ: ULTA) is a U.S.-based specialty retailer and beauty services provider focused on cosmetics, fragrance, skin care, hair care, bath and body, and beauty tools. The company operates a dual-format business that combines brick-and-mortar retail stores with an e-commerce platform, offering a broad assortment of national, prestige and mass-market brands alongside its own private-label products. In many locations Ulta also provides full-service salon treatments, positioning the company as a one-stop destination for product discovery and in-store services.

The retailer’s product mix spans color cosmetics, haircare and styling products, skin and body care, fragrance, and accessories, catering to a wide range of consumer preferences and price points.