ulta beauty stock guide

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (stock)

ulta beauty stock is the publicly traded equity of Ulta Beauty, Inc., a U.S. specialty beauty retailer listed on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker ULTA. This article explains what ulta beauty stock represents, how the company operates, key listing identifiers, market and financial data, recent performance and news, ownership and analyst coverage, risks, valuation metrics, and practical ways investors and followers can track or gain exposure to the security. The goal is to provide clear, verifiable information for beginners and active market readers without offering investment advice.

Company overview

Ulta Beauty, Inc. operates a multi-channel beauty retail business that sells branded and private-label cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, and bath and body products. The company also offers in-store beauty services through salon and spa-style offerings, and it runs digital commerce platforms and shop-in-shop partnerships.

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, Ulta Beauty has grown a nationwide store footprint and expanded its digital channels. As of the reporting dates cited below, the company serves customers through physical stores across the United States and select international shop-in-shop arrangements in markets such as Mexico and Kuwait. The company combines product retailing with beauty services to drive repeat visits and loyalty-program engagement.

Stock listing and identifiers

• Ticker: ULTA (commonly quoted as ULTA on market platforms). ulta beauty stock trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange and its primary trading currency is U.S. dollars (USD).
• Primary listing: Nasdaq (primary venue for the company’s common shares).
• Identifiers: public filings and broker platforms list the company’s CUSIP and ISIN; for precise identifier codes consult the company’s investor relations materials or regulatory filings as these are definitive.
• Trading hours: Regular U.S. equity trading hours apply; pre-market and after-hours sessions also exist and can produce trade prints outside regular hours.

Market data and trading information

Market-data snapshots commonly shown for ulta beauty stock include the real-time or delayed last trade price, market capitalization, shares outstanding, free float, daily trading volume, 52-week high/low range, beta (a measure of volatility relative to the market), bid/ask quotes, and intraday charts.

These items are published across financial portals and market feeds, and are updated continuously during market hours. Reliable sources for such market data include the company’s investor relations releases, regulatory filings, and major financial data providers and news services.

Price history and performance

A historical view of ulta beauty stock shows multi-year growth with notable periods of outperformance relative to broad indices. Over the most recent 52-week period reported, shares of ulta beauty stock surged substantially.

• As of Jan 26, 2026, according to Barchart, ulta beauty stock had risen about 62.9% over the prior 52 weeks, noticeably outpacing the S&P 500 and the consumer discretionary sector benchmark for the same period.

When presenting charts for ulta beauty stock, compare multiple time ranges — 1M, 3M, YTD, 1Y, 3Y, 5Y, and since-IPO — to show trend context, total-return (including dividends if applicable), and relative performance against sector or index peers.

Intraday and after-hours trading

ulta beauty stock, like most U.S.-listed equities, trades during regular market hours and in extended sessions. Pre-market and after-hours trades occur on electronic communication networks and can produce prints that differ from the regular session close. After-hours prices may reflect earnings releases, guidance updates, or late-breaking news and can be more volatile and thinner in liquidity than regular-session trading.

Financial performance

Key financial metrics investors monitor for ulta beauty stock include revenue, gross profit and margins, operating income, net income, diluted earnings per share (EPS), comparable-store sales (comps), free cash flow, and balance-sheet items such as cash and debt.

Primary sources for these metrics are the company’s quarterly earnings releases, annual reports, and SEC filings. Analysts will also adjust GAAP figures to produce non-GAAP or adjusted EPS and other normalized metrics; both GAAP and non-GAAP disclosures are useful when properly labeled.

Recent earnings and guidance

• As of Jan 26, 2026, Ulta Beauty was set to announce fiscal Q4 2025 results soon. Ahead of that event, analysts expected an adjusted EPS of $7.91 for the fiscal Q4 2025 period, down roughly 6.5% from $8.46 in the year-ago quarter (source: Barchart).

• For fiscal 2025 overall, analysts forecast an adjusted EPS of $25.54, slightly above the $25.34 reported in fiscal 2024, and consensus estimates projected adjusted EPS growth to $28.41 in fiscal 2026 — reflecting expectations for year-over-year improvement beyond fiscal 2025 (source: Barchart).

• Ulta’s prior quarterly disclosure: after its Q3 2025 results announced Dec. 4, 2025, the company reported adjusted EPS of $5.14 and revenue of $2.86 billion, beating expectations. The quarter showed a 12.9% year-over-year increase in net sales and a 6.3% comparable sales increase, along with gross margin expansion to 40.4%. Following the Q3 beat, Ulta raised its full-year fiscal 2025 guidance to approximately $12.3 billion in net sales and projected higher EPS in the $25.20–$25.50 range (source: Barchart).

• Note: the company has a pattern of surpassing Wall Street’s earnings estimates in recent quarters; per available reporting, Ulta had beaten expectations in the prior four quarters before the upcoming Q4 release (source: Barchart).

All financial figures are time-sensitive. Always consult the company’s investor relations releases and SEC filings for official, timestamped results.

Corporate actions affecting the stock

Events that materially affect ulta beauty stock include stock splits, dividends (or lack thereof), share repurchase programs, acquisitions or divestitures, significant partnership transactions, and corporate restructurings.

Historically, Ulta has employed share repurchases and strategic investments to return capital and support shareholder value. Significant acquisitions or partnerships — for example, international expansion deals or premium-brand shop-in-shop arrangements — can affect investor perception and future revenue mix. For the latest corporate actions, refer to the company’s press releases and SEC filings dated close to the event.

Analyst coverage and market opinion

Sell-side analysts and independent research providers regularly update recommendations and target prices for ulta beauty stock. As of Jan 26, 2026, analyst coverage showed a generally bullish tilt:

• Consensus: overall sentiment was characterized as a “Moderate Buy.” Among 26 analysts covering the stock, 16 recommended "Strong Buy," 1 recommended "Moderate Buy," 8 recommended "Hold," and 1 recommended "Strong Sell." The average analyst price target at that time was about $662.95, and ulta beauty stock was trading above that average price target (source: Barchart/Benzinga reporting).

• Notable bank actions included an upgrade by Raymond James, which raised its rating on Ulta to Strong Buy and increased its price target to $790, citing expected outsized growth in fiscal 2026 after periods of investment (source: Benzinga reporting dated Jan 2026).

When reporting analyst coverage for ulta beauty stock, include the date of the research note, the firm, the rating change, and the new target price. Aggregating multiple firm views gives readers a range of expectations rather than relying on a single data point.

Major shareholders and ownership structure

Institutional ownership and insider holdings are relevant for ulta beauty stock. Large institutional investors, mutual funds, and ETFs often hold meaningful positions that influence float, liquidity, and governance votes.

As of reporting dates in January 2026, major institutional holders and index funds were among the largest shareholders. High institutional ownership can increase liquidity and lead to stable block trading, while significant insider ownership aligns management with shareholder outcomes. For definitive and current ownership tables, consult the company’s proxy statements and regulatory filings.

Corporate governance and management

Ulta Beauty’s board structure, key executives (including CEO and CFO), and governance policies are material to investors. The company conducts quarterly earnings calls and publishes investor presentations that detail management’s strategy, capital allocation, and performance metrics.

Investors following ulta beauty stock often review board composition, executive succession planning, compensation frameworks, and governance disclosures in the annual proxy statement filed with the SEC.

Risks and competitive landscape

Principal risks facing Ulta include consumer discretionary cyclicality, competitive pressure from specialty retailers and mass-market channels, supply-chain disruptions, labor and lease cost inflation, and execution risk around omnichannel integration.

Competition: Ulta competes with beauty specialty retailers, prestige brand shop-in-shop partners, department stores, online pure-play retailers, and mass-market channels. Competitive moves around pricing, exclusive brand launches, loyalty programs, and digital fulfillment can influence ulta beauty stock performance.

Regulatory and operational risks: external factors such as changes in trade policy, import costs, and macroeconomic weakness can affect consumer spending. Operational risks include distribution network disruptions and the challenges of managing inventory across stores and digital channels.

This section summarizes typical risk categories; always review the company’s most recent risk disclosures for up-to-date detail.

Key developments and recent news

• Market capitalization: As of Jan 26, 2026, Ulta Beauty had an approximate market cap of $30.3 billion (source: Barchart reporting). This figure is date-stamped and should be rechecked for current values.

• Stock performance drivers: The significant share-price appreciation in the trailing 52 weeks — a rise of roughly 62.9% — was driven by a combination of better-than-expected quarterly results, improved margin dynamics, optimistic guidance raises, and positive analyst revisions during the period (source: Barchart).

• Earnings and guidance: Following the Q3 2025 results on Dec. 4, 2025, which beat expectations and led to a guidance raise for fiscal 2025, ulta beauty stock experienced a notable intraday rally of 12.7% (source: Barchart).

• Analyst updates: Several sell-side upgrades and target increases were reported around early 2026, including Raymond James’ upgrade and target raise to $790 (source: Benzinga). Such broker actions contributed to renewed investor interest.

When following developments that affect ulta beauty stock, rely on the company’s press releases, filings, and reputable financial news outlets for verification.

Valuation metrics and investor considerations

Common valuation ratios used for ulta beauty stock include price-to-earnings (P/E), enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA), price-to-sales (P/S), and PEG (price/earnings to growth) ratios. These metrics are useful for comparing Ulta to sector peers and for assessing whether the market price reflects growth expectations.

Investor considerations for ulta beauty stock often focus on:

• Growth profile: long-term revenue and same-store sales trends, international expansion, and digital revenue growth.
• Margin drivers: product mix, private-label penetration, cost structure, and operating leverage.
• Loyalty program metrics: active customer base, frequency of visits, and average transaction values.
• Capital allocation: use of free cash flow for share repurchases, investments in stores and digital, and potential dividends.

Contextualizing these metrics with forward estimates and management guidance is important for an accurate valuation view. Avoid taking a single ratio in isolation.

Trading and investment instruments

Investors and traders can gain exposure to ulta beauty stock primarily through direct ownership of common shares. Other instruments include options (for qualified traders) and ETFs or mutual funds that include ULTA in their holdings. Liquidity in underlying shares supports options trading, but options carry their own risks and require an understanding of contract mechanics.

When trading ulta beauty stock, consider transaction costs, bid/ask spreads, order types, and margin requirements. For those who prefer centralized platforms, Bitget offers tools to monitor and trade U.S. equities, monitor price action, and access research and order execution features (note: confirm availability of specific securities on the Bitget platform in your jurisdiction and account settings).

How to follow the stock

To stay current on ulta beauty stock:

• Use the company’s investor relations page and official press releases for authorized disclosures and earnings materials.
• Review SEC filings (10-Q, 10-K, 8-K, proxy statements) for audited financials and governance information.
• Monitor earnings-call transcripts, investor presentations, and guidance provided by management.
• Follow reputable financial news sites and data providers for quotes, analyst updates, and market commentary. Examples of such providers include major financial portals and research aggregators (source names used in reporting: Barchart, Benzinga, Morningstar, MarketWatch, CNBC, and CNN Business).
• Track real-time or delayed market quotes via broker platforms and market-data terminals. If you use Bitget’s platform, set alerts or watchlists to follow price changes, news, and volume for ulta beauty stock.

All figures in the market and earnings sections above are time-sensitive. The reader should note the date of each cited statistic.

See also

• Overviews of major beauty retailers
• Consumer discretionary sector indices and ETFs
• Retail industry performance and comparable-store sales metrics

References

• As of Jan 26, 2026, market and earnings context drawn from Barchart reporting and aggregated financial-data sources.
• Q3 2025 results and guidance details reported Dec. 4, 2025 (source materials summarized by sector news outlets and market-data services).
• Analyst coverage and rating counts summarized from Barchart/Benzinga-style reporting as of Jan 2026.
• For definitive filings, consult Ulta Beauty’s SEC submissions and investor-relations materials (company press releases and periodic reports).

External links

• Company investor relations, SEC filings, and major market-data providers contain authoritative and current information about ulta beauty stock. For trading or watching ULTA, consider a regulated broker or platform and confirm instrument availability in your jurisdiction. Bitget provides monitoring and trading tools that can help users follow U.S. equities and related research resources.

Disclaimer: This article provides factual information about ulta beauty stock, market data, and common investor considerations. It is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell securities. Verify figures and filing dates with primary sources. All data points are time-stamped where possible. For official filings, consult the company’s investor-relations materials and regulatory disclosures.