Is ULTA a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our 6-factor quantitative model, Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) receives a "Reduce" rating with a composite score of 50.2/100. It is ranked #2,452 out of 4,446 stocks. Key factor scores: Quality 50/100, Value 64/100, Momentum 56/100. The timing signal is "Bearish". This is quantitative analysis only — not investment advice.

What is the stock rating for ULTA?

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) has a "Reduce" rating and 2-star score. The composite score of 50.2 ranks it #2,452 among 4,446 U.S. stocks. Ratings are updated weekly using academically-proven factor models.

What sector is ULTA in?

Ulta Beauty, Inc. operates in the Consumer Discretionary sector (Retail industry) with a market cap of $23.47 billion. It is classified as a large-cap stock.

Does ULTA pay a dividend?

ULTA does not currently pay a regular dividend. The company may be reinvesting profits for growth.

What is ULTA's P/E ratio?

ULTA has a trailing P/E ratio of 20.91x. The Consumer Discretionary sector average is 24.5x. This P/E is in a moderate range relative to the broader market.

How profitable is ULTA?

ULTA's quality factor score is 50/100. Gross margin: 39.3%. ROE: 39.7% vs sector average 6.2%. Margins are moderate to low, reflecting competitive market dynamics.

How is ULTA valued compared to peers?

ULTA's value factor score is 64/100 (higher = cheaper). Key multiples: P/E 20.9x, EV/EBITDA 15.1x. The stock appears attractively valued versus peers.

What is ULTA's debt level?

ULTA's debt-to-equity ratio is 150%. Sector average: 89%. Moderate leverage is normal for established companies.

ULTA has a beta of 0.65, meaning it is less volatile than the market. Stability score: 59/100.

Does ULTA have high short interest?

ULTA's short interest factor score is 28/100 (higher = less short selling). Elevated short interest may indicate bearish sentiment or short squeeze potential.

ULTA Stock Analysis: Reduce (Score 50.2/100) | Blank Capital Research

Data Series	1D	5D	1M	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y
ULTA	-2.33%	-3.17%	-19.60%	-13.99%	+46.61%	-	-	-
Industry Proxy XLY	+0.13%	+4.38%	-1.35%	-5.46%	-39.92%	-	-	-
U.S. Market SPY	-0.07%	+3.60%	+0.34%	-0.36%	+29.52%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Market	-2.26%	-6.77%	-19.94%	-13.63%	+17.08%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Sector	-2.46%	-7.55%	-18.24%	-8.53%	+86.53%	-	-	-

Metric	ULTA	Benchmark
P/E Ratio	20.9x	-15%
EV/EBITDA	15.1x	+208%
Price / Book	8.3x

Stock Entity	Score▼	Quality	Value	Momentum	P/E Ratio	ROE	Gross Margin	Net Margin	Rev Growth	D/E Ratio	Market Cap	Compare
CASY CASEYS GENERAL STORES INC	57	50	68	67	43.1x	16.9%	24.0%	3.8%	0.3%	123.0x	$27.2B	VS
TGT TARGET CORP	53	50	70	56	16.7x	20.7%	28.4%	3.4%	-0.7%	89.0x	$54.5B	VS
APEI AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC	53	49	58	72	79.0x	4.6%	52.8%	2.1%	6.8%	32.0x	$1.1B	VS
LINC LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORP	52	50	48	75	113.9x	5.6%	59.2%	2.3%	37.4%	147.0x	$1.3B	VS
FIVE FIVE BELOW, INC	52	50	56	73	106.3x	5.4%	32.5%	3.1%	26.5%	125.0x	$13.0B	VS
IMKTA INGLES MARKETS INC	51	50	51	62	17.7x	6.2%	23.9%	1.9%	0.4%	57.0x	$1.7B	VS
PRDO PERDOCEO EDUCATION Corp	51	50	70	57	14.1x	16.7%	100.0%	20.4%	27.1%	28.0x	$2.4B	VS
MCRI MONARCH CASINO & RESORT INC	51	50	66	47	16.6x	19.7%	24.5%	19.4%	11.5%	33.0x	$1.7B	VS
ULTA Ulta Beauty, Inc.	50	50	64	56	20.9x	39.7%	39.3%	10.1%	9.3%	150.0x	$23.5B
FCFS FirstCash Holdings, Inc.	49	50	29	66	35.4x	10.8%	50.2%	8.0%	26.6%	98.0x	$8.4B	VS
ESCA ESCALADE INC	48	50	65	51	15.6x	9.0%	26.1%	6.2%	8.4%	11.0x	$249M	VS

Key Ratio	TTM	2026	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
Gross Margin %	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.3%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%
Operating Margin %	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
EBITDA Margin %	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
Net Margin %	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
FCF Margin %	0.2%	-	-	-	-	-	10.7%	10.9%	9.5%	5.8%	5.4%
ROE %	0.4%	0.4%	0.5%	0.6%	0.6%	0.6%	0.1%	0.4%	0.4%	0.3%	0.3%
ROA %	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.0%	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
ROIC %	44.6%	43.2%	49.7%	58.2%	66.1%	66.8%	6.6%	20.6%	47.8%	41.4%	44.4%

Key Ratio

TTM

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Gross Margin %

0.4%

0.3%

0.4%

Operating Margin %

0.1%

0.2%

0.0%

0.1%

EBITDA Margin %

0.1%

0.2%

0.1%

0.2%

Net Margin %

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

FCF Margin %

0.2%

10.7%

10.9%

9.5%

5.8%

5.4%

ROE %

0.4%

0.5%

0.6%

0.1%

0.4%

0.3%

ROA %

0.2%

0.0%

0.1%

0.2%

ROIC %

44.6%

43.2%

49.7%

58.2%

66.1%

66.8%

6.6%

20.6%

47.8%

41.4%

44.4%

Line Item	TTM	2026	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
	$11.0B	$12.4B	$11.3B	$11.2B	$10.2B	$8.6B	$6.2B	$7.4B	$6.7B	$5.9B	$4.9B	$3.9B
	—	$7.5B	$6.9B	$6.8B	$6.2B	$5.3B	—	—	—	—	—	—
	$4.3B	$4.8B	$4.4B	$4.4B	$4.0B	$3.4B	$1.9B	$2.7B	$2.4B	$2.1B	$1.7B	$1.4B
Gross Margin	39.3%	39.1%	38.8%	39.1%	39.6%	39.0%	31.7%	36.2%	35.9%	35.6%	36.0%	35.3%
	—	$3.3B	$2.8B	$2.7B	$2.4B	$2.1B	—	—	—	—	—	—
Depreciation	—	—	—	—	—	—	$298M	$296M	$279M	$253M	$210M	$165M
Total Operating Expenses	—	$3.3B	$2.8B	$2.7B	$2.4B	$2.1B	—	—	—	—	—	—
	$1.5B	$1.5B	$1.6B	$1.7B	$1.6B	$1.3B	$237M	$901M	$854M	$785M	$655M	$506M
EBIT	$1.5B	$1.5B	$1.6B	$1.7B	$1.6B	$1.3B	$237M	$901M	$854M	$785M	$655M	$506M
EBITDA	$1.5B	$1.5B	$1.6B	$1.7B	$1.6B	$1.3B	$535M	$1.2B	$1.1B	$1.0B	$865M	$671M
Operating Margin	13.3%	12.4%	13.9%	15.0%	16.1%	15.0%	3.9%	12.2%	12.7%	13.4%	13.5%	12.9%
EBITDA Margin	14.0%	12.4%	13.9%	15.0%	16.1%	15.0%	8.7%	16.2%	16.9%	17.6%	17.8%	17.1%
	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-$890K	-$1M
	—	$1.5B	$1.6B	$1.7B	$1.6B	$1.3B	—	—	—	—	—	—
Income Tax Expense	—	$374M	$379M	$405M	$401M	$310M	$55M	$200M	$201M	$232M	$246M	$187M
	$1.1B	$1.2B	$1.2B	$1.3B	$1.2B	$986M	$176M	$706M	$659M	$555M	$410M	$320M
Net Margin	10.1%	9.3%	10.6%	11.5%	12.2%	11.4%	2.9%	9.5%	9.8%	9.4%	8.4%	8.2%
	$25.72	$25.72	$25.44	$26.18	$24.17	$18.09	$3.12	$12.21	$11.00	$9.02	$6.55	$5.00
Diluted EPS	$25.72	$25.64	$25.34	$26.03	$24.01	$17.98	$3.12	$12.21	$11.00	$9.02	$6.55	$5.00
Weighted Avg Basic	—	45M	47M	49M	51M	54M	—	—	—	—	—	—
Weighted Avg Diluted	—	45M	47M	50M	52M	55M	—	—	—	—	—	—

Line Item

TTM

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

$11.0B

$12.4B

$11.3B

$11.2B

$10.2B

$8.6B

$6.2B

$7.4B

$6.7B

$5.9B

$4.9B

$3.9B

—

$7.5B

$6.9B

$6.8B

$6.2B

$5.3B

—

$4.3B

$4.8B

$4.4B

$4.0B

$3.4B

$1.9B

$2.7B

$2.4B

$2.1B

$1.7B

$1.4B

Gross Margin

39.3%

39.1%

38.8%

39.1%

39.6%

39.0%

31.7%

36.2%

35.9%

35.6%

36.0%

35.3%

—

$3.3B

$2.8B

$2.7B

$2.4B

$2.1B

—

Depreciation

—

$298M

$296M

$279M

$253M

$210M

$165M

Total Operating Expenses

—

$3.3B

$2.8B

$2.7B

$2.4B

$2.1B

—

$1.5B

$1.6B

$1.7B

$1.6B

$1.3B

$237M

$901M

$854M

$785M

$655M

$506M

EBIT

$1.5B

$1.6B

$1.7B

$1.6B

$1.3B

$237M

$901M

$854M

$785M

$655M

$506M

EBITDA

$1.5B

$1.6B

$1.7B

$1.6B

$1.3B

$535M

$1.2B

$1.1B

$1.0B

$865M

$671M

Operating Margin

13.3%

12.4%

13.9%

15.0%

16.1%

15.0%

3.9%

12.2%

12.7%

13.4%

13.5%

12.9%

EBITDA Margin

14.0%

12.4%

13.9%

15.0%

16.1%

15.0%

8.7%

16.2%

16.9%

17.6%

17.8%

17.1%

—

-$890K

-$1M

—

$1.5B

$1.6B

$1.7B

$1.6B

$1.3B

—

Income Tax Expense

—

$374M

$379M

$405M

$401M

$310M

$55M

$200M

$201M

$232M

$246M

$187M

$1.1B

$1.2B

$1.3B

$1.2B

$986M

$176M

$706M

$659M

$555M

$410M

$320M

Net Margin

10.1%

9.3%

10.6%

11.5%

12.2%

11.4%

2.9%

9.5%

9.8%

9.4%

8.4%

8.2%

$25.72

$25.44

$26.18

$24.17

$18.09

$3.12

$12.21

$11.00

$9.02

$6.55

$5.00

Diluted EPS

$25.72

$25.64

$25.34

$26.03

$24.01

$17.98

$3.12

$12.21

$11.00

$9.02

$6.55

$5.00

Weighted Avg Basic

—

45M

47M

49M

51M

54M

—

Weighted Avg Diluted

—

45M

47M

50M

52M

55M

—

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast

Last updated: April 2026

Company Overview — What Does Ulta Beauty, Inc. Do?

Ulta Beauty, Inc. operates as a retailer of beauty products in the United States. The company's stores offer cosmetics, fragrances, skincare and haircare products, bath and body products, and salon styling tools; professional hair products; salon services, including hair, skin, makeup, and brow services; and nail services. It also provides its private label products, such as the Ulta Beauty Collection branded cosmetics, skincare, and bath products, as well as Ulta Beauty branded products; and the Ulta Beauty branded gifts. As of March 10, 2022, the company operated 1,308 retail stores across 50 states. It also distributes its products through its website ulta.com; and mobile applications. The company was formerly known as Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. and changed its name to Ulta Beauty, Inc. in January 2017. Ulta Beauty, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) is classified as a large-cap stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, specifically within the Retail industry. The company is led by CEO David C. Kimbell and employs approximately 40,500 people, headquartered in BOLINGBROOK, Illinois. With a market capitalization of $23.5B, ULTA is one of the prominent companies in the Consumer Discretionary sector.

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)

As of April 2026, Ulta Beauty, Inc. receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 50.2/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.ULTA ranks #2,452 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Consumer Discretionary sector, Ulta Beauty, Inc. ranks #252 of 442 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Consumer Discretionary peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).

ULTA Stock Price and 52-Week Range

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) currently trades at $520.41. The stock lost $12.38 (2.3%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for ULTA is $714.97, which means the stock is currently trading -27.2% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $323.37, putting the stock 60.9% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 708K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.

Is ULTA Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) carries a value factor score of 64/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 20.91x, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 24.47x — a discount of 15%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 8.30x, versus the sector average of 1.99x. The price-to-sales ratio is 2.11x, compared to 0.27x for the average Consumer Discretionary stock. On an enterprise value basis, ULTA trades at 15.13x EV/EBITDA, versus 4.91x for the sector.

Overall, ULTA's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.

Ulta Beauty, Inc. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is 39.7%, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 6.2%, which demonstrates strong shareholder value creation. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 15.9% versus the sector average of 2.5%.

On a margin basis, Ulta Beauty, Inc. reports gross margins of 39.3%, compared to 36.9% for the sector. The operating margin is 13.3% (sector: 3.8%). Net profit margin stands at 10.1%, versus 2.1% for the average Consumer Discretionary stock. Revenue growth is running at 9.3% on a trailing basis, compared to 3.3% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.

ULTA Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health

Ulta Beauty, Inc. has a debt-to-equity ratio of 150.0%, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 89.0%. Leverage is within a manageable range for the industry, though investors should monitor debt trends over time. The current ratio is 1.41x, suggesting adequate working capital coverage. Cash and equivalents stand at $205M.

ULTA has a beta of 0.65, meaning it is less volatile than the S&P 500, making it a relatively defensive holding. The stability factor score for Ulta Beauty, Inc. is 59/100, reflecting average volatility within the normal range for its sector.

Ulta Beauty, Inc. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend

In TTM 2026, Ulta Beauty, Inc. reported revenue of $11.02B and earnings per share (EPS) of $25.72. Net income for the quarter was $1.11B. Gross margin was 39.3%. Operating income came in at $1.47B.

In FY 2026, Ulta Beauty, Inc. reported revenue of $12.39B and earnings per share (EPS) of $25.72. Net income for the quarter was $1.15B. Gross margin was 39.1%. Revenue grew 9.7% year-over-year compared to FY 2025. Operating income came in at $1.53B.

In Q2 2026, Ulta Beauty, Inc. reported revenue of $2.79B and earnings per share (EPS) of $5.80. Net income for the quarter was $261M. Gross margin was 39.1%. Revenue grew 9.3% year-over-year compared to Q2 2025. Operating income came in at $345M.

In Q1 2026, Ulta Beauty, Inc. reported revenue of $2.85B and earnings per share (EPS) of $6.72. Net income for the quarter was $305M. Gross margin was 39.1%. Revenue grew 0.0% year-over-year compared to Q1 2025. Operating income came in at $402M.

Over the past 8 quarters, Ulta Beauty, Inc. has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $2.55B to $11.02B. Investors analyzing ULTA stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.

ULTA Dividend Yield and Income Analysis

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among growth-oriented companies in the Retail industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Consumer Discretionary dividend stocks may want to explore other Consumer Discretionary stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.

ULTA Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) has a momentum factor score of 56/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 29/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 28/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.

ULTA vs Competitors — Consumer Discretionary Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison

Within the Consumer Discretionary sector, Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) ranks #252 out of 442 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places ULTA in the lower half of all Consumer Discretionary stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include MONARCH CASINO & RESORT INC (MCRI) with a score of 50.5/100, CASEYS GENERAL STORES INC (CASY) with a score of 57.3/100, INGLES MARKETS INC (IMKTA) with a score of 51.0/100, FIVE BELOW, INC (FIVE) with a score of 51.6/100, and TARGET CORP (TGT) with a score of 52.6/100.

Comparing ULTA against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full ULTA vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how Ulta Beauty, Inc. stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.

ULTA Next Earnings Date

No upcoming earnings date has been announced for Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.

Should You Buy ULTA? — Investment Thesis Summary

The quantitative profile for Ulta Beauty, Inc. suggests caution. The value score of 64/100 suggests attractive pricing relative to fundamentals.

In summary, Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 50.2/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on ULTA stock.

Related Resources for ULTA Investors

Explore more research and tools: ULTA vs S&P 500 comparison, top Consumer Discretionary stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare ULTA head-to-head with peers: ULTA vs MCRI, ULTA vs CASY, ULTA vs IMKTA.

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Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast

Company Overview — What Does Ulta Beauty, Inc. Do?

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)

ULTA Stock Price and 52-Week Range

Is ULTA Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis

Ulta Beauty, Inc. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score

ULTA Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health

Ulta Beauty, Inc. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend

ULTA Dividend Yield and Income Analysis

ULTA Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile

ULTA vs Competitors — Consumer Discretionary Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison

ULTA Next Earnings Date

Should You Buy ULTA? — Investment Thesis Summary

Related Resources for ULTA Investors

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