With a market cap of $30.6 billion, Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) is a specialty beauty retailer offering a wide range of branded and private-label products across cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, and bath and body, along with in-store beauty services such as hair, makeup, brow, and skin treatments. It operates across the United States, Mexico, and Kuwait through its stores, digital platforms, and mobile applications. Shares of the beauty products retailer have surpassed the broader market over the p ...

On CNBC's “Halftime Report Final Trades,” Joshua Brown, co-founder and CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, said he remains long on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) .Supporting his view, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, on Tuesday, reiterated Apple with an Outperform rating and maintained a $350 price target.Jim Lebenthal, partner at Cerity Partners, said AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE:AZN) is a high-quality pharmaceutical stock.On the earnings front, AstraZeneca, on Feb. 10, reported fourth-quarter 2025 sales of $15.50 billion, up ...

Core Viewpoint - The nostalgia for 2016 among Gen Z is expected to drive a new boom cycle in the beauty industry, particularly benefiting companies like e.l.f. Beauty and Ulta Beauty [1] Group 1: Industry Trends - Gen Z's current social media trend involves sharing photos from 2016, indicating a longing for that era when social media was less commercialized [1] - The year 2016 is identified as a peak time for bold makeup styles, which contrasts with the subsequent trend of "no-makeup makeup" [1] Group 2: Company Impact - Companies such as e.l.f. Beauty and Ulta Beauty are positioned to benefit from this nostalgia-driven trend, potentially leading to increased sales and market interest [1] - The anticipated "supercycle" in beauty products, especially makeup, suggests a significant opportunity for growth for these companies [1]

Company Performance - Ulta Beauty closed at $690.99, with a daily increase of +1.93%, underperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.05% [1] - Over the past month, Ulta Beauty's shares increased by 3.11%, outperforming the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 1.28% and the S&P 500's decline of 1.49% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Analysts expect Ulta Beauty to report earnings of $7.93 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 6.26% [2] - Revenue is anticipated to be $3.82 billion, representing a 9.62% increase from the prior-year quarter [2] Annual Estimates - For the annual period, earnings are projected at $25.56 per share and revenue at $12.37 billion, indicating increases of +0.87% and +9.52% respectively from the previous year [3] Analyst Revisions - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Ulta Beauty are seen as indicative of short-term business trends, with positive revisions suggesting an optimistic outlook [3][4] Zacks Rank - Ulta Beauty currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with an average annual return of +25% for stocks rated 1 since 1988 [5] - The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has increased by 0.46% over the past month [5] Valuation Metrics - Ulta Beauty has a Forward P/E ratio of 23.84, which is higher than the industry average of 21.75 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 3.16, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 2.75 [6] Industry Context - The Retail - Miscellaneous industry, part of the Retail-Wholesale sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 82, placing it in the top 34% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

分组1: Critical Minerals and U.S.-China Relations - The Trump administration is initiating a new partnership to stabilize prices for critical rare earth minerals, aiming to create a trading block with allied nations [4][5] - Vice President JD Vance announced adjustable tariffs on imported rare earth minerals to establish a price floor, encouraging investment in U.S. mining [5][6] - China currently controls approximately 90% of rare earth processing capacity, posing a significant challenge to U.S. efforts to build its own supply chain [10][11] 分组2: Oil Industry Insights - Philip 66 reported strong earnings, driven by high demand and favorable Venezuelan crude supply dynamics, achieving record performance in refining and midstream operations [27][28] - The company operates at 99% refining utilization, benefiting from a widening heavy crude differential, which enhances margins [31] - The chemical business is currently facing a cyclical trough but remains profitable due to low-cost operations [32][33] 分组3: Market Trends and Stock Performance - Snap reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and announced a $500 million stock repurchase program, indicating strong financial health [44] - Elfy's stock surged after exceeding third-quarter expectations and raising full-year earnings guidance, reflecting confidence in market share growth [46] - ARM Holdings faced pressure despite beating third-quarter earnings expectations, as its fourth-quarter outlook did not meet Wall Street's expectations [47]

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty has launched the Ulta Beauty Roster, a group of professional female athletes representing confidence and resilience [1] - The initiative coincides with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, emphasizing Ulta Beauty's commitment to empowering young women [1] - The company aims to inspire girls to remain engaged in sports by showcasing these accomplished athletes as role models [1]

Core Viewpoint - Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is showing potential for short-term gains due to its recent technical movements and positive earnings revisions [1][4]. Technical Analysis - ULTA has recently surpassed the 20-day moving average, indicating a short-term bullish trend [1]. - The stock has experienced a price increase of 5.5% over the past four weeks, suggesting upward momentum [4]. Earnings Estimates - There have been 12 upward revisions to earnings estimates for the current fiscal year, with no estimates lowered in the past two months, reinforcing a positive outlook for ULTA [4]. - The consensus earnings estimate has also increased, further solidifying the bullish case for the company [4]. Investment Sentiment - ULTA is currently rated as a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong investor sentiment and potential for continued price appreciation [4][5].

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets began 2026 positively, with major indexes like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite rising by 1.7%, 1.4%, and 1% respectively in January, while the Russell 2000 increased by over 5% [2] Investment Opportunities - Five stocks with favorable Zacks Rank and momentum for February include Amphenol Corp. (APH), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX), Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA), Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE), and KLA Corp. (KLAC), all rated as Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) with a Momentum Score of A [3] Amphenol Corp. (APH) - Amphenol benefits from a diversified business model and holds a 33% market share in AI-powered data center interconnects, with strong demand for high-speed and power interconnect products [5][6] - Increased spending on defense technologies and strong demand across Commercial Air, Industrial, and IT Datacom sectors support top-line growth [6] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 24.1% and 30.2% respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [9] Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) - Seagate is experiencing strong demand driven by cloud and AI, with a focus on balancing performance and cost efficiency [10] - High-capacity nearline production is booked through 2026, ensuring strong demand visibility [11] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 24.6% and 52.6% respectively, with a 6.5% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [14] Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA) - Ulta's retail model combines mass, prestige, and luxury beauty, driving consistent customer engagement [15] - Strong loyalty programs and digital capabilities enhance customer relationships and repeat purchases [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 6.1% and 11.4% respectively, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [18] Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE) - Coeur Mining is a primary silver and gold producer with operations in the Americas, including key properties in Mexico, Bolivia, Nevada, and Alaska [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 30.2% and over 100% respectively, with a 10.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last month [20] KLA Corp. (KLAC) - KLA is benefiting from strong demand in the semiconductor industry, particularly in AI infrastructure and advanced packaging [21] - The company’s leadership in process control systems supports revenue growth amid increasing design complexity [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 7.92% and 8.8% respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [23]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Ulta Beauty (ULTA), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank for making informed investment decisions [1][5]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - Ulta Beauty has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.79, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 26 brokerage firms' recommendations [2]. - Out of the 26 recommendations, 16 are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 61.5%, while one is classified as Buy, making up 3.9% of the total [2]. Group 2: Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - The article highlights that brokerage recommendations may not be reliable indicators of stock performance due to the vested interests of brokerage firms, which often lead to a bias in favor of positive ratings [6][11]. - Research indicates that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, there are five "Strong Buy" recommendations, suggesting a significant bias in the ratings provided by analysts [6]. Group 3: Zacks Rank as an Alternative - The Zacks Rank is presented as a more reliable tool for predicting near-term stock performance, based on earnings estimate revisions rather than brokerage recommendations [8][12]. - The Zacks Rank is distinct from the ABR, as it is a quantitative model that reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, while the ABR may not always be up-to-date [10][13]. Group 4: Ulta's Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ulta has increased by 0.2% over the past month to $25.57, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [14]. - This increase in earnings estimates has contributed to Ulta receiving a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting a positive outlook for the stock [15].

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, with the aim of buying high and selling higher, capitalizing on established price movements [1] Company Overview: Ulta Beauty (ULTA) - Ulta Beauty currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong momentum characteristics [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting a favorable outlook based on historical performance metrics [3] Performance Metrics - Over the past week, Ulta's shares increased by 3.41%, while the Zacks Retail - Miscellaneous industry remained flat [5] - In the last month, Ulta's stock price rose by 7.32%, outperforming the industry's 0.69% [5] - Over the past quarter, Ulta's shares have increased by 26.06%, and over the last year, they have gained 57.61%, compared to the S&P 500's increases of 1.81% and 17.32%, respectively [6] Trading Volume - Ulta's average 20-day trading volume is 486,125 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, 12 earnings estimates for Ulta have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $24.26 to $25.57 [9] - For the next fiscal year, 12 estimates have also moved upwards without any downward revisions [9] Conclusion - Given the strong performance metrics and positive earnings outlook, Ulta Beauty is positioned as a 1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A, making it a compelling investment opportunity [11]