The holidays have arrived, and consumers have started heading out, or logging in, to engage with their favorite retailers for gifts, parties, and travel, among other seasonal favorites.There’s a lot of money at stake. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. retailers are staring down a trillion-dollar holiday shopping season, with November-December sales expected to top $1 trillion for the first time on record.While that’s cheerful news on the consumer-spending front narrative, it won’t lift all r ...

Key Takeaways Ulta Beauty is set to report Q3 results with revenues expected to rise 7.3% to $2.71 billion.Fragrance strength, makeup improvement and new-brand launches are supporting Q3 performance.Rising SG&A from higher incentive compensation, store payroll and overhead may pressure profitability.Ulta Beauty, Inc. ((ULTA) is slated to report third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings on Dec. 4, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.71 billion, indicati ...

In its upcoming report, Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $4.51 per share, reflecting a decline of 12.3% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $2.71 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.3%.The current level reflects a downward revision of 0.5% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial pr ...

Core Viewpoint - Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is anticipated to report a year-over-year decline in earnings despite an increase in revenues for the quarter ending October 2025, with the consensus outlook indicating a significant impact on the stock price based on actual results compared to estimates [1][2]. Financial Expectations - The upcoming earnings report is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $4.51 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 12.3%, while revenues are projected to reach $2.71 billion, marking a 7.3% increase from the previous year [3][18]. - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 0.49% over the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4][19]. Earnings Surprise Potential - The Most Accurate Estimate for Ulta is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of +1.02%, suggesting a bullish outlook from analysts [12][19]. - Ulta holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), which, combined with the positive Earnings ESP, indicates a strong likelihood of beating the consensus EPS estimate [12][19]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Ulta exceeded the expected earnings of $5.03 per share by delivering $5.78, resulting in a surprise of +14.91% [13]. - The company has successfully beaten consensus EPS estimates in each of the last four quarters [14][19].

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) reached a significant support level, and could be a good pick for investors from a technical perspective. Recently, ULTA broke through the 50-day moving average, which suggests a short-term bullish trend.The 50-day simple moving average is one of three major moving averages used by traders and analysts to determine support or resistance levels for a wide range of securities. But the 50-day is considered to be more important because it's the first marker of an up or down trend.ULTA has ral ...

Core Insights - Korean cosmetics, or K-beauty, are rapidly entering the American mainstream, driven by TikTok virality and the expansion of major retailers [3][4][10] - K-beauty sales in the U.S. are projected to exceed $2 billion by 2025, reflecting a growth rate of over 37% from the previous year, significantly outpacing the overall beauty market [4][6] - South Korea has become the leading exporter of cosmetics to the U.S., with shipments reaching a record $5.5 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a nearly 15% year-over-year increase [5] Market Dynamics - Retailers like Ulta and Sephora are intensifying competition to capture the K-beauty market, with Ulta reporting a 38% increase in Korean skin care sales in Q1 2025 [8][10] - The rise of TikTok as a discovery platform has transformed consumer behavior, particularly among Gen Z and millennials, who represent about 75% of K-beauty consumers [16][19] - The ongoing trade tensions have not significantly impacted prices, as Korean brands have absorbed tariffs, although they are exploring alternative manufacturing and shipping methods [12][13] Cultural Influence - The popularity of K-beauty is closely linked to the rise of Korean entertainment in the U.S., with cultural exports like K-pop contributing to the trend [14][15] - The "second wave" of K-beauty is characterized by greater inclusivity and a broader range of products compared to the initial wave, which focused primarily on skin care [15][18] Innovation and Trends - K-beauty brands are known for rapid innovation, with companies developing hundreds of new formulas daily to keep up with fast-changing consumer preferences [21][22] - Future product trends are expected to include experimental ingredients and biotechnology, reflecting the competitive nature of the South Korean beauty market [23][24]

Industry Overview - The beauty and cosmetics industry is thriving, characterized by stable demand for daily-use products and continuous innovation in skincare and makeup [1] - Skincare is the strongest growth segment, driven by consumer interest in dermatology-backed formulas and ingredient transparency [2] - Digital platforms are transforming product discovery and purchasing, with social media and influencer marketing playing significant roles [3] Consumer Trends - Consumers are increasingly educated and willing to invest in products that deliver visible results, with a focus on clean beauty and wellness [2] - Sustainability is a major concern, with consumers demanding recyclable packaging and responsibly sourced ingredients [4] Company Strategies - Ulta Beauty is enhancing its omnichannel presence through the "Ulta Beauty Unleashed" framework, focusing on community engagement and digital expansion [6][7] - Estee Lauder is repositioning its portfolio under the "Beauty Reimagined" strategy, emphasizing digital ecosystems and clean product innovation [9][10] - Nu Skin is evolving into an integrated beauty and wellness platform, focusing on device-led beauty and sustainable practices [12][15] Notable Companies - Ulta Beauty is introducing new brands and expanding its wellness assortments, while also acquiring Space NK to enhance its international presence [8] - Estee Lauder is leveraging its strong brand portfolio and digital initiatives to connect with consumers in high-traffic online spaces [10][11] - Nu Skin is adopting digital-first strategies and innovative diagnostics to align with modern consumer behaviors and preferences [14][15] Investment Opportunities - The beauty and cosmetics industry presents compelling investment opportunities, particularly in companies like Ulta Beauty, Estee Lauder, and Nu Skin, which are well-aligned with current growth trends [5]

For those looking to find strong Retail-Wholesale stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. TJX (TJX) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.TJX is one of 195 companies in the Retail-Wholesale group. The Retail-Wholesale group currently sits at #10 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The ...

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty, Inc. is the largest specialty beauty retailer in the U.S. with a market cap of $22.7 billion, offering over 25,000 products from around 500 brands [1] Performance Overview - Over the past 52 weeks, ULTA stock has surged 45.4%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index which gained 12.3% [2] - Year-to-date, ULTA shares are up 14.4%, compared to the S&P 500's 12.9% increase [2] - ULTA has also outperformed the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund, which rose 4.2% in the same period [3] Financial Results - In Q2 2025, ULTA reported a profit of $5.78 per share and revenue of $2.79 billion, but shares fell 7.1% the following day due to a decline in operating margin to 12.4% and a 15.0% increase in SG&A expenses to $741.7 million [4] - Inventories surged 20.5% to $2.4 billion, and the company added $289.1 million in short-term debt for the Space NK acquisition [4] - Management expressed concerns about uncertain consumer demand in the second half of the year while raising full-year EPS guidance to $23.85–$24.30 [4] Analyst Expectations - For the fiscal year ending January 2026, analysts expect ULTA's EPS to decrease by 3.8% year-over-year to $24.37 [5] - The company has a strong earnings surprise history, beating consensus estimates in the last four quarters [5] - Among 25 analysts, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with 12 "Strong Buy" ratings, 2 "Moderate Buys," 10 "Holds," and 1 "Strong Sell" [5] Price Target Insights - UBS analyst Michael Lasser maintained a "Buy" rating on Ulta Beauty and raised the price target to $680, suggesting a 36.7% potential upside from the current price levels [7] - The mean price target of $589.48 represents an 18.5% premium to ULTA's current price [7]

Investors with an interest in Retail - Miscellaneous stocks have likely encountered both Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Tractor Supply (TSCO) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.Everyone has their own methods for finding great value opportunities, but our model includes pairing an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system with a strong Zacks Rank. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive esti ...