ULTA BEAUTY ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2025 RESULTS Net Sales Increased 12.9% to $2.9 Billion Compared to $2.5 Billion in the Prior Year Quarter Comparable Sales Increased 6.3% Net Income was $230.9 Million or $5.14 Per Diluted Share Company Increases Fiscal 2025 Guidance Bolingbrook, IL – December 4, 2025 – Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) today announced consolidated financial results for the thirteen-week period ("third quarter") and thirty-nine-week period ("first nine months") ended November 1, 202 ...

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) will release earnings results for the third quarter after the closing bell on Thursday, Dec. 4.Analysts expect the Bolingbrook, Illinois-based company to report quarterly earnings at $4.60 per share, down from $5.14 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Ulta Beauty's quarterly revenue is $2.7 billion, compared to $2.53 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro.On Oct. 16, Ulta Beauty named Christopher DelOrefice as chief financial offi ...

Group 1 - General Motors is mentioned in the context of a trading discussion, indicating potential interest in the company's performance [1] - Ulta reported strong earnings last quarter, showing significant enthusiasm from the company, and expectations for good results in the upcoming earnings report [1] - Netflix experienced a decline of 5% following its earnings report, suggesting market volatility and investor reaction to its performance [1]

Core Insights - Investors are optimistic about closing the year strong, with the S&P 500 Index achieving a seventh consecutive monthly gain, positioning Ulta Beauty Inc as a potential strong performer for December [1] Company Performance - Ulta Beauty is ranked as the best among three retailers on a list of top stocks, holding the third position overall for the past decade, with an average gain of 4.1% over the last ten years [2] - The stock is currently trading at $549.33, on track for a sixth consecutive gain, and has a 26% year-over-year increase, indicating a strong upward trend [2] Market Dynamics - There is potential for a short squeeze, as short interest in Ulta Beauty has risen by 21.5% over the last two reporting periods, now constituting 5.1% of the stock's available float [3] - The average time required for short sellers to cover their positions is over three trading days, based on Ulta's average daily trading volume [3] - The options market shows a high level of pessimism, with a 50-day put/call ratio of 1.17, ranking higher than 98% of annual readings, which could provide additional support for the stock [4]

Group 1 - The S&P 500 Index has achieved a seventh consecutive monthly win, indicating positive momentum in the market as investors aim to finish the year strong [1] - Ulta Beauty Inc is highlighted as one of the top stocks to own in December, ranking third overall in a list compiled by a Senior Quantitative Analyst [1][2] - Over the past decade, Ulta has finished the month higher eight times, with an average gain of 4.1% [2] Group 2 - Ulta's stock is currently trading at $549.33, marking a 26% year-over-year increase and is positioned within an uptrend channel [2] - There is a potential for a short squeeze, as short interest has risen by 21.5% in the last two reporting periods, now constituting 5.1% of the stock's available float [4] - The stock's 50-day put/call ratio of 1.17 is higher than 98% of annual readings, indicating a significant level of pessimism in the options market that could provide tailwinds for the stock [5]

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty, Inc. is a leading beauty retailer in the U.S., offering a wide range of cosmetics, skincare, and haircare products through physical stores and online platforms [1] - The company is set to release its quarterly earnings on December 4, 2025, with an estimated EPS of $4.51 and projected revenue of approximately $2.7 billion, reflecting a 12.3% decline in EPS compared to the same quarter last year [2][6] - Despite the anticipated decline in EPS, revenue is expected to grow by 7.3% year-over-year, driven by steady demand, new brand introductions, and a boost from the online marketplace [3][6] Financial Metrics - Ulta's financial metrics include a P/E ratio of approximately 20.51, a price-to-sales ratio of about 2.11, and a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 0.88, indicating a moderate level of debt compared to equity [5][6] - The current ratio of approximately 1.39 suggests a solid ability to cover short-term liabilities [5] Challenges - Rising selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses due to higher incentive compensation, store payroll, and overhead costs may impact Ulta's profitability [4][6] - Investors are closely monitoring the impact of these expenses on the company's bottom line and whether revenue growth can offset the increased costs [4]

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty, Inc. is recognized as one of the best-performing retail stocks in 2025, with UBS reaffirming a Buy rating and a price target of $680 due to strong third-quarter results and consistent demand in the beauty category [1] - The company is expected to benefit from a more rational competitive environment, particularly with reduced rivalry from Sephora, which could enhance comparable sales by 100-200 basis points in 2026 [2] - Ulta Beauty is expanding its international presence with the launch of its first Middle Eastern store in Kuwait, in collaboration with Alshaya Group, featuring over 300 beauty and wellness products [3] Company Overview - Ulta Beauty, Inc. operates as a specialty beauty retailer in the U.S., with more than 1,445 retail stores across 50 states, offering a wide range of skincare, hair care, cosmetics, perfumes, and salon services [4]

Core Insights - The U.S. retail sector is poised for a record-breaking holiday shopping season, with sales expected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time, according to the National Retail Federation [1][2] - Not all retail stocks will benefit equally from the holiday season, as value-driven and promotion-heavy retailers are particularly in focus [2][7] - Strong holiday retail stocks typically exhibit predictable seasonal demand, high brand loyalty, and effective conversion of traffic into margins [4][10] Retail Sector Dynamics - The holiday season can account for 20-30% of annual sales for many retailers, making even small percentage changes in holiday comps significant for stock movements [7] - Retailers with strong e-commerce capabilities and efficient logistics are expected to outperform, particularly those leveraging data and AI-driven pricing strategies [8][12] Investment Opportunities - **Ulta (NASDAQ:ULTA)**: Up 23.5% year-to-date, with a strong position in the beauty category and an expected revenue increase of 14.8% over the next three years [9][10] - **Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)**: A leader in retail with diverse business models, benefiting from both retail and high-margin ad revenue during the holiday season [11][13] - **Costco (NASDAQ:COST)**: Despite a flat performance in 2025, Costco has seen a 140% increase over the past five years and is well-positioned for the holiday season with sales up 8.6% [14][15] Consumer Engagement Strategies - Retailers are encouraged to reach customers through multiple channels, including brick-and-mortar stores, social media, and their own websites [5] - Loyalty programs and membership ecosystems can enhance customer retention and increase average order values [6] Post-Holiday Considerations - Monitoring the retail sector closely during the holiday season is crucial, as rapid shifts can occur [17] - Efficient management of post-holiday returns and exchanges is important for long-term profitability and customer loyalty [17]

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty, Inc. is expected to report third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings on December 4, with revenues projected at $2.71 billion, reflecting a 7.3% increase year-over-year [1][9] - The consensus estimate for quarterly earnings has risen by 3 cents to $4.51 per share, indicating a decline of 12.3% from the previous year [2] Factors Impacting Earnings - The company is anticipated to maintain steady growth in Q3, benefiting from strong fragrance sales, improving makeup trends, and new brand introductions [3][9] - An invite-only online marketplace is expected to enhance customer engagement and create additional revenue opportunities [3] Omnichannel Strategy - Ulta Beauty continues to leverage its omnichannel ecosystem, driving traffic and conversion through store-fulfilled e-commerce, loyalty personalization, and digital marketing tools [4] - Investments in social platforms and exclusive brand partnerships are enhancing brand visibility, while the expansion of wellness products is strengthening long-term growth prospects [4] SG&A Expenses - The company is facing rising selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, which increased by 15% in the fiscal second quarter, impacting overall profitability [5][9] - SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales are projected to rise by 280 basis points to 29.8% in Q3 [5] Earnings Prediction - The Zacks model predicts an earnings beat for Ulta Beauty, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +1.84% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $4.51 per share, a decline of 12.3% year-over-year, with revenues projected at $2.71 billion, reflecting a 7.3% increase compared to the previous year [1] Earnings Projections - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised downward by 0.5% over the past 30 days, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts [2] - Revisions to earnings projections are crucial for predicting investor behavior and are linked to short-term stock performance [3] Key Metrics Projections - Analysts predict that the total number of stores open at the end of the quarter will reach 1,494, up from 1,437 in the same quarter last year [5] - The total gross square footage is estimated to be 15,505 million square feet, compared to 15,021 million square feet in the same quarter last year [5] - The number of stores opened during the quarter is expected to be 20, down from 28 in the same quarter last year [6] - Net sales per average total square footage is projected to be $177.01, an increase from $168.44 in the same quarter last year [6] Sales by Category - Net sales by primary category for services are expected to remain at 4.0%, consistent with the previous year [7] - Net sales by primary category for fragrance is projected to be 10.5%, up from 10.0% in the same quarter last year [8] - Haircare net sales are expected to reach 19.5%, slightly down from 20.0% in the previous year [8] - Cosmetics net sales are forecasted at 40.8%, a slight decrease from 41.0% in the same quarter last year [9] Stock Performance - Ulta shares have increased by 3.7% over the past month, contrasting with a -0.5% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite, indicating a potential outperformance in the near future [9]