Core Insights - Ulta Beauty is focusing on digital acceleration, personalization, and launching a new marketplace to enhance customer experience and regain market share lost in 2024 [1][2][6] Digital Strategy - The company plans to enhance its digital presence by adding new features to its app and website, aiming to elevate guest experience and engagement [2][3] - Automation and real-time content will be increased across digital channels to deepen guest engagement [3] Marketplace Initiative - A new marketplace will be launched on an invitation-only basis for brands, allowing Ulta Beauty to curate product selections [4] - Customers will earn points on marketplace purchases and can return these purchases to Ulta Beauty stores, making the process seamless [4][5] Organizational Changes - To support these initiatives, Ulta Beauty has created new roles, including chief retail officer and chief technology and transformation officer [5] - The company is building a dedicated team for selling and operations related to the new marketplace model [5] Market Context - The beauty industry is experiencing heightened competition and changing consumer expectations, prompting Ulta Beauty to adapt quickly [2][6] - Despite a slowdown in the beauty category in 2024, growth is still expected in the low- to mid-single-digit range [6]

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) Q4 2024 Earnings Conference Call March 13, 2025 4:30 PM ET Company Participants Kiley Rawlins - Vice President, Investor Relations Kecia Steelman - Chief Executive Officer Paula Oyibo - Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Dana Telsey - Telsey Advisory Group Lorraine Hutchinson - Bank of America Michael Binetti - Evercore ISI Adrienne Yih - Barclays Simeon Gutman - Morgan Stanley Steven Forbes - Guggenheim Securities Mark Altschwager - Baird Michael Lasser - U ...

Financial Performance - For the quarter ended January 2025, Ulta Beauty reported revenue of $3.49 billion, a decrease of 1.9% year-over-year [1] - EPS for the quarter was $8.46, an increase from $8.08 in the same quarter last year [1] - The reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.46 billion by +0.69% [1] - EPS also surpassed the consensus estimate of $7.10 by +19.15% [1] Key Metrics - Comparable sales increased by 1.5%, outperforming the 11-analyst average estimate of 0.4% [4] - Total stores open at the end of the quarter were 1,445, slightly below the nine-analyst average estimate of 1,447 [4] - Total gross square footage at the end of the quarter was 15,110.17 thousand square feet, compared to the seven-analyst average estimate of 15,130.46 thousand square feet [4] - Net sales per average total square footage were $230.81, exceeding the five-analyst average estimate of $230.13 [4] - The number of stores opened during the quarter was 9, below the average estimate of 12 by five analysts [4] Sales by Category - Net Sales by Primary Category - Other: 2%, matching the average estimate [4] - Net Sales by Primary Category - Services: 3%, below the average estimate of 4% [4] - Net Sales by Primary Category - Fragrance: 17%, slightly above the average estimate of 16.5% [4] - Net Sales by Primary Category - Haircare: 19%, exceeding the average estimate of 18.5% [4] - Net Sales by Primary Category - Cosmetics: 36%, below the average estimate of 39% [4] Stock Performance - Ulta's shares have returned -11.8% over the past month, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -7.4% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) came out with quarterly earnings of $8.46 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.10 per share. This compares to earnings of $8.08 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 19.15%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this beauty products retailer would post earnings of $4.47 per share when it actually produced earnings of $5.14, delivering a surprise of 14.99%.Over the last four quarters, ...

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty reported better-than-expected earnings for fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, with EPS of $8.46 surpassing the consensus estimate of $7.13 and revenue of $3.49 billion exceeding projections of $3.47 billion, despite a year-over-year revenue decline of 1.9% due to an extra week in the previous fiscal year [2][7]. Financial Performance - Q4 2024 diluted EPS was $8.46, up 4.7% from $8.08 in Q4 2023, exceeding analysts' estimate of $7.13 [4]. - Revenue for Q4 2024 was $3.49 billion, a decrease of 1.9% from $3.55 billion in Q4 2023, but above the estimated $3.47 billion [4]. - Gross profit margin improved to 38.2% from 37.7% year-over-year [4]. - Net income for the quarter was $393.3 million, slightly down from $394.4 million in the previous year, reflecting a 0.3% decline [4]. Market Strategy - Ulta Beauty operates over 1,400 stores and employs an integrated omnichannel strategy, combining physical presence with online engagement to enhance customer experience and loyalty [5]. - The company has focused on expanding its loyalty program, which has over 43 million members contributing to more than 95% of sales [6]. - Ulta's product offerings balance mass and prestige brands, aiming to capture a broad customer base [6]. Sales Performance - Comparable sales increased by 1.5%, driven by a 3% rise in ticket size, although transactions decreased by 1.4% [8]. - The share of cosmetics in overall sales fell from 39% to 36%, while fragrances increased from 15% to 17%, indicating changing customer preferences [8]. Cost and Competition - SG&A expenses rose to 23.4% of net sales from 23.1%, influenced by cost pressures in store payroll and benefits, alongside increased competition from over 1,000 new beauty distribution channels [9]. - The transition in leadership with COO Kecia Steelman succeeding David Kimbell as CEO may signal strategic changes amid current market conditions [9]. Future Outlook - For fiscal 2025, Ulta Beauty expects net sales between $11.5 billion and $11.6 billion, with comparable sales growth projected to be flat to 1% [10]. - Projected EPS for fiscal 2025 ranges from $22.50 to $22.90, reflecting a cautious outlook due to market uncertainties [10]. - Strategic plans include investments in store expansion, wellness products, and digital innovation [10].

An exterior view of an Ulta Beauty store at the Monroe Marketplace Shopping Center.Even the beauty industry is expecting a weak 2025. Ulta Beauty on Thursday gave worse full-year profit and revenue guidance than Wall Street expected, after reporting holiday-quarter results that beat analyst forecasts. The retailer, which appointed Kecia Steelman as its new CEO in January, said it's expecting comparable sales to be flat or grow 1% in 2025, while analysts had anticipated they would rise by 1.2%, according to ...

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) Q4 2025 Earnings Call March 13, 2025 04:30 PM ET Company Participants Kiley Rawlins - SVP - Investor RelationsKecia Steelman - President & CEOPaula Oyibo - Chief Financial OfficerDana Telsey - CEO and Chief Research OfficerLorraine Hutchinson - Managing DirectorMichael Binetti - Senior Managing DirectorSimeon Gutman - Managing DirectorSteven Forbes - Senior Managing DirectorAshley Helgans - Senior Vice President Conference Call Participants Adrienne Yih - Managing Director, Consumer Discr ...

Exhibit 99.1 ULTA BEAUTY ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER FISCAL 2024 RESULTS Net Sales of $3.5 Billion Compared to $3.6 Billion in the Year-Ago Quarter Comparable Sales Increased 1.5% Net Income of $393.3 Million or $8.46 Per Diluted Share Bolingbrook, IL – March 13, 2025 – Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) today announced financial results for the thirteen-week period ("fourth quarter") and fifty-two- week period ("fiscal year") ended February 1, 2025, compared to the comparable fourteen-week and fifty-three-week ...

Core Viewpoint - Ulta Beauty Inc is facing a challenging earnings report with expected declines in both earnings per share and revenue, leading to a 3.3% drop in share price as investors prepare for the announcement [1]. Financial Expectations - Analysts anticipate earnings of $7.05 per share for the fourth quarter, representing a 12.8% decrease from the previous year [1]. - Projected revenue for the fourth quarter is $3.46 billion, indicating a 2.8% year-over-year decline [1]. - For fiscal 2024, revenue is expected to increase slightly by 0.5% to $11.26 billion [1]. Stock Performance and Volatility - Ulta Beauty's stock has shown mixed performance post-earnings, with a 9% increase in December among four out of the last eight sessions finishing higher [2]. - Options traders are predicting an 11.3% price swing following the earnings report, which is significantly higher than the two-year average move of 6.1% [2]. Technical Analysis - The stock has declined from a peak of $460 on January 7, marking a 20.8% decrease year-to-date [3]. - The 20-day moving average has acted as resistance since early February, contributing to the stock's losses [3]. Options Market Sentiment - There is a bullish sentiment among options traders, with a call/put volume ratio of 2.01, placing it in the 90th percentile of its annual range [4]. - This indicates a higher-than-usual interest in long calls ahead of the earnings report [4]. Analyst Ratings and Short Interest - Analyst opinions are mixed, with 12 out of 28 analysts rating the stock as a "strong buy," while 13 recommend a "hold" and one a "strong sell" [5]. - Short interest has risen by 10.2% in the last two reporting periods, with shorted shares now making up 5.9% of the total available float [5].

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) is likely to register top and bottom-line declines when it reports fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 earnings on March 13, after market close. The consensus mark for quarterly earnings has decreased by a penny in the past 30 days to $7.05 per share, indicating a 12.8% dip from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. The consensus mark for fiscal 2024 earnings is pegged at $23.93 per share, implying a decline of 8.1% from the prior year’s reported figure. ULTA delivered a trailing four ...