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 ...

Final trade [music] time. Steve >> General Motors >> Karen. >> Yes.Ulta. Last quarter they had blowout earnings [music] and they could barely contain their enthusiasm. They tried to sandbag.They're reporting earnings tomorrow. I think they're going to be very good. >> S.[music] >> Yeah. Netflix was last night down 5% today. Mr.. >> Netflix. >> Shout out to the AUBs. I [music] work with Bob at the Goldman Sachs.His daughter Nicole is here. His wife is not. She was invited.She didn't want to come. Uh PWA Mel. ...

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]

Investors are hoping to close out the year strong, with momentum on Wall Street's side after the S&P 500 Index (SPX) scored a seventh-straight monthly win. Ulta Beauty Inc (NASDAQ:ULTA) is among the names that may help traders end 2025 with a bang, after landing on Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White's list of 25 best stocks to own in December.ULTA is the best of three retailers on the list and takes the third top spot overall, going back 10 years. The equity finished the month higher eight times in the ...

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]

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].