RBRK Jumps on Surprise Profit, ULTA & VSCO Boost Beauty Trade

Rubric - Rubric reported a surprise profit with adjusted EPS of 10 cents per share, significantly better than the expected loss of 17 cents per share [2] - Revenue for Rubric topped $350 million, exceeding expectations, driven by a 52% growth in subscription revenue, indicating strong customer retention [2][3] - The company achieved positive operating income for the first time, with gross margins climbing to over 82%, reflecting efficient scaling of the business [3][4] - Free cash flow surged to $76.9 million, up nearly 400% year-over-year, and Rubric holds over $1.5 billion in cash, providing ample room for growth without needing to raise additional funds [4][5] Victoria's Secret - Victoria's Secret reported a loss of 27 cents per share, better than the expected loss of 59 cents, with revenue coming in at $1.47 billion, also exceeding expectations [6][7] - The company experienced less reliance on discounting, leading to improved margins and a shrinking quarterly loss, with strong performance across both its namesake brand and Pink [7][8] - Traffic improvements outpaced overall mall traffic, indicating a resurgence in popularity among younger consumers, particularly those aged 18 to 24 [9] Ulta Beauty - Ulta Beauty's shares surged following better-than-expected results, with adjusted EPS of $5.14 compared to the expected $4.56, and revenue of $2.86 billion, surpassing the anticipated $2.72 billion [11] - Comparable sales increased by more than 6%, with strong performance in both mass market and premium brands, indicating robust consumer spending on beauty products [12][13] - The company reported positive trends in average transaction value and increased customer transactions, suggesting strong momentum heading into the holiday shopping season [13]