Ulta’s Stock May Be Set for a Glow-Up—20% Upside Ahead?

Core Viewpoint - Ulta Beauty's fiscal Q3 earnings report indicates strong growth and operational quality, positioning the company for continued success into 2025 and 2026 [2][4]. Financial Performance - Ulta reported net revenue of $2.9 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 12.9%, significantly surpassing MarketBeat's consensus by nearly 750 basis points [5]. - Comparable store sales increased by 6.3%, driven by a 3.8% rise in customer traffic and a 2.4% increase in transaction size, indicating stronger customer engagement and spending [6]. Market Trends - Analysts have responded positively to Ulta's results, viewing the guidance as cautiously optimistic, which may act as a catalyst for stock performance in early 2026 [3]. - The price-target revision trend supports a projected price range of $650, suggesting a nearly 20% upside potential in the coming quarters [3]. Operational Insights - The company improved its gross margin by 70 basis points due to lower costs, although operating margin decreased due to increased selling, general, and administrative expenses [6]. - Institutional investors are accumulating shares of Ulta, providing a solid support base for the stock's price action [4].