Under new leadership, Ulta is delivering strong results.Ulta Beauty (ULTA +12.65%) was a consistent winner through the 2010s, but in recent years, the company appeared to have lost some of its luster, going through several up-and-down cycles in recent years.A combination of competition from lower-priced alternatives like E.L.F. Beauty, possible market saturation, and inflation in the broader economy had dampened growth. However, the stock has been on a tear since April, and it soared again in its latest ear ...

The U.S. stock market experienced a mixed close on Friday, December 5th, 2025, as investors digested fresh inflation data and a significant corporate acquisition, all while looking ahead to next week's pivotal Federal Reserve meeting. While the broader market indexes largely edged higher, individual stock movements were pronounced, driven by earnings reports and major corporate news.Major Market Indexes PerformanceOn Friday, the S&P 500 (SPX) demonstrated resilience, gaining 0.3% to reach 6870 points, neari ...

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Core Insights - Ulta Beauty shares increased over 10% intra-day following stronger-than-expected quarterly results and an improved full-year outlook [1] Financial Performance - Third-quarter earnings were reported at $5.14 per share, matching last year's figure but exceeding analyst estimates of $4.52 [1] - Revenue rose by 12.9% to $2.86 billion, surpassing expectations of $2.7 billion, driven by stronger store traffic, higher average spending, and the acquisition of Space NK [1] - Comparable sales increased by 6.3% compared to 0.6% a year earlier, with average ticket growing by 3.8% and transactions rising by 2.4% [2] - Gross margin improved from 39.7% to 40.4%, aided by lower inventory shrink and increased merchandise margins [2] Future Outlook - The company raised its fiscal 2026 revenue forecast to a range of $12.0 billion to $12.1 billion, up from the previous projection of $12.0 billion [3] - Ulta also increased its 2026 earnings outlook to $25.20 to $25.50 per share, exceeding consensus estimates of $24.54 [3]

Key Takeaways Ulta Beauty (ULTA) shares surged to a record high on Friday after the cosmetics and fragrance retailer posted earnings that topped analysts' estimates and raised its outlook. The stock was up over 14% in recent trading, on track to finish the week at an all-time high and leading gains in the S&P 500. (Read our daily markets coverage here.) Beauty has been among retail's most resilient categories, outperforming apparel and other goods as consumers continue to spend on cosmetics, fragrances, and ...

The Ulta Beauty, Inc. ( ULTA ) quarterly results just made public showed that the company is resilient even under trying circumstances and able to produce appealing income. Demand is still constant, and sales and profitsI’m a Portfolio manager (flexible equity funds and private clients), fundamental equity research, macro and geopolitical strategy.Over 10 years across global markets, managing multi-asset strategies and equity portfolios at a European asset manager.I combine top-down macro, bottom-up stock s ...

The Ulta Beauty, Inc. ( ULTA ) quarterly results just made public showed that the company is resilient even under trying circumstances and able to produce appealing income. Demand is still constant, and sales and profitsI’m a Portfolio manager (flexible equity funds and private clients), fundamental equity research, macro and geopolitical strategy.Over 10 years across global markets, managing multi-asset strategies and equity portfolios at a European asset manager.I combine top-down macro, bottom-up stock s ...

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Market Overview - U.S. equities are showing mixed to positive sentiment as investors assess economic data and anticipate a Federal Reserve meeting next week [1] - Major U.S. stock indexes exhibit varied movements, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq showing upward trends, while the Dow Jones hovers around flat [2] - S&P 500 futures are up 0.3%, Dow futures increase 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures rise 0.4%, indicating cautious optimism in global markets [3] Federal Reserve and Economic Data - The Federal Reserve's final FOMC meeting of 2025 is scheduled for December 9th and 10th, with an 87% probability of a 25-basis-point interest rate cut anticipated [4] - The release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for September 2025 is expected to provide insights into inflation and its impact on the Fed's decision [5] - Upcoming economic releases include the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) on December 9th and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) around December 12th [6] Corporate News and Stock Movements - Netflix is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion, impacting its stock performance [7] - Ulta Beauty's stock surged by 7% after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings and raising its sales outlook [7] - HP Enterprise's stock dropped following disappointing quarterly results and a subdued outlook [7] - Dollar General shares rose over 14% after boosting its full-year comparable sales forecast [12] - Meta Platforms' stock increased by over 3% after announcing plans to cut the metaverse group's budget by up to 30% [12] - Hormel Foods reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, leading to a stock rise of over 3% [12] - Science Applications International's stock closed up over 16% after reporting strong Q3 adjusted EPS and raising its full-year adjusted EPS estimate [12] Labor Market Insights - Initial jobless claims fell to 191,000 for the week ending November 29th, a decrease of 27,000, indicating a resilient employment situation [8]

Core Viewpoint - Ulta Beauty is experiencing strong market performance and resilience, with a positive outlook from Barclays suggesting a potential upside in stock price due to robust financial results and strong demand in the beauty industry [2][3][5]. Company Overview - Ulta Beauty is a leading beauty retailer in the United States, operating over 1,200 stores and providing a comprehensive online shopping experience [1]. - The company competes with major beauty retailers like Sephora and department stores [1]. Stock Performance - Barclays set a price target of $647 for Ulta Beauty, indicating a potential upside of approximately 21.17% from the current trading price of $533.95 [2][6]. - The stock price increased from $533 to $566, marking an impressive recovery of approximately 83% from its lowest point earlier this year [3]. - Despite a slight decrease of 1.94% to $533.95, the stock has shown strong performance with fluctuations between a low of $530.09 and a high of $555 [4]. - Ulta's stock has reached a 52-week high of $572.23 and a low of $309.01, showcasing its volatility and growth potential [5]. Market Capitalization and Trading Volume - Ulta's market capitalization stands at approximately $23.94 billion, with a trading volume of 1,756,020 shares on the NASDAQ exchange [4].