Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA – Free Report) had its target price decreased by Bank of America from $685.00 to $650.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. Bank of America currently has a buy rating on the specialty retailer’s stock.
Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on ULTA. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Ulta Beauty from $648.00 to $667.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Loop Capital reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $550.00 target price on shares of Ulta Beauty in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Ulta Beauty from $647.00 to $645.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. B. Riley Financial lowered their price target on shares of Ulta Beauty from $600.00 to $500.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, DA Davidson dropped their price target on shares of Ulta Beauty from $650.00 to $585.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Ulta Beauty has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $626.59.
Read Our Latest Stock Report on ULTA
Ulta Beauty Stock Performance
Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 27th. The specialty retailer reported $6.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.22 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.99 billion. Ulta Beauty had a return on equity of 45.40% and a net margin of 9.34%.The company’s revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.78 EPS. Ulta Beauty has set its FY 2026 guidance at 28.700-29.000 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Ulta Beauty will post 28.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity at Ulta Beauty
In related news, Director George R. Mrkonic, Jr. sold 383 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.84, for a total transaction of $182,246.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 2,404 shares in the company, valued at $1,143,919.36. This represents a 13.74% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ulta Beauty
Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fideuram Asset Management Ireland dac acquired a new position in shares of Ulta Beauty during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ulta Beauty by 860.0% in the first quarter. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC now owns 48 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC lifted its position in Ulta Beauty by 4,200.0% during the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 43 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new position in Ulta Beauty during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Ascentis Independent Advisors acquired a new position in Ulta Beauty during the first quarter worth $29,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Key Stories Impacting Ulta Beauty
Here are the key news stories impacting Ulta Beauty this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Quarterly results exceeded expectations. Ulta reported $6.55 in EPS versus the $6.20 consensus and revenue of approximately $3.04 billion, up 8.9% year over year and ahead of the $2.99 billion estimate. Comparable sales rose 3.8%, while digital sales, loyalty growth, new brands and stronger execution supported performance. Ulta Beauty Q2 Earnings Beat as Sales Rise, FY26 View Raised
- Positive Sentiment: Ulta raised its fiscal 2026 outlook and expanded capital returns. The company now expects EPS of $28.70–$29.00, up from $28.36–$28.80, and revenue of roughly $13.2–$13.3 billion. It also increased its planned share repurchases to $1.8 billion, which could provide support for per-share earnings. Ulta Beauty Targets Sales Growth and Buybacks
- Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain broadly constructive, but estimates are mixed. DA Davidson raised its price target to $625 and maintained a Buy rating, while Bank of America lowered its target to $650 but also kept a Buy rating. The conflicting revisions suggest confidence in Ulta’s long-term share gains, alongside caution about valuation and execution risks.
- Negative Sentiment: The market reaction reflects concerns about forward momentum. Management indicated that third-quarter comparable-sales comparisons may be weaker than fourth-quarter comparisons, increasing the risk of a temporary slowdown. Investors are also focused on Target’s rollout of its own Beauty Studio in more than 600 stores, including five former Ulta locations in South Carolina, potentially intensifying competition for prestige beauty customers. Ulta is responding by emphasizing exclusive products and brand differentiation. Ulta Leans Into Exclusivity Amid Target Competition
Ulta Beauty Company Profile
Ulta Beauty, Inc (NASDAQ: ULTA) is a U.S.-based specialty retailer and beauty services provider focused on cosmetics, fragrance, skin care, hair care, bath and body, and beauty tools. The company operates a dual-format business that combines brick-and-mortar retail stores with an e-commerce platform, offering a broad assortment of national, prestige and mass-market brands alongside its own private-label products. In many locations Ulta also provides full-service salon treatments, positioning the company as a one-stop destination for product discovery and in-store services.
The retailer’s product mix spans color cosmetics, haircare and styling products, skin and body care, fragrance, and accessories, catering to a wide range of consumer preferences and price points.
Read More
- Five stocks we like better than Ulta Beauty
- Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally
- Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher
- Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All
- Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against?
Receive News & Ratings for Ulta Beauty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ulta Beauty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
