Ulta Beauty, Inc.
American publicly traded beauty retailer offering cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and haircare products from multiple brands, founded in 1990.
Company Type
public
Founded
1990
Headquarters
Bolingbrook, Illinois, USA
Stock
NASDAQ: ULTA
About Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Ulta Beauty delivered exceptional Q3 2025 results, reporting revenue of $2.86 billion, exceeding Wall Street expectations of $2.72 billion. The company's earnings per share reached $5.14, significantly beating analyst expectations of $4.64, demonstrating strong operational performance and profitability.
For the full year 2025, Ulta raised its revenue guidance to approximately $12.3 billion, up from previous expectations of $12.0-12.1 billion, representing growth from the previous year's $11.3 billion. The company also increased its EPS guidance to $25.20-$25.50, up from $23.85-$24.30, reflecting confidence in continued profitability.
Ulta's comparable sales jumped 6.3% year over year, driven by increased customer traffic and higher average ticket sizes. Average ticket rose 3.8% and transactions increased by 2.4% year over year, indicating strong customer engagement and spending patterns despite broader economic uncertainty.
History of Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Ulta Beauty was founded in 1990 by Chalene Ulta in Chicago, Illinois. The original concept combined a wide selection of beauty brands with a focus on offering customers access to both prestige and mass-market cosmetics in a single location. This differentiated Ulta from traditional department stores and specialty beauty retailers.
Ulta Beauty expanded throughout the 1990s and 2000s, establishing locations across the United States. The company went public in 2007, becoming a publicly traded beauty retailer. Ulta Beauty developed a strong omnichannel presence combining physical retail with e-commerce capabilities during the 2010s.
In recent years, Ulta Beauty has continued expanding its store footprint, enhancing its product selection, and investing in digital capabilities. The company has maintained its position as an independent publicly traded beauty retailer competing with other beauty retailers and department stores. Ulta Beauty has also expanded into services including salon offerings and beauty consultations.
Brands Owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Ulta Beauty, Inc. owns 1 brand in our database.
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Stock Information
Ulta Beauty, Inc. Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Strong Q3 2025 performance with $2.86B revenue beating expectations
- +Raised FY 2025 guidance to $12.3B revenue and $25.20-$25.50 EPS
- +Exceptional 6.3% comparable sales growth with increased traffic and ticket size
- +Strong CEO leadership under Kecia Steelman with clear strategic vision
- +Comprehensive beauty product selection from prestige to mass-market brands
- +Strong omnichannel presence combining retail and e-commerce capabilities
- +Established brand with significant market presence and customer loyalty
- +Direct access to capital markets for expansion and strategic investments
Considerations
- -Intense competition from big-box retailers, online players, and beauty startups
- -Changing consumer preferences affecting retail traffic and shopping patterns
- -E-commerce competition from direct-to-consumer beauty brands
- -Dependence on discretionary consumer spending in economic uncertainty
- -Operational complexity managing over 1,300 physical locations
- -Need to balance premium experiences with value-conscious consumer expectations
- -Supply chain challenges for beauty product inventory and distribution
- -Pressure to maintain innovation and relevance in fast-changing beauty trends
Frequently Asked Questions About Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Is Ulta Beauty, Inc. publicly traded?
Yes, Ulta Beauty, Inc. is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol ULTA. The company went public in 2007 and operates as an independent entity without a parent company.
Who owns Ulta Beauty, Inc.?
Ulta Beauty, Inc. is owned by institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. The company is an independent publicly traded entity with no parent company or controlling shareholder.
What were Ulta Beauty's Q3 2025 financial results?
Ulta Beauty reported Q3 2025 revenue of $2.86 billion, exceeding expectations of $2.72 billion, with EPS of $5.14 beating expectations of $4.64. The company raised its full-year guidance to $12.3 billion in revenue and $25.20-$25.50 in EPS.
Who is Ulta Beauty's CEO?
Kecia Steelman serves as CEO of Ulta Beauty, leading the company's "Ulta Beauty Unleashed" strategy focused on AI-powered personalization, global expansion, and wellness growth while maintaining the company's position as a leading beauty retailer.
What is Ulta Beauty's market position?
Ulta Beauty maintains a strong position as a leading beauty retailer with over 1,300 locations, strong omnichannel capabilities, and a comprehensive product selection spanning both prestige and mass-market beauty brands.
How does Ulta Beauty compete with Amazon and Walmart?
Ulta differentiates through its comprehensive beauty expertise, in-store salon services, and curated product selection that combines both prestige and mass-market offerings, creating a specialized beauty destination experience that general retailers cannot match.
What is Ulta Beauty's growth strategy?
Ulta's growth strategy focuses on AI-powered personalization, global expansion, wellness category growth, omnichannel enhancement, and maintaining value propositions while delivering premium beauty experiences and exclusive brand partnerships.
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