For the quarter ended July 2025, Ulta Beauty (ULTA) reported revenue of $2.79 billion, up 9.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $5.78, compared to $5.30 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.65 billion, representing a surprise of +5.1%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +14.91%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $5.03.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Ulta performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Comparable sales - YoY change: 6.7% versus 2.2% estimated by nine analysts on average.
- Total stores open at end of the quarter: 1,473 versus 1,466 estimated by seven analysts on average.
- Number of stores opened during the quarter: 24 compared to the 13 average estimate based on five analysts.
- Total gross square feet at end of the quarter: 15,353.55 Msq ft compared to the 15,293.55 Msq ft average estimate based on five analysts.
- Net sales per average total square footage: $181.62 versus $175.52 estimated by four analysts on average.
- Total stores open at beginning of the quarter: 1,451 versus 1,451 estimated by three analysts on average.
View all Key Company Metrics for Ulta here>>>
Shares of Ulta have returned +3.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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