For the quarter ended October 2025, Ulta Beauty (ULTA) reported revenue of $2.86 billion, up 13% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $5.14, compared to $5.14 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.72 billion, representing a surprise of +4.95%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +12.72%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $4.56.
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.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
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: 6.3% compared to the 3.5% average estimate based on nine analysts.
- Total stores open at end of the quarter: 1,500 versus 1,494 estimated by seven analysts on average.
- Total gross square feet at end of the quarter: 15,588.93 Msq ft compared to the 15,522.33 Msq ft average estimate based on six analysts.
- Number of stores opened during the quarter: 28 compared to the 20 average estimate based on six analysts.
- Net sales per average total square footage: $183.31 versus $178.08 estimated by four analysts on average.
- Total stores open at beginning of the quarter: 1,473 compared to the 1,473 average estimate based on three analysts.
- Net Sales by Primary Category - Other: 2% compared to the 2% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net Sales by Primary Category - Services: 3% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 4%.
- Net Sales by Primary Category - Fragrance: 11% versus 10.5% estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Sales by Primary Category - Haircare: 19% compared to the 19.5% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net Sales by Primary Category - Cosmetics: 41% compared to the 40.8% average estimate based on two analysts.
View all Key Company Metrics for Ulta here>>>
Shares of Ulta have returned +4.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with 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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