Ulta Beauty Shares Surge After Beating Earnings Expectations and Raising Forecast

The retailer reported stronger-than-expected Q3 results, driven by modest sales growth and strategic initiatives, while raising its full-year guidance.

Ulta Beauty posted Q3 earnings of $5.14 per share, surpassing Wall Street's estimate of $4.54, with revenue increasing 1.7% to $2.53 billion.
Comparable sales rose 0.6%, supported by a slight uptick in customer transactions and average ticket size, despite ongoing competition and demand concerns.
The company raised its full-year revenue forecast to $11.1–$11.2 billion and adjusted its profit outlook to $23.20–$23.75 per share, reflecting improved performance.
Fragrance was the strongest category in Q3, showing high single-digit growth, while skincare saw midsingle-digit gains and prestige makeup was flat.
Ulta's stock jumped over 10% in after-hours trading, signaling investor confidence in the retailer's strategic efforts and resilience in the beauty market.