Go to the list of all blogs
Sergey Savastiouk's Avatar
published in Blogs
Mar 11, 2022
Ulta Beauty (ULTA, $379.37) beats fiscal Q4 expectations

Ulta Beauty (ULTA, $379.37) beats fiscal Q4 expectations

Ulta Beauty posted its fiscal fourth-quarter 2021 results, with earnings and revenue both exceeding  the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

The beauty and cosmetics company’s earnings came in at $5.41 a share, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.61. The figure is also substantially higher than the year-ago quarter’s $3.41.

Net sales climbed +24.1% from the year-ago quarter to $2,729.4 million, beating  the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,703.4 million. Revenue got a significant boost from tailwinds related to solid consumer confidence and looser pandemic-induced restrictions.

Comps climbed +21.4% vs. a decrease of  -4.8% in the prior-year quarter. There was a 10.4% increase in transactions on the back of on double-digit growth in-store traffic . The 9.9% increase in average tickets gained from increased higher average selling price and units per transaction.

Related Ticker: ULTA

Contributor

Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.


ULTA sees MACD Histogram crosses below signal line

ULTA saw its Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) turn negative on September 10, 2026. This is a bearish signal that suggests the stock could decline going forward. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 43 instances where the indicator turned negative. In 30 of the 43 cases the stock moved lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of a downward move at 70%.

Price Prediction Chart

Technical Analysis (Indicators)

Bearish Trend Analysis

The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on October 05, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on ULTA as a result. In 53 of 81 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 65%.

Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where ULTA declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 62%.

Bullish Trend Analysis

The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the oversold zone for 1 day, which means it's wise to expect a price bounce in the near future.

Following a +2.43% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where ULTA advanced for three days, in 220 of 319 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 69%.

The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 210 of 279 cases where ULTA Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 75%.

Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)

The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 23 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.

The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 45 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to consistent earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.

The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 46 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. ULTA’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.

The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.

The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 61 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating well-balanced risk and returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 91, placing this stock slightly better than average.

The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 93 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is significantly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (8.881) is normal, around the industry mean (1.755). P/E Ratio (19.997) is within average values for comparable stocks, (241.673). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.978) is also within normal values, averaging (1.113). Dividend Yield (0.000) settles around the average of (0.017) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (1.806) is also within normal values, averaging (1.033).

Notable companies

The most notable companies in this group are Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA), Best Buy Company (NYSE:BBY), Tractor Supply Co (NASDAQ:TSCO), Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE), GameStop Corp (NYSE:GME), Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI), RH (NYSE:RH), 1-800-FLOWERS.COM (NASDAQ:FLWS).

Industry description

The specialty stores sector includes companies dedicated to the sale of retail products focused on a single product category, such as clothing, carpet, books, or office supplies. A specialty store could face intense competition from big-box departmental chains, and therefore offering an adequate collection of the product type it specializes in is key in maintaining/growing its market.

Market Cap

The average market capitalization across the Specialty Stores Industry is 4.13B. The market cap for tickers in the group ranges from 3.1K to 50.98B. ANCTF holds the highest valuation in this group at 50.98B. The lowest valued company is SIMPQ at 3.1K.

High and low price notable news

The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the Specialty Stores Industry was -1%. For the same Industry, the average monthly price growth was -5%, and the average quarterly price growth was 4%. ABLV experienced the highest price growth at 53%, while LESL experienced the biggest fall at -57%.

Volume

The average weekly volume growth across all stocks in the Specialty Stores Industry was 38%. For the same stocks of the Industry, the average monthly volume growth was 18% and the average quarterly volume growth was -0%

Fundamental Analysis Ratings

The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows

Valuation Rating: 48
P/E Growth Rating: 61
Price Growth Rating: 61
SMR Rating: 63
Profit Risk Rating: 90
Seasonality Score: 33 (-100 ... +100)
View a ticker or compare two or three
ULTA
Daily Signal:
Gain/Loss:
Interact to see
Advertisement
A.I.Advisor
published price charts
A.I. Advisor
published General Information

General Information

a company that retails cosmetics and other personal care products

Industry SpecialtyStores

Industry
Specialty Stores
Address
1000 Remington Boulevard
Phone
+1 630 410-4800
Employees
65000
Web
https://www.ulta.com
Interact to see
Advertisement
UBXG stock surged +79% over the last 30 days, driven by heightened trading volume and positive market sentiment amid broader technology sector trends. Over the past quarter, the stock rose +61%, reflecting recovery from earlier lows near its 52-week bottom.
CVGI stock surged approximately +89% over the last 30 days, driven by strong Q4 2025 earnings beat on revenue and positive 2026 guidance. Over the past quarter, shares rose about +126%, reflecting improved profitability, debt reduction, and a key partnership announcement.
SAFX stock surged +104% over the past 30 days, driven by positive updates on a $10 million capital raise and merger progress. Over the past quarter, the stock rose +44%, reflecting recovery from lows amid renewable energy sector interest and strategic developments.
LONA stock surged +80% over the past 30 days, driven by positive analyst upgrades, executive appointments, and full-year financial updates highlighting pipeline progress. Over the past quarter, shares rose +48%, reflecting improved investor sentiment in biotech amid clinical advancements.
Lifetime Brands (LCUT) stock surged +77% over the last 30 days, driven by a strong Q4 earnings beat and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) upgrade that reflects an improved earnings outlook. Over the past quarter, shares rose +48%, supported by profitability gains despite softer sales, with adjusted EBITDA reaching $50.8 million for full-year 2025.
CURV stock surged approximately +73% over the last 30 days, driven primarily by a positive reaction to Q4 and fiscal 2025 earnings that beat expectations on EPS and revenue. Over the past quarter, the stock is up around +55%, reflecting recovery from lows near $1 amid ongoing store optimization and sub-brand launches
Blaize Holdings, Inc. (BZAI) focuses on artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled edge computing solutions, offering programmable AI processors and platforms for verticals such as smart cities, defense, retail, and enterprise markets. The company's core revolves around hardware like the Graph Streaming Processor (GSP) AI accelerator, compute cards, and software tools including Blaize AI Studio—a no-code/low-code environment for deploying AI models without source code expertise. Based in El Dorado Hills, California, and founded in 2010, it went public through a merger in early 2025.
Comstock Holding Companies, Inc. (CHCI) operates as an asset manager, developer, and operator of mixed-use and transit-oriented properties, mainly in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The company targets high-growth urban and suburban markets, overseeing a portfolio that spans residential, commercial, hospitality, and parking assets near key metro stations. Its asset-light, fee-based model delivers recurring revenue through property management, leasing, development services, and asset recapitalization for institutional investors, family offices, and governments.
ARM stock surged +26% over the past 30 days, driven by announcements of in-house chip production and strong analyst upgrades amid AI enthusiasm. Over the past quarter, the stock climbed +38%, reflecting robust Q3 earnings beat with 26% revenue growth and data center royalty doubling.
Sable Offshore Corp. (SOC) is an independent oil and gas company focused on offshore operations in federal waters off California. The company owns and operates three platforms in the Santa Ynez Unit (SYU), spanning 16 federal leases across approximately 76,000 acres, along with subsea pipelines for crude oil, natural gas, and produced water transport to onshore facilities. Its core business model centers on restarting and developing prolific fields like the SYU, which had been idle due to regulatory and legal hurdles following a 2015 pipeline spill.
From what I see, Cheniere Energy Partners (CQP) holds a commanding position through its ownership and operation of the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana, the largest LNG production facility in the U.S. with approximately 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) capacity across six trains, alongside the connected Creole Trail Pipeline. This setup makes CQP a leader in U.S. LNG exports, which have accounted for about 11% of global supply in recent years. The company's ~80% contracted production through long-term sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) provides revenue stability, with weighted average remaining lives of around 13 years.
In my view, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals holds a strong leadership position in biotechnology, thanks to its proprietary VelociSuite technologies, including VelocImmune for fully human antibody discovery. This enables a robust pipeline across immunology, oncology, ophthalmology, and rare diseases. The company's integrated model—from discovery to commercialization—drives high R&D productivity, with approximately 45 clinical programs and key partnerships like Sanofi for Dupixent and Bayer for EYLEA.
As I review argenx SE's place in the market, its strong footing in immunology stands out. This commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focuses on differentiated antibody therapies for severe autoimmune diseases. The flagship product, VYVGART (efgartigimod), a first-in-class neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) inhibitor, has secured leadership in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), with approvals across the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The Immunology Innovation Program (IIP) fuels a robust pipeline, featuring next-generation FcRn candidates like ARGX-213 and ARGX-124, alongside first-in-class assets such as empasiprubart (C2 inhibitor, ARGX-117) and adimanebart (MuSK agonist).
I've long admired Alnylam Pharmaceuticals as the pioneer in RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, a gene-silencing technology that has delivered six approved products, including AMVUTTRA (vutrisiran), ONPATTRO (patisiran), GIVLAARI (givosiran), and OXLUMO (lumasiran). The company's proprietary platform, enhanced by GalNAc conjugation for liver targeting and emerging extra-hepatic delivery innovations, creates a solid competitive moat in precision genetic medicines.
As I review BeOne Medicines AG's position in the oncology space, what stands out is its role as a global leader with a diversified portfolio that includes both commercial-stage therapies and a deep pipeline targeting hematologic and solid tumors. The flagship product, BRUKINSA (zanubrutinib), a Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor, has secured approvals in over 75 markets, solidifying its dominance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other blood cancers. This is complemented by TEVIMBRA (tislelizumab), an anti-PD-1 antibody approved in more than 50 markets for various indications, which broadens its reach in immunotherapy.
Rio Tinto holds a premier position as one of the world's largest mining companies, anchored by low-cost, Tier 1 assets. Its Pilbara iron ore operations in Australia deliver industry-leading margins, thanks to integrated rail and port infrastructure that gives it a structural cost advantage over higher-cost producers. In copper, the company has significant stakes in Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, and full ownership of Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia, setting it up well to benefit from tightening supply as demand surges for electrification and renewables.
I've always been impressed by how Visa (V) commands the global payments landscape. As an open-loop network, it connects issuers, acquirers, merchants, and consumers without issuing cards or extending credit itself. The VisaNet platform processes over 65,000 transactions per second across more than 200 countries, supporting a ~52% share of the global credit card market and ~60% of debit. This scale generates powerful network effects, where greater adoption benefits everyone involved and creates formidable barriers to entry.
Following the Kenvue consumer health spin-off, Johnson & Johnson has transformed into a focused healthcare leader, emphasizing Innovative Medicine (pharmaceuticals) and MedTech (devices). In my view, this repositioning sharpens the company's edge in high-margin areas such as oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, surgery, and vision, where its diversified portfolio and R&D efficiency provide clear competitive advantages.
I've long appreciated ASML Holding N.V.'s dominant position in the semiconductor lithography market. The company commands over 90% share in advanced deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion systems and 100% in EUV lithography—the critical technology for chips below 7nm nodes used in AI, high-performance computing, and memory. This near-monopoly comes from decades of R&D investment, exclusive partnerships like Zeiss for optics, and a vast installed base that generates steady service revenue. From what I see, competitors such as Nikon and Canon remain far behind in EUV, sticking to mature nodes.
I've been watching Micron Technology (MU) closely through its recent volatility, which mirrors the semiconductor sector's heightened sensitivity to AI demand and supply constraints. The stock saw a sharp post-earnings sell-off tied to elevated capital expenditure plans, yet it has rebounded with surging DRAM prices—up 90-95%—and memory suppliers booked out for years. From what I see, broader tech optimism, including key partnerships and persistent supply tightness, is driving upward momentum. This positions MU as a pivotal player in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for data centers. Trading near recent highs around $368, the shares highlight investor focus on Micron's critical role in the AI infrastructure expansion under these constrained industry conditions.