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ABG vs ULTA
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $4.38 billion with adjusted earnings per share of $6.82, exceeding analyst estimates, while maintaining strong liquidity of $966 million.
- Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades near $521 per share amid expectations for 7.1% year-over-year EPS growth in its upcoming quarterly report, supported by customer loyalty programs and brand expansions.
- ABG stock has shown resilience within a 52-week range of $172.01 to $263.38, reflecting automotive retail sector dynamics and share repurchase activity.
- ULTA stock performance has been mixed year-to-date, with recent gains tied to promotional strength and international expansion efforts despite broader consumer cyclical pressures.
- Both companies operate in consumer-facing sectors—automotive dealerships for ABG and beauty retail for ULTA—exposing them to varying sensitivities around discretionary spending and economic conditions.
- Relative positioning highlights ABG’s recent earnings momentum versus ULTA’s established market capitalization advantage exceeding $22 billion.
Introduction
Publicly traded companies Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) represent distinct segments of the consumer retail landscape, making their comparison relevant for investors evaluating sector-specific exposure and relative performance. ABG operates as a multi-brand automotive dealership group, while ULTA focuses on beauty products and services through physical stores and digital channels. Traders and portfolio managers monitoring consumer discretionary trends, earnings consistency, and market sentiment may find this head-to-head analysis useful for assessing positioning within broader equity strategies.
ABG Overview and Recent Performance
Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) manages a network of dealerships across multiple states, focusing on new and used vehicle sales, parts, and service operations. In recent market activity, the company delivered second-quarter 2026 results that included revenue of $4.38 billion and adjusted net income supporting an earnings per share figure of $6.82, which surpassed consensus estimates. Share repurchases totaling approximately 668,000 shares during the quarter contributed to capital return efforts, alongside liquidity of $966 million. Stock behavior reflected these developments within a 52-week range of $172.01 to $263.38, with sentiment influenced by automotive industry inventory levels and consumer demand patterns. Broader recognition, including placement on the TIME America’s Best Companies 2026 list, provided additional context for recent positioning.
ULTA Overview and Recent Performance
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) operates as a specialty retailer offering cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and related services through an extensive store footprint and e-commerce platform. Recent market activity has centered on preparations for the August 27, 2026 earnings release, with anticipated EPS growth of 7.1% year-over-year supported by loyalty program expansion and new brand introductions. The stock has traded around $521 amid fluctuating analyst price targets and mixed views on consumer spending resilience. Performance metrics show variation across timeframes, with emphasis on promotional initiatives and partnerships that have shaped sentiment in the beauty retail space during recent weeks.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) differ fundamentally in business models, with ABG centered on automotive retail and service operations while ULTA emphasizes beauty product curation and experiential retail. Growth drivers for ABG include vehicle sales cycles and aftermarket services, whereas ULTA benefits from brand partnerships, loyalty programs, and omnichannel expansion. Recent momentum shows ABG supported by earnings beats and share buybacks, contrasting with ULTA’s focus on customer retention amid variable consumer discretionary trends. Risk factors for ABG encompass interest rate sensitivity in auto financing and inventory management, while ULTA faces competition in beauty retail and potential shifts in spending priorities. Sector exposure places both in consumer cyclicals but with distinct subsector dynamics, and market sentiment reflects ABG’s recent financial reporting strength alongside ULTA’s larger market capitalization and ongoing analyst evaluations.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including trend consistency around recent earnings delivery, balance sheet stability, and relative positioning within their sectors, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a probabilistic preference toward Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) for its demonstrated earnings outperformance and capital allocation activity in recent market conditions. This assessment remains subject to evolving data on consumer demand and broader economic indicators.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ABG is a Hold and ULTA is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ABG’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileULTA’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- ABG’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- ULTA’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ABG’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ULTA’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ABG’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 6 bearish.
- ULTA’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
ABG (@Automotive Aftermarket) experienced а -0.32% price change this week, while ULTA (@Specialty Stores) price change was -1.79% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Automotive Aftermarket industry was -7.07%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -10.56%, and the average quarterly price growth was -8.37%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Specialty Stores industry was -3.53%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -8.14%, and the average quarterly price growth was -1.50%.
Reported Earning Dates
ABG is expected to report earnings on Oct 27, 2026.
ULTA is expected to report earnings on Dec 03, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Automotive Aftermarket (-7.07% weekly)The Automotive Aftermarket consists of the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of vehicle parts and accessories, after the sale of the automobile by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to the consumer. The aftermarket parts many not be manufactured by the OEM. According to a Technavio study, the US automotive parts aftermarket size is estimated to grow by USD 24.33 billion during 2018-2022 (CAGR 3%). Like many other industries, the automotive aftermarket is also being intensely penetrated by the digital boom. The online auto parts sales market is predicted to exceed $13B by 2020 (according to a study by Mirakl).
@Specialty Stores (-3.53% weekly)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.
| ABG | ULTA | ABG / ULTA | |
| Capitalization | 3.81B | 23.2B | 16% |
| EBITDA | 1.07B | 1.94B | 55% |
| Gain YTD | -8.666 | -10.438 | 83% |
| P/E Ratio | 7.90 | 19.73 | 40% |
| Revenue | 18B | 13B | 138% |
| Total Cash | 35.7M | 213M | 17% |
| Total Debt | 5.53B | 2.52B | 219% |
ABG | ULTA | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 14 | 13 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 68 Overvalued | 92 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 92 | 60 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 60 | 23 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 54 | 52 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 61 | 42 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 65 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ABG's Valuation (68) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as ULTA (92). This means that ABG’s stock grew similarly to ULTA’s over the last 12 months.
ULTA's Profit vs Risk Rating (60) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as ABG (92). This means that ULTA’s stock grew similarly to ABG’s over the last 12 months.
ULTA's SMR Rating (23) in the Specialty Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ABG (60). This means that ULTA’s stock grew somewhat faster than ABG’s over the last 12 months.
ULTA's Price Growth Rating (52) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as ABG (54). This means that ULTA’s stock grew similarly to ABG’s over the last 12 months.
ULTA's P/E Growth Rating (42) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as ABG (61). This means that ULTA’s stock grew similarly to ABG’s over the last 12 months.
| ABG | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 64% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 62% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 73% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 78% | 2 days ago 82% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 69% | 2 days ago 66% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 71% | 7 days ago 69% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 61% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 76% |
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ABG and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ABG has been closely correlated with AN. These tickers have moved in lockstep 76% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ABG jumps, then AN could also see price increases.