Advertisement
AN vs ULTA
Which Stock Would AI Choose? AutoNation (AN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AutoNation (AN) reported Q1 2026 revenue of $6.6 billion, down 2% year-over-year, with adjusted EPS nearly flat at $4.69 and notable strength in after-sales and finance and insurance (F&I) gross profit per unit.
- Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is scheduled to report fiscal Q1 2026 results on June 2, 2026, with analyst expectations for revenue of approximately $3.08 billion and EPS of $6.87.
- AN has executed significant share repurchases, including $300 million in Q1 2026 that reduced its share count by roughly 4%, supporting capital return to shareholders.
- ULTA achieved 9.7% revenue growth for fiscal 2025 (ended January 31, 2026), driven by comparable sales growth of 5.4% and expansion through new stores and acquisitions.
- Recent market activity shows both stocks experiencing volatility, with AN trading near $188 and ULTA near $509 as of late May 2026, reflecting broader retail sector pressures.
- AN benefits from diversified automotive services, while ULTA is positioned in the resilient beauty and personal care category with strong brand partnerships.
Introduction
AutoNation (AN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) represent distinct segments within the consumer retail landscape, making their stock comparison relevant for investors seeking exposure to automotive retail and beauty products. AN operates as the largest automotive retailer in the United States, focusing on vehicle sales, parts, service, and financing. ULTA is a leading beauty retailer offering cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and related services through physical stores and digital channels. Traders and investors interested in relative performance, sector-specific catalysts, and market positioning may find this analysis useful when evaluating allocation decisions across cyclical and defensive consumer areas.
AN Overview and Recent Performance
AutoNation (AN) is the largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating dealerships that sell new and used vehicles while providing after-sales service, parts, and finance and insurance (F&I) products. In recent weeks, the company reported first-quarter 2026 results showing revenue of $6.6 billion, a 2% decline year-over-year, amid softer new-vehicle unit sales. Adjusted earnings per share remained nearly flat at $4.69, supported by record after-sales gross profit and a 5.6% increase in F&I gross profit per vehicle. Share repurchases totaling $300 million in the quarter reduced the share count by approximately 4%, contributing to capital efficiency. Market sentiment has reflected mixed reactions to these results, with emphasis on resilience in service and financing segments amid broader automotive industry headwinds.
ULTA Overview and Recent Performance
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) operates as a specialty retailer of beauty products, including cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance, with a network of approximately 1,400 stores and a robust e-commerce platform. Recent market activity has centered on anticipation for its fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings release scheduled for June 2, 2026, with consensus estimates calling for revenue of about $3.08 billion and EPS of $6.87. For the prior fiscal year ended January 31, 2026, the company delivered net sales of $12.4 billion, up 9.7% year-over-year, supported by 5.4% comparable sales growth and contributions from new stores and the Space NK acquisition. Stock performance in recent weeks has shown pressure, with shares trading near $509 amid sector rotation and pre-earnings positioning.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron’s Trending AI Robots page curates a selection of high-performing AI trading bots from hundreds available on the platform. These bots trade thousands of different tickers using varied strategies, timeframes, and risk parameters, with only the most suitable for prevailing market conditions featured in the trending section. Available bots display a range of performance statistics, including win rates, profit factors, and drawdown metrics, allowing users to compare options across different styles and ticker sets. The section highlights bots demonstrating consistent results in current environments. All AI trading bots have different trading styles, strategies, timeframes, performances, statistics, and sets of tickers they trade. Review the Trending AI Robots page for detailed bot profiles and performance data.
Head-to-Head Comparison
AutoNation (AN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) differ markedly in business models: AN derives revenue primarily from vehicle sales and related services in a cyclical automotive sector, while ULTA focuses on discretionary beauty and personal care products with more stable demand characteristics. Growth drivers for AN include after-sales service expansion and F&I penetration, whereas ULTA benefits from brand collaborations, store growth, and e-commerce. Recent momentum shows AN leveraging share buybacks for shareholder returns amid flat adjusted earnings, contrasted with ULTA’s pre-earnings positioning following solid prior-year comparable sales. Risk factors for AN encompass exposure to vehicle inventory cycles and interest rate sensitivity in financing; ULTA faces potential shifts in consumer spending on beauty items and competition from online and department store channels. Sector exposure places AN in consumer cyclicals and ULTA closer to consumer staples within retail. Market sentiment reflects cautious optimism for both, influenced by broader retail trends and upcoming catalysts.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency in after-sales stability, capital return programs, and relative positioning ahead of earnings, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a modest probabilistic edge to AutoNation (AN) over Ulta Beauty (ULTA). This assessment considers AN’s demonstrated resilience in non-vehicle revenue streams and buyback activity, alongside ULTA’s upcoming earnings release that could introduce near-term volatility. Market conditions and relative performance metrics remain key variables in any ongoing evaluation.
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 AN is a StrongBuy and ULTA is a Hold.
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).
AN’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileULTA’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- AN’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- ULTA’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 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.
AN’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ULTA’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AN’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- ULTA’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
AN (@Automotive Aftermarket) experienced а +2.05% price change this week, while ULTA (@Specialty Stores) price change was -3.43% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Automotive Aftermarket industry was +2.43%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.39%, and the average quarterly price growth was -20.54%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Specialty Stores industry was +2.31%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +10.97%, and the average quarterly price growth was -2.82%.
Reported Earning Dates
AN is expected to report earnings on Jul 16, 2026.
ULTA is expected to report earnings on Aug 20, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Automotive Aftermarket (+2.43% 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 (+2.31% 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.
| AN | ULTA | AN / ULTA | |
| Capitalization | 6.53B | 20.5B | 32% |
| EBITDA | 1.64B | 1.91B | 86% |
| Gain YTD | -5.560 | -21.010 | 26% |
| P/E Ratio | 10.57 | 17.91 | 59% |
| Revenue | 27.5B | 12.7B | 217% |
| Total Cash | 65.5M | 221M | 30% |
| Total Debt | 10.5B | 2.3B | 456% |
AN | ULTA | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 71 | 55 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 70 Overvalued | 90 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 26 | 61 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 70 | 64 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 54 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 75 | 50 |
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.
AN's Valuation (70) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as ULTA (90). This means that AN’s stock grew similarly to ULTA’s over the last 12 months.
AN's Profit vs Risk Rating (26) in the Specialty Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ULTA (61). This means that AN’s stock grew somewhat faster than ULTA’s over the last 12 months.
AN's SMR Rating (100) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as ULTA (100). This means that AN’s stock grew similarly to ULTA’s over the last 12 months.
ULTA's Price Growth Rating (64) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as AN (70). This means that ULTA’s stock grew similarly to AN’s over the last 12 months.
ULTA's P/E Growth Rating (54) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as AN (58). This means that ULTA’s stock grew similarly to AN’s over the last 12 months.
| AN | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 80% | 2 days ago 71% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 70% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 78% | 2 days ago 58% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 69% | 2 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 68% | 16 days ago 68% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 7 days ago 60% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 74% | 2 days ago 69% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 62% |
Advertisement
| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CRYPTO / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| POLY.X | 0.014976 | -0.000072 | -0.48% |
| Polymath cryptocurrency | |||
| STRAX.X | 0.008330 | -0.000135 | -1.60% |
| Xertra cryptocurrency | |||
| SUN.X | 0.017184 | -0.000334 | -1.91% |
| Sun [New] cryptocurrency | |||
| BLZ.X | 0.008170 | -0.000224 | -2.67% |
| Bluzelle cryptocurrency | |||
| DUSK.X | 0.084566 | -0.008599 | -9.23% |
| Dusk cryptocurrency | |||
AN and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, AN has been closely correlated with PAG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 79% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if AN jumps, then PAG could also see price increases.
ULTA and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ULTA has been loosely correlated with HNST. These tickers have moved in lockstep 49% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ULTA jumps, then HNST could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ULTA | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ULTA | 100% | +3.26% | ||
| HNST - ULTA | 49% Loosely correlated | +1.19% | ||
| AN - ULTA | 46% Loosely correlated | +4.93% | ||
| CPRT - ULTA | 45% Loosely correlated | +1.46% | ||
| LOW - ULTA | 42% Loosely correlated | +4.52% | ||
| ABG - ULTA | 42% Loosely correlated | +3.92% | ||
More | ||||