Ulta Beauty down after posting slower comparable sales growth

Ulta Beauty

28/08/2026 11:40

** Shares of cosmetics retailer Ulta Beauty ULTA.O down 1.5% at $532.28 premarket
** Company reports Q2 comparable sales growth of 3.8%, vs 6.7% rise a year earlier, as macroeconomic uncertainty looms
** ULTA, however, raises annual sales and profit forecasts, betting that investments in marketing and product assortment will drive demand
** Expects FY sales to grow between 6.7% and 7.2%, up from its prior forecast of 6% to 7% increase
** Sees annual EPS in the range of $28.70 to $29 vs its prior forecast of $28.36 to $28.80
** "2H26 guidance is consistent with ULTA's historically prudent approach and, in our view, leaves room for upside," says Barclays, which cut PT by $2 to $645
** Company beats Q2 quarterly sales, profit estimates 
** Up to last close, shares down ~11% YTD

 (Reporting by Sanskriti Shekhar and Akriti Shah in Bengaluru)
 ((Sanskriti.Shekhar@thomsonreuters.com))