An Ulta Magnificence retailer in Harmony, California, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs
Ulta Magnificence on Thursday raised its full-year gross sales outlook after topping Wall Avenue’s expectations for the fiscal third quarter.
The sweetness retailer stated it now expects internet gross sales for the yr to be roughly $12.3 billion, larger than its earlier expectations of $12 billion to $12.1 billion. That may would symbolize a rise from final fiscal yr’s internet gross sales of $11.3 billion. It expects earnings per share of $25.20 to $25.50, up from its prior expectations of $23.85 to $24.30.
It anticipates comparable gross sales, a metric that features gross sales at shops open no less than 14 months and e-commerce gross sales, to rise by 4.4% to 4.7%, up from its prior outlook of two.5% to three.5%.
Ulta has raised its gross sales and revenue outlook for 2 consecutive quarters. The corporate’s inventory rose greater than 4% in prolonged buying and selling.
In a information launch, CEO Kecia Steelman stated “thrilling assortment newness, improved in-store and digital experiences, and daring advertising efforts are resonating with our friends and drove robust gross sales outcomes.”
Because the specialty retailer heads into the vacations, she stated the corporate is prepared — at the same time as “we all know many customers’ wallets are pressured and they’re looking for worth.”
This is what the retailer reported for the fiscal third quarter in contrast with what Wall Avenue anticipated, in response to LSEG:
- Earnings per share: $5.14 vs. $4.64 anticipated
- Income: $2.86 billion vs. $2.72 billion anticipated
Ulta has benefitted from customers who’ve stored spending on magnificence, at the same time as they trim the funds or hunt down lower-priced choices in different discretionary classes. But the corporate faces stiffer competitors from a variety of rivals, together with big-box retailers like Walmart, on-line gamers like Amazon and upstarts like TikTok Store.
Magnificence gross sales have been robust total this yr within the U.S., in response to knowledge from market analysis agency Circana. Within the first 9 months of 2025, status magnificence gross sales by way of {dollars} rose 4% and mass magnificence gross sales rose 5% yr over yr.
In keeping with Circana, magnificence is poised to be a preferred class throughout the holidays, with the market researcher’s surveys indicating that extra customers plan to reward magnificence merchandise than a yr in the past, significantly these in households with higher-incomes and people with kids.
Income rose from $2.53 billion within the year-ago quarter.
Comparable gross sales jumped by 6.3% yr over yr. Consumers visited Ulta’s shops and web sites extra and spent extra throughout visits. Common ticket rose 3.8% and transactions elevated by 2.4% yr over yr.
Within the three-month interval that ended Nov. 1, Ulta reported internet earnings of $230.9 million, or $5.14 per share, in contrast with $242.2 million, or $5.14 per share, within the year-ago quarter.
Ulta introduced in October that Christopher DelOrefice, the chief monetary officer of medical expertise firm Becton Dickinson & Firm, will turn out to be its new CFO. He’ll begin within the function on Dec. 5.
As of Thursday’s shut, Ulta’s shares have risen about 23% to this point this yr. That surpasses the S&P 500’s almost 17% features throughout the identical interval.
That is breaking information. Please examine again for updates.