Companies /Consumer Cyclical

Ulta Beauty Inc

NASDAQ: ULTA Specialty Retail
$564.12
▲ $7.01 (+1.26%) today
Markets closed · 4:46am ET

Q2 2027 Earnings

Reported Aug 27, 2026, 4:07pm ET · SEC source
$6.55
Beat +5.51%
EPS · est. $6.21 GAAP
$3.0B
Beat +1.79%
Revenue · est. $3.0B
2 quarters
Consecutive EPS beats

Market Reaction

% change · around the report
−6%−3%0Aug 27Aug 28report 4:07pm ETearnings−0.2%−6.0%
−6%−3%0Aug 27Aug 28earnings−0.2%−6.0%
ULTA −6.0%S&P 500 −0.2%
−6%−3%0Aug 27Aug 28report 4:07pm ETearnings−0.5%−6.0%
−6%−3%0Aug 27Aug 28earnings−0.5%−6.0%
ULTA −6.0%NASDAQ −0.5%
−4%0+4%Aug 26Sep 4report 4:07pm ETearnings−0.1%+4.5%
−4%0+4%Aug 26Sep 4earnings−0.1%+4.5%
ULTA +4.5%S&P 500 −0.1%
−4%0+4%Aug 26Sep 4report 4:07pm ETearnings−0.2%+4.5%
−4%0+4%Aug 26Sep 4earnings−0.2%+4.5%
ULTA +4.5%NASDAQ −0.2%
−4.18%
Day of report
+3.79%
Next session
+9.01%
One week

Did ULTA Beat Earnings? Q2 2027 Results

Ulta Beauty delivered a convincing second-quarter beat in fiscal 2026, with the beauty retailer's results validating the momentum investors had anticipated heading into the August 27 report. GAAP diluted EPS of $6.55 beat the $6.21 consensus by 5.51%, climbing 13.3% year over year on the back of operational leverage and aggressive share repurchases, while revenue of $3.04 billion topped estimates by 1.79% and grew 8.9% from a year ago. The single clearest engine behind those numbers was a combination of a 3.8% comparable sales increase, contributions from new stores, and the addition of Space NK, though the acquired business did compress gross margin modestly to 39.1%. SG&A discipline provided an offset, with those expenses improving as a percentage of sales to 26.4%. Encouraged by the quarter's trajectory, management raised its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook, guiding diluted EPS to $28.70 to $29.00 and lifting the stock repurchase authorization for the year to $1.80 billion, signaling continued confidence in the company's capital returns story.

Key Takeaways
  • Comparable sales increased 3.8%
  • Acquisition of Space NK contributed to revenue growth
  • New store openings (14 net new stores in Q2)
  • SG&A leverage improved to 26.4% of net sales from 26.6%
  • Operating margin expanded to 12.5% from 12.4%
  • Share repurchases reduced diluted share count to 43,062 from 45,112

“Our team delivered another impressive quarter of strong sales, profit, and earnings growth, demonstrating that we are executing with discipline and translating our Ulta Beauty Unleashed strategy into tangible benefits for our guests.”

Ulta Beauty CEO, on the earnings call

Forward Guidance & Outlook

Ulta Beauty raised its fiscal 2026 guidance: net sales growth of 6.7% to 7.2% (from 6% to 7%), comparable sales growth of 3.2% to 3.7% (from 2.5% to 3.5%), operating income growth of 8.3% to 9.3% (from 6.5% to 9%), diluted EPS of $28.70 to $29.00 (from $28.36 to $28.80), and capital expenditures of $400 million to $450 million (unchanged). The stock repurchase plan for fiscal 2026 was increased to $1.8 billion from $1.5 billion.

ULTA YoY Financials

Q2 2027 vs Q2 2026 · SEC filings Q2 2026 Q2 2027
$0$900.0M$1.8B$2.7B$2.8B$3.0BRevenue$1.1B$1.2BGross Profit$350.0M$379.6MOperating Income$260.9M$282.0MNet Income
$0$900.0M$1.8B$2.7BRevenueGross ProfitOperating IncomeNet Income

Figures from SEC filings and company reports. Not investment advice.