May 02, 2025 a 01:00 pm
ULTA: Analysts Ratings - Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Ulta Beauty, Inc., operating as a leading retailer in the beauty products sector in the United States, enjoys significant market presence with over 1,300 stores across the nation. Over recent months, analysts have shown a conservatively positive stance towards ULTA, with a healthy mix of Buy recommendations but a notable increase in Hold ratings, reflecting potential shifts in market sentiment.
Historical Stock Grades
In May 2025, ULTA received a total of 29 analyst ratings, with the distribution as follows:
| Recommendation | Count | Visual |
|---|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 4 | |
| Buy | 8 | |
| Hold | 16 | |
| Sell | 1 | |
| Strong Sell | 0 |
Sentiment Development
The sentiment surrounding ULTA has shown gradual yet notable changes over recent months. A consistent number of Hold ratings indicate a cautious approach by analysts, while the count for Buy ratings has seen minor fluctuations. Hold ratings have increased significantly, showing a trend towards more neutrality:
- Strong Buy: Decrease from 5 to 4 over the last month.
- Buy: Decrease from 10 to 8 in the past two months.
- Hold: Increase from 14 to 16 in the last six months, suggesting caution.
Percentage Trends
Analyzing the percentage trends, the distribution of ULTA's ratings highlights a marked preference for more conservative evaluations over time. The fraction of Buy recommendations has decreased, while Hold ratings have gained prominence:
- Strong Buy: Decreased from 16% to 13% over recent months.
- Buy: Dropped from 34% to 27%, signaling a cautious outlook.
- Hold: Rose from 48% to 54%, indicating stability and caution.
Latest Analyst Recommendations
Recent analyst recommendations underline the stability with few changes in stance. Significant upgrades are notable but infrequent:
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-30 | Underweight | Underweight | Wells Fargo |
| 2025-04-16 | Buy | Buy | DA Davidson |
| 2025-04-14 | Hold | Buy | Argus Research |
| 2025-04-01 | Buy | Neutral | Goldman Sachs |
| 2025-03-17 | Neutral | Neutral | Citigroup |
Analyst Recommendations with Change of Opinion
Changes of opinion denote a subtle but important shift in market perspectives, highlighting key upgrades and downgrades:
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-14 | Hold | Buy | Argus Research |
| 2025-04-01 | Buy | Neutral | Goldman Sachs |
| 2025-01-21 | Overweight | Equal Weight | Morgan Stanley |
| 2025-01-07 | Neutral | Sell | B. Riley Securities |
| 2024-11-21 | Market Perform | Outperform | William Blair |
Interpretation
Current market sentiment for ULTA reflects a balanced composition of cautious optimism and reserved outlooks. Analysts generally maintain or slightly adjust their evaluations, suggesting that while Ulta Beauty, Inc. is perceived positively, there is caution about immediate high returns. The increase in Hold recommendations indicates a need for thorough market evaluation and consideration of macroeconomic factors.
Conclusion
The analyst landscape surrounding ULTA embodies a keen sense of vigilance, where the blend of recommendations points to a company's modest growth trajectory. The increment of Hold ratings amidst the consistent Buy suggestions highlights the cautious optimism prevailing in the market. This reflects a well-grounded assessment of Ulta's performance, emphasizing the importance of monitoring both consumer trends and economic conditions to fully leverage the stock's potential. The persistent strength in consumer retention and product diversity offers a stable foundation to navigate current market challenges.