Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA) Trading 0.8% Higher

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA - Get Free Report) was up 0.8% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $407.00 and last traded at $406.48. Approximately 249,629 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 73% from the average daily volume of 936,296 shares. The stock had previously closed at $403.29.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on ULTA shares. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Ulta Beauty from $500.00 to $385.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 30th. Barclays increased their price objective on Ulta Beauty from $328.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, August 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Ulta Beauty from $530.00 to $544.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Ulta Beauty from $552.00 to $448.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on Ulta Beauty from $475.00 to $412.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $425.29.

Ulta Beauty Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $18.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.31. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $368.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $408.95.

Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 29th. The specialty retailer reported $5.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $5.47 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $2.55 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.61 billion. Ulta Beauty had a return on equity of 54.02% and a net margin of 10.68%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $6.02 EPS. Research analysts predict that Ulta Beauty, Inc. will post 23.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Ulta Beauty

In other news, Director Catherine Ann Halligan sold 100 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $390.08, for a total value of $39,008.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,017 shares in the company, valued at approximately $786,791.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, insider Jodi J. Caro sold 650 shares of Ulta Beauty stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $388.68, for a total transaction of $252,642.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6,801 shares in the company, valued at $2,643,412.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Catherine Ann Halligan sold 100 shares of Ulta Beauty stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $390.08, for a total value of $39,008.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,017 shares in the company, valued at $786,791.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.39% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ulta Beauty

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Ulta Beauty by 32.5% during the first quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 102 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Commerce Bank lifted its position in shares of Ulta Beauty by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 2,742 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,344,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ulta Beauty by 5.8% in the first quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 478 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $250,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Eudaimonia Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Ulta Beauty by 4.0% in the first quarter. Eudaimonia Partners LLC now owns 698 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $365,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sage Capital Advisors llc lifted its position in shares of Ulta Beauty by 5.4% in the second quarter. Sage Capital Advisors llc now owns 525 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $203,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ulta Beauty Company Profile

Ulta Beauty, Inc operates as a specialty beauty retailer in the United States. The company offers branded and private label beauty products, including cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, bath and body products, professional hair products, and salon styling tools through its Ulta Beauty stores, shop-in-shops, Ulta.com website, and its mobile applications.