ACM Research Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? ACM Research Inc trades at $82.54 (market cap $5.57B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $535.23 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 4.2× ACM Research Inc's market cap, and ACM Research Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ulta Beauty Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ACMR | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $5.57B | $23.27B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $126.89 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $24.93 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $4.48B | $25.35B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ACMR trades at $83.03, up 4.56% in the last session, with a neutral technical signal and bearish moving averages. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $0.61 versus $0.42 expected, and revenue grew 36% year-over-year to $292.9 million. The company raised its 2026 revenue guidance amid strong order growth of 105% in the first half, driven by new products like the Ultra C Tahoe wet processing platform expansion announced on August 7, 2026.
Outlook is positive with 80% analyst buy ratings and a consensus price target of $127.50, implying 54% upside. Risks include high valuation with a P/E of 37.7 and reliance on semiconductor cycle demand. Net cash flow improved to $538 million in 2026 from $355 million in 2025, supporting growth initiatives.
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades at $537.69, down 2.0% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $618.29. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74 exceeding expectations, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.3B for 2025. The company maintains strong profitability with a net margin of 9.36% and ROE of 47.45%, supported by an omnichannel strategy highlighted in recent news.
The stock presents a buy opportunity with Wall Street optimism (56.53% buy ratings) and solid fundamentals, but risks include margin compression from rising costs and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include the Q2 2026 earnings report, with expected EPS of $6.17, and the transition from the Target partnership, viewed as a growth opportunity by analysts.
Trailing returns across standard periods
ACM Research develops and manufactures semiconductor process equipment, specializing in wafer cleaning and electroplating solutions. Its tools are used by global chipmakers to improve productivity and yield for logic and memory chips.
Read more on ACMR →With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →