Price movement over the last 24 hours
Alcon AG vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Alcon AG trades at $66.89 (market cap $32.69B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $457.04 (market cap $19.51B). The key difference: Alcon AG is the larger of the two by market cap, and Alcon AG pays a 0.54% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALC | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.69B | $19.51B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $92.22 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $62.02 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $36.28B | $21.59B |
Dividend Yield | 0.54% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALC trades at $66.87, down 4.01% on the day, amid a mixed technical and fundamental backdrop. The stock exhibits a bullish technical signal overall, with moving averages supporting a positive trend, while oscillators remain neutral. Fundamentally, revenue growth is steady, reaching $10.40 billion in 2025, though net income margin compressed to 7.7%. Recent news highlights product innovation, including a collaboration with RxSight for adjustable PCIOLs, signaling ongoing R&D investment. Analyst sentiment is predominantly positive, with a consensus price target of $86.00 implying significant upside.
The outlook for ALC is cautiously optimistic, driven by new product launches and strategic partnerships that may fuel growth. However, risks include competitive pressures, macroeconomic headwinds, and margin compression. With a P/E of 40.92, the valuation appears rich relative to historical norms, requiring strong earnings delivery to justify current levels. Investors should weigh robust analyst buy ratings against execution risks and market volatility.
ULTA Beauty trades at $453.78, down 1.64% recently, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but oversold RSI near 29. The stock shows strong profitability with a 9.36% net margin and 47.45% ROE, though revenue growth slowed to $11.3B in 2025. Recent news highlights partnerships with Bath & Body Works and AI-driven loyalty initiatives to boost engagement.
Analysts remain bullish with a $623.73 consensus target, citing valuation discounts and market share gains. Risks include competitive pressures and margin compression, but the current P/E of 16.96 offers value if execution improves. The stock presents a contrarian opportunity amid negative sentiment.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Alcon, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the global eyecare leader with a diverse portfolio in ophthalmology including contact lenses, eye drops, surgical equipment, and related surgical products. Novartis purchased Alcon from Nestle in 2010 and, following nine years as a Novartis subsidiary, the company was spun off as a public company in April 2019. The company reports five distinct segments: implantables (16% of revenue), consumables (31%), equipment (9%), contact lenses (27%), and ocular health (17%). The company is geographically diversified, with only about 40% of revenue from the U.S. market, and the firm has a strong presence in the European Union and Japan.
Read more on ALC →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 →