AMETEK, Inc. vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? AMETEK, Inc. trades at $261.9 (market cap $58.76B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $531.85 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: AMETEK, Inc. is far larger — about 2.5× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and AMETEK, Inc. pays a 0.53% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AME | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $58.76B | $23.27B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $256.30 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $179.28 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $60.30B | $25.35B |
Dividend Yield | 0.53% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AME trades at $258.62, up 2.27% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings momentum after beating Q2 2026 EPS estimates. The company reported record Q2 results and raised full-year guidance, supported by robust revenue growth and a 20.04% net income margin. Analysts maintain a consensus buy rating with a $281.86 price target, reflecting optimism about its 3D printing and electronics testing segments.
The outlook is positive given consistent earnings beats and upward guidance, but risks include high valuation multiples (P/E 37.47) and exposure to macroeconomic volatility. Institutional sentiment remains strong, with no sell ratings among 30 analysts, though the stock's proximity to resistance at $261 warrants caution for near-term entries.
ULTA stock trades at $532.14, down 3.01% today, amid mixed technical signals with a bullish moving average trend but neutral oscillators. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74, beating expectations, and maintains strong profitability with a 39.33% gross margin and 47.45% ROE. Recent news highlights Ulta's omnichannel growth strategy and the end of its Target partnership, viewed as a potential revenue opportunity by analysts.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $618.29, representing 16% upside, supported by 56.53% analyst buy ratings. Risks include margin compression, with net income margin projected to drop to 9.35% in 2026, and volatile cash flows, as net cash flow turned negative in 2025. Investors should weigh strong fundamentals against competitive and execution risks in the retail sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Ametek is a diversified industrial conglomerate with over $6 billion in sales. The firm operates through an electronic instruments group and an electromechanical group. EIG designs and manufactures differentiated and advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power, and industrial end markets. EMG is a focused, niche supplier of highly engineered automation solutions, thermal management systems, specialty metals, and electrical interconnects, among other products. About half of the firm's sales are made in the United States. The firm's asset-light strategy in place for nearly two decades emphasizes growth through acquisitions, new product development through research and development, driving operational efficiencies, and global and market expansion.
Read more on AME →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 →