Compare A O Smith Corp (AOS) vs Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
A O Smith Corp vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $60.44 (market cap $8.33B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $469.2 (market cap $20.17B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 2.4× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays a 2.35% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.33B | $20.17B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $8.78B | $22.25B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A.O. Smith (AOS) trades at $60.44, up 2.41% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent leadership changes. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates at $0.85 versus $0.94 expected, while maintaining solid profitability with a 13.84% net margin. Cash flow trends show improving operations, and the stock offers a dividend with a recent $0.36 payout announced.
The outlook is cautious due to earnings volatility and bearish technicals, but valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 16.12. Risks include China market weakness and competitive pressures, while analyst consensus leans hold with a $68 price target suggesting modest upside potential from current levels.
ULTA Beauty trades at $469.20, up 1.95% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a 9.36% net income margin and 47.45% ROE. Recent Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations at $7.74 EPS versus $6.89. The stock is near its pivot point of $457, with resistance at $470. Positive news highlights international expansion and a robust loyalty program driving 95% of sales.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is bullish with a $623.73 price target, but technicals and recent net cash flow negativity pose risks. Investment opportunity lies in market share gains and AI-driven personalization, while headwinds include competitive pressures and margin compression from 11.42% in 2022 to 9.35% projected for 2026.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About A O Smith Corp
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →About Ulta Beauty Inc
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 →
