Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. trades at $300.37 (market cap $66.70B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $469.2 (market cap $20.17B). The key difference: Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. is far larger — about 3.3× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. pays a 2.42% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APD | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $66.70B | $20.17B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $314.19 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $230.42 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $84.11B | $22.25B |
Dividend Yield | 2.42% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
APD trades at $299.53, up 1.24% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. Recent earnings beats and strategic project exits, like the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex, have boosted investor confidence. The company maintains solid profitability margins but faces pressure from a negative net income in 2025 due to a pre-tax charge. Cash flow trends show volatility, with significant investing outflows for growth initiatives.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $324.89, implying ~8% upside. Risks include high debt levels, execution on new projects, and macroeconomic sensitivity. Long-term growth is supported by renewable energy investments, but near-term profitability recovery is key for sustained gains.
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.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the largest supplier of hydrogen and helium in the world. It has a unique portfolio serving customers in a number of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated $10.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.
Read more on APD →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 →