Badger Meter Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Badger Meter Inc trades at $135.56 (market cap $3.95B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $542.13 (market cap $23.59B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 6× Badger Meter Inc's market cap, and Badger Meter Inc pays a 1.17% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BMI | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.95B | $23.59B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $193.09 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $113.41 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $3.86B | $25.67B |
Dividend Yield | 1.17% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Badger Meter (BMI) trades at $138.86, up 1.23% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $155.20. Recent earnings show a Q2 2026 beat but misses in prior quarters, while financials indicate solid profitability with a 14.27% net income margin. The stock faces headwinds from multiple class-action lawsuits alleging securities fraud, as reported by Business Wire and GlobeNewsWire in early August 2026, though insider buying by a VP in late July signals confidence.
The outlook is mixed: strong fundamentals and analyst upside support growth, but legal risks and earnings volatility pose challenges. Investors may find value if legal concerns resolve, but caution is warranted due to potential sentiment pressure from ongoing litigation.
ULTA stock trades at $565.15, up 4.89% in the last session, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong support at $547. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74, beating estimates, but faces margin compression with net income margin declining to 10.63% in 2025. Recent news highlights the end of its Target partnership as a potential growth opportunity, per BofA analysis on July 29, 2026.
The stock offers upside to the consensus price target of $618.29, with 57% of analysts rating it a buy, but risks include competitive pressures and volatile cash flows, with net cash flow turning negative in 2025. Investors should weigh robust ROE of 47.45% against elevated P/B of 9.41 and RSI levels suggesting overbought conditions.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Badger Meter provides industry-leading water management solutions. Its smart measurement hardware and software analytics help water utilities and industrial customers optimize operations and conserve natural resources.
Read more on BMI →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 →