Genuine Parts Company vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Genuine Parts Company trades at $135.22 (market cap $18.55B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $542.13 (market cap $23.59B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Genuine Parts Company pays a 3.16% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| GPC | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.55B | $23.59B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $149.26 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $92.47 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $24.64B | $25.67B |
Dividend Yield | 3.16% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
GPC trades at $135.63, up 2.14% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but a bearish oscillator reading. The stock is supported by strong Q2 2026 earnings beats, with sales growth of 6% year-over-year and an adjusted EPS of $2.15 beating estimates. However, net income margin remains thin at 0.13% for 2025, and the P/E ratio is elevated at 542.52, indicating high valuation relative to earnings. Recent news highlights institutional buying interest and reaffirmed 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $7.50 to $8.00.
The outlook for GPC is cautiously optimistic, with analyst consensus pointing to a $148.67 price target and a 'Buy' rating from 43% of covering analysts. Key opportunities include sustained industrial segment strength and dividend consistency, while risks involve margin pressure from inflation, high debt levels, and competitive pressures in the auto parts industry. Earnings growth and cost management are critical for future stock performance.
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
Latest headlines on both assets
Genuine Parts sells automotive parts (about two thirds of net sales) and industrial components. The company sells vehicle parts to commercial and retail customers through roughly 9,700 stores worldwide, most of which are independently owned. Its industrial unit, primarily operating under the Motion Industries banner in the United States, supplies bearings, power transmission, industrial automation, hydraulic, and pneumatic components to maintenance, repair, and OEM clients.
Read more on GPC →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 →