Heron Therapeutics Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Heron Therapeutics Inc trades at $0.48 (market cap $91.46M), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $492.61 (market cap $20.98B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 229.4× Heron Therapeutics Inc's market cap, and Ulta Beauty Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Heron Therapeutics Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HRTX | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.46M | $20.98B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.96 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $0.39 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $189.36M | $23.06B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HRTX trades at $0.4804, up 2.06% today, with a bullish technical signal despite mixed earnings. The stock shows a low price-to-sales ratio of 0.51 but negative profitability, with a net income margin of -20.53% in 2026. Recent Q1 2026 earnings missed expectations, though management reaffirmed full-year guidance. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 94.7% buy ratings.
Outlook remains speculative given persistent losses and cash burn, but potential upside exists if operational improvements materialize. Key risks include patent litigation outcomes and reliance on revenue growth to achieve profitability. Investors should weigh high analyst optimism against fundamental challenges.
ULTA Beauty trades at $488.01, up 1.76% with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. The company maintains strong profitability with 39.33% gross margins and 47.45% ROE, though revenue growth has slowed to 0.9% in 2025. Recent leadership appointments and international expansion initiatives signal strategic positioning for future growth.
ULTA presents a compelling value opportunity with a 17.97 P/E ratio below historical averages, supported by 56.5% analyst buy ratings and a $618.29 consensus target. However, margin compression risks and competitive pressures require monitoring as the company navigates evolving consumer trends and expansion challenges.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Heron Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving patient care. It develops best-in-class medicines for pain management and cancer care to address unmet medical needs.
Read more on HRTX →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 →