Humana Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Humana Inc trades at $404.61 (market cap $47.81B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $489.66 (market cap $20.98B). The key difference: Humana Inc is far larger — about 2.3× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Humana Inc pays a 0.89% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HUM | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $47.81B | $20.98B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $409.42 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $163.67 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $56.85B | $23.06B |
Dividend Yield | 0.89% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Humana (HUM) trades at $398.09, down 0.48% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company shows strong revenue growth to $129.66B in 2025 but faces margin compression with net income margin declining to 0.82%. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, and analyst sentiment is mixed with 34% buy ratings but a consensus price target of $354.33 below current levels.
The outlook suggests cautious optimism with Medicare Advantage expansion opportunities but significant margin pressure and regulatory risks. Key investment considerations include the company's ability to achieve its 3% Medicare Advantage margin target by 2028 while navigating increased healthcare utilization costs and competitive pressures in the insurance sector.
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
Humana is one of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. with a focus on administering Medicare Advantage plans. The firm has built a niche specializing in government-sponsored programs, with nearly all its medical membership stemming from individual and group Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the military's Tricare program. The firm is also a leader in stand-alone prescription drug plans for seniors enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Humana offers employer-based plans primarily for small businesses along with specialty insurance offerings such as dental, vision, and life. Beyond medical insurance, the company provides other healthcare services, including primary-care services, at-home services, and pharmacy benefit management.
Read more on HUM →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 →