IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. trades at $569.65 (market cap $46.22B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $531.85 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Ulta Beauty Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| IDXX | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $46.22B | $23.27B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $766.68 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $526.44 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $47.12B | $25.35B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) trades at $570.58, down 4.23% over 24 hours, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamentals. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q2 2026 EPS of $4.27 surpassing the $3.94 expectation. Revenue growth remains robust, supported by a 74.21% ROE and expanding diagnostic offerings. Recent news highlights product expansion, including a dual-species cardiac test, reinforcing its market leadership in veterinary diagnostics.
The outlook is positive, driven by durable competitive advantages and international growth potential. However, elevated valuation multiples and competitive pressures pose risks. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $683.33 price target, suggesting significant upside from current levels, though investors should monitor execution on guidance and macroeconomic headwinds.
ULTA stock trades at $532.14, down 3.01% today, amid mixed technical signals with a bullish moving average trend but neutral oscillators. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74, beating expectations, and maintains strong profitability with a 39.33% gross margin and 47.45% ROE. Recent news highlights Ulta's omnichannel growth strategy and the end of its Target partnership, viewed as a potential revenue opportunity by analysts.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $618.29, representing 16% upside, supported by 56.53% analyst buy ratings. Risks include margin compression, with net income margin projected to drop to 9.35% in 2026, and volatile cash flows, as net cash flow turned negative in 2025. Investors should weigh strong fundamentals against competitive and execution risks in the retail sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Idexx Laboratories primarily develops, manufactures, and distributes diagnostic products, equipment, and services for pets and livestock. Its key product lines include single-use canine and feline test kits that veterinarians can employ in the office, benchtop chemistry and hematology analyzers for test-panel analysis on-site, reference lab services, and tests to detect and manage disease in livestock. The firm also offers vet practice management software and consulting services to animal hospitals. Idexx gets about 38% of its revenue from outside the United States.
Read more on IDXX →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 →