iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF trades at $100.92, while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $535.09 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ulta Beauty Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| IEFA | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $101.09 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $84.72 | $450.75 |
Market Cap | — | $23.27B |
Enterprise Value | — | $25.35B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
IEFA trades at $100.895, up 0.36% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong trend momentum indicated by ADX. The fund focuses on developed international markets excluding the U.S. and Canada, offering diversification benefits and a dividend yield of 3.30% as noted by The Motley Fool on June 13, 2026. Recent news highlights its cost efficiency compared to peers like EFA, with an expense ratio of 0.07%.
Outlook is positive due to defensive inflows and Fed cut potential, but risks include capped upside from covered call strategies and concentration in non-U.S. markets. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with some favoring broader ETFs like VXUS for higher returns.
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades at $537.69, down 2.0% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $618.29. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74 exceeding expectations, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.3B for 2025. The company maintains strong profitability with a net margin of 9.36% and ROE of 47.45%, supported by an omnichannel strategy highlighted in recent news.
The stock presents a buy opportunity with Wall Street optimism (56.53% buy ratings) and solid fundamentals, but risks include margin compression from rising costs and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include the Q2 2026 earnings report, with expected EPS of $6.17, and the transition from the Target partnership, viewed as a growth opportunity by analysts.
Trailing returns across standard periods
IEFA tracks the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index, offering broad exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks in developed markets across Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. It serves as a low-cost core holding for international diversification, excluding the U.S. and Canada.
Read more on IEFA →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 →