Kohl's Corporation vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Kohl's Corporation trades at $18.96 (market cap $2.10B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $535.02 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 11.1× Kohl's Corporation's market cap, and Kohl's Corporation pays a 2.7% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KSS | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $2.10B | $23.27B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $24.71 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $11.72 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $8.20B | $25.35B |
Dividend Yield | 2.7% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Kohl's (KSS) trades at $18.96, down 0.42% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The stock shows low valuation multiples (P/E of 7.77, P/S of 0.14) amid declining revenue, which fell to $16.22B in 2025. Recent Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations, and the company announced a $0.13 dividend for June 2026, alongside leadership changes including a new COO appointment in September 2026.
The outlook is mixed: low valuations and earnings beats offer value, but persistent sales declines and thin net margins near 1.77% pose risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $16.75 price target below the current price, reflecting concerns over competitive pressures and cash flow volatility. Investors should weigh cost-cutting progress against macroeconomic headwinds in retail.
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
Kohl's operates 1,165 department stores in 49 states that sell moderately priced private-label and national brand clothing, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, and home furnishings. Most of these stores are in strip centers. Kohl's also operates a large digital sales business. Women's apparel is Kohl's largest category, having generated 27% of its 2021 sales. The retailer, headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, opened its first department store in 1962.
Read more on KSS →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 →