Lululemon Athletica Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Lululemon Athletica Inc trades at $114.72 (market cap $13.25B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $491.27 (market cap $20.98B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is the larger of the two by market cap. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LULU | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.25B | $20.98B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $224.03 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $105.43 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $13.87B | $23.06B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lululemon trades at $116.79, up 0.4% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a 13.03% net margin and 32.03% ROE. Recent earnings beats and a $30M investment in nylon recycling startup Syntetica highlight growth initiatives, though the stock faces headwinds from North American weakness and a class-action lawsuit over tariff costs. The current price sits near pivot point resistance at $117.
The outlook is mixed: valuation metrics like a 9.42 P/E suggest potential upside to the $129.29 consensus target, but bearish technicals and competitive pressures pose risks. Investment opportunity lies in robust cash flow and buyback potential, while key risks include brand controversies and macroeconomic sensitivity.
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
Lululemon Athletica Inc. designs, distributes, and markets athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories for women, men, and girls. Lululemon offers pants, shorts, tops, and jackets for both leisure and athletic activities such as yoga and running. The company also sells fitness accessories, such as bags, yoga mats, and equipment. Lululemon sells its products through more than 600 company-owned stores in 18 countries, e-commerce, outlets, and wholesale accounts. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.
Read more on LULU →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 →