MasterCard Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? MasterCard Inc trades at $546.79 (market cap $483.71B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $488 (market cap $20.98B). The key difference: MasterCard Inc is far larger — about 23.1× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and MasterCard Inc pays a 0.64% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MA | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $483.71B | $20.98B |
Volume | 4,635,698 | — |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $598.96 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $471.55 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $494.45B | $23.06B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Mastercard (MA) trades at $543.6, down 1.44% on the day, with strong technical support near $540 and bullish moving average signals. The company reported robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $4.60 exceeding expectations of $4.41. Revenue grew to $32.79B in 2025, and net income margin remains high at 45.88%. Analysts maintain a strong buy consensus with a $634.27 price target, reflecting 16.7% upside potential.
Outlook remains positive driven by payment volume growth and AI initiatives, but risks include competitive disruption from stablecoins and high valuation multiples. Institutional ownership trends show continued accumulation, supporting bullish sentiment. The stock's current price is within 5% of recent highs, indicating potential for consolidation before further gains.
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
Latest headlines on both assets
Mastercard Incorporated provides financial transaction processing services. The Company offers payment processing services for credit and debit cards, electronic cash, automated teller machines, and travelers checks. Mastercard serves customers worldwide.
Read more on MA →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 →