Matson Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Matson Inc trades at $216.37 (market cap $6.41B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $518.5 (market cap $22.87B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 3.6× Matson Inc's market cap, and Matson Inc pays a 0.71% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MATX | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $6.41B | $22.87B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $223.55 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $88.05 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $7.01B | $24.95B |
Dividend Yield | 0.71% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Matson (MATX) trades at $214.45, up 2.76% with strong earnings momentum after beating Q2 2026 EPS estimates of $3.79 with $4.27 actual. The stock shows bullish technical signals with support at $200 and resistance at $209. Fundamentally, the company maintains solid profitability with 13.41% net margin and 17.21% ROE, supported by raised full-year guidance after strong Q2 results.
MATX presents a compelling investment case with 27.3% upside to consensus price target of $265, supported by 66.7% analyst buy ratings. Key risks include exposure to Trans-Pacific trade volatility and competitive shipping markets, but resilient consumer demand and premium China service position the company for continued growth.
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
Matson, Inc. is an American shipping and logistics company primarily operating in the Pacific. The company provides ocean transportation services, including container, automobile, and general cargo, particularly between the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam. Matson also offers logistics services, including warehousing, less-than-container load (LCL) consolidation, and supply chain management, making it a critical service provider for businesses operating across the Pacific region.
Read more on MATX →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 →