Medpace Holdings Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Medpace Holdings Inc trades at $601.1 (market cap $16.90B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $534.98 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Medpace Holdings Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ulta Beauty Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MEDP | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $16.90B | $23.27B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $620.59 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $393.42 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $16.52B | $25.35B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
MEDP trades at $600.00, down 0.4% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $4.25, and raised full-year guidance. Revenue growth is robust, with 2026 projected at $2.8 billion, though valuation multiples like a P/E of 35.58 and P/B of 38.95 are elevated. Net cash flow is expected to turn positive in 2026, and institutional activity is mixed, with some funds increasing stakes while others trim positions.
Outlook is positive due to earnings momentum and record bookings, but risks include high valuation sensitivity and a shareholder lawsuit investigation. Analyst consensus is a $599.57 price target with a 'Hold' bias, suggesting limited near-term upside from current levels amid growth-priced expectations.
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
Latest headlines on both assets
Medpace Holdings, Inc. is a full-service clinical contract research organization (CRO) that provides comprehensive and scientifically-driven clinical development services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. The company specializes in conducting global clinical trials for new drug and medical device approvals. Medpace's model emphasizes therapeutic expertise and a highly integrated approach to accelerate the clinical development process for its clients.
Read more on MEDP →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 →