Medpace Holdings Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Medpace Holdings Inc trades at $519.93 (market cap $15.08B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $488 (market cap $20.98B). 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 | $15.08B | $20.98B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $620.59 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $308.88 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $14.55B | $23.06B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
MEDP trades at $527.93, down 1.82% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The company demonstrates strong profitability with 17.19% net margins and 77.25% ROE, though valuation ratios appear elevated with a P/E of 33.83. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, and cash flow is projected to improve significantly in 2026. However, the stock faces headwinds from ongoing class action lawsuits and mixed analyst sentiment with 73.69% hold ratings.
MEDP presents a mixed investment case with strong fundamental performance offset by legal overhangs and premium valuation. The company's consistent earnings beats and projected cash flow improvement support upside potential, but investors should weigh the legal risks and cautious analyst stance against the robust operational metrics.
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
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 →