Compare Nucor Corporation (NUE) vs Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Nucor Corporation vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Nucor Corporation trades at $230.8 (market cap $52.55B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $489.47 (market cap $20.98B). The key difference: Nucor Corporation is far larger — about 2.5× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Nucor Corporation pays a 0.97% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NUE | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $52.55B | $20.98B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $266.35 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $131.78 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $57.19B | $23.06B |
Dividend Yield | 0.97% | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Nucor (NUE) trades at $233.2, down 1.44% over 24 hours, with technical indicators showing a bearish trend near key support at $228. The company reported mixed recent earnings, beating in Q1 2026 but missing in Q4 2025, with Q2 2026 results expected soon. Revenue has stabilized around $32.5B in 2025 after declines from 2022 peaks, while net margins compressed to 5.36%. Analyst sentiment remains positive with a 62.5% buy rating and $263.11 consensus target, supported by strong cash flow and a 53-year dividend growth streak.
NUE offers value with reasonable valuation multiples (P/E 22.89, P/S 1.55) and robust shareholder returns, but faces risks from steel demand volatility and margin pressure. The upcoming Q2 earnings report on July 27, 2026, will be critical for confirming growth trajectory amid economic uncertainties.
ULTA Beauty trades at $489.47, up 2.06% with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. The company maintains strong profitability with 39.33% gross margins and 47.45% ROE, though net margins have declined from 12.17% in 2023 to 10.63% in 2025. Recent Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations at $7.74 EPS versus $6.89 expected, while Q4 2025 missed. Analyst consensus remains strongly positive with 26 buy ratings and a $618.29 price target, representing 26% upside potential.
ULTA presents a compelling growth story with international expansion and digital engagement driving long-term potential. However, investors face risks from margin compression, competitive pressures in beauty retail, and volatile cash flow patterns. The stock's current valuation at 18.29x P/E appears reasonable given growth prospects, but requires monitoring of consumer spending trends and execution on strategic initiatives.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Nucor Corporation
Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company also produces direct reduced iron for use in its steel mills. The operations include international trading and sales companies that buy and sell steel and steel products manufactured by the company and others. The operating business segments are: steel mills, steel products and raw materials, the steel mills segment derives maximum revenue.
Read more on NUE →About Ulta Beauty Inc
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 →
