Philip Morris International Inc. vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Philip Morris International Inc. trades at $186.66 (market cap $287.92B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $542.26 (market cap $24.12B). The key difference: Philip Morris International Inc. is far larger — about 11.9× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Philip Morris International Inc. pays a 3.18% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PM | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $287.92B | $24.12B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $200.17 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $144.33 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $331.04B | $26.43B |
Dividend Yield | 3.18% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Philip Morris International (PM) trades at $185.71, up 1.74% with a bearish technical signal. Recent earnings show beats in Q1 and Q2 2026, but the company cut its 2026 profit forecast due to a $500 million impairment and cost pressures. Fundamentals remain strong with a 25.56% net margin and $11.35B net income in 2025, though high debt and illicit market growth in Europe pose risks. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $211.17 price target.
The stock offers a solid dividend and brand strength via IQOS, but faces headwinds from currency swings, energy costs, and regulatory challenges. Upside depends on execution amid margin pressure, with the current price near the low end of analyst targets suggesting cautious optimism for long-term investors.
ULTA Beauty trades at $549.23, down 2.64% today, amid mixed signals. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving averages, while fundamentals reveal steady revenue growth to $11.30B in 2025, though net income margin has softened to 9.34%. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, and the company raised full-year guidance, yet some segments like cosmetics showed flat performance.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic, with a consensus price target of $653.14 implying significant upside. Key opportunities include digital growth and AI integration potential, but risks involve competitive pressures and reliance on discretionary consumer spending. Analyst sentiment remains predominantly bullish, supporting a favorable risk-reward profile for long-term investors.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company with a product portfolio primarily consisting of cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor and oral nicotine products, which are sold in markets outside the United States. The company diversified away from nicotine products with the acquisition of Vectura, a provider of innovative inhaled drug delivery solutions, in 2021.
Read more on PM →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 →