PPG Industries, Inc. vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? PPG Industries, Inc. trades at $117.3 (market cap $25.79B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $475 (market cap $21.04B). The key difference: PPG Industries, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and PPG Industries, Inc. pays a 2.56% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PPG | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $25.79B | $21.04B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $131.56 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $94.34 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $31.90B | $23.12B |
Dividend Yield | 2.56% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
PPG Industries trades at $115.71, down 1.41% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and mixed earnings history. The company reported strong 2025 results with $15.88B revenue and $1.58B net income, and recently raised its dividend to $0.74 per share, reflecting confidence in cash flow. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $132.20 price target, though Q2 2026 earnings due July 28 are key for near-term direction.
The outlook is positive given solid profitability and dividend growth, but risks include economic sensitivity and debt levels. Upside potential exists if Q2 earnings beat expectations, while a miss could pressure the stock. The current valuation at a P/E of 16.58 appears reasonable relative to historical performance.
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.
Trailing returns across standard periods
PPG is a global producer of coatings. The company is the world's largest producer of coatings after the purchase of selected Akzo Nobel assets. PPG's products are sold to a wide variety of end users, including the automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial markets. The company has a footprint in many regions around the globe, with less than half of sales coming from North America in recent years. PPG is focused on its coatings and specialty products and expansion into emerging regions, as exemplified by the Comex acquisition.
Read more on PPG →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 →