Compare Boston Beer Company Inc (SAM) vs Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Boston Beer Company Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Boston Beer Company Inc trades at $171.2 (market cap $1.73B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $562.39 (market cap $23.32B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 13.5× Boston Beer Company Inc's market cap, and Ulta Beauty Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Boston Beer Company Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Boston Beer Company Inc for 59 Days and Ulta Beauty Inc for 92 Days on average.
| SAM | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $1.73B | $23.32B |
Volume | 196,621 | 321,683 |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $260.05 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $161.08 | $450.75 |
Typical Hold Time | 59 Days | 92 Days |
Enterprise Value | $1.50B | $25.63B |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Boston Beer Company (SAM) trades at $168.16, down 1.3% with a neutral technical outlook. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 22.66 and P/S of 0.92, but negative net income margin of -3.64% and ROE of -8.61%. Recent earnings missed expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026, though Q4 2025 beat estimates. The company maintains positive operating cash flow of $270M in 2025 while expanding brand innovation with new product launches and marketing initiatives.
SAM faces headwinds from volume declines and cost pressures, but brand investments and new product categories offer growth potential. Analyst consensus is cautious with 72% hold ratings, though the $204.44 price target suggests 22% upside. Key risks include competitive pressures and shifting consumer preferences in the alcoholic beverage market.
ULTA trades at $564.21, up 3.09% today, with a bullish technical outlook and strong analyst support. The stock has shown robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 and Q2 2026 exceeding expectations, and the company raised its 2026 guidance. Revenue growth is steady, though net margins have softened slightly from 12.17% in 2023 to 10.63% in 2025. Valuation ratios like a P/E of 19.86 and P/S of 1.86 appear reasonable relative to profitability metrics such as a 46.12% ROE.
The investment case hinges on execution of raised guidance and e-commerce momentum, but risks include margin pressure and flat store traffic. With a consensus price target of $624.93 implying ~11% upside and no sell ratings from analysts, the stock presents a growth opportunity tempered by near-term consumer and competitive challenges.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Boston Beer Company Inc
Boston Beer is a leader in U.S. high-end malt beverages and adjacent categories, with strong positions in craft beer, hard cider, and hard seltzer. The firm sells an array of flavor variants and package sizes, predominantly centered around four priority brands: Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea, and Truly Hard Seltzer. Its drinks are produced in both company-owned breweries as well as through third-party contract arrangements, and while the company primarily goes to market through independent wholesalers (as mandated by law), it operates a fairly large salesforce to induce demand across the value chain (distributors, retailers, and drinkers). The preponderance of revenue is generated domestically.
Read more on SAM →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 →
