Compare SMX Security Matters plc (SMX) vs Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
SMX Security Matters plc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? SMX Security Matters plc trades at $16.48 (market cap $17.04M), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $531.85 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 1365.6× SMX Security Matters plc's market cap, and Ulta Beauty Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, SMX Security Matters plc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| SMX | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.04M | $23.27B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $103.71K | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $12.87 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | -$14.29M | $25.35B |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
SMX (Security Matters) trades at $16.16, up 2.28% on the day, but technical indicators signal a bearish trend with the stock near its pivot point. The company reported a net loss of $169.18M for 2025, with negative profitability metrics (ROE -819.22%), though recent news highlights a strengthened balance sheet and progress in commercializing its materials traceability platform amid growing regulatory demand for recycled plastics.
The outlook remains high-risk given persistent losses and cash burn, offset by potential from regulatory tailwinds in recycling. Investors face significant execution risk, but the company's niche in material verification could capture value if commercialization accelerates. The stock's viability hinges on reversing operational losses and achieving sustainable revenue growth.
ULTA stock trades at $532.14, down 3.01% today, amid mixed technical signals with a bullish moving average trend but neutral oscillators. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74, beating expectations, and maintains strong profitability with a 39.33% gross margin and 47.45% ROE. Recent news highlights Ulta's omnichannel growth strategy and the end of its Target partnership, viewed as a potential revenue opportunity by analysts.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $618.29, representing 16% upside, supported by 56.53% analyst buy ratings. Risks include margin compression, with net income margin projected to drop to 9.35% in 2026, and volatile cash flows, as net cash flow turned negative in 2025. Investors should weigh strong fundamentals against competitive and execution risks in the retail sector.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About SMX Security Matters plc
SMX Security Matters plc is a digital authentication and tracking technology company that uses a chemical-based, invisible marker system to trace and verify products across global supply chains. Their technology creates a 'digital twin' of physical products, used for quality control, counterfeiting prevention, and ensuring sustainability compliance from raw materials to final sale. The company's solutions are applied across various industries, including precious materials, luxury goods, and fast-moving consumer goods.
Read more on SMX →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.
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