SYSCO Corporation vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? SYSCO Corporation trades at $81.33 (market cap $38.63B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $489.47 (market cap $20.98B). The key difference: SYSCO Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and SYSCO Corporation pays a 2.72% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| SYY | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $38.63B | $20.98B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $91.16 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $69.30 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $52.11B | $23.06B |
Dividend Yield | 2.72% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
SYY trades at $81.22, down 0.58% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings, missing EPS expectations of $0.945 with $0.94, but maintains strong revenue growth, reaching $81.37B in 2025. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $84.75 price target, and the upcoming Q4 2026 earnings report on August 4 is a key catalyst. Recent news highlights operational efficiency gains and AI integration, including a Newsweek AI Impact Award.
SYY presents a moderate buy opportunity with upside to the consensus target, supported by stable cash flow and dividend payments. Risks include thin net margins of 2.08% and elevated debt levels, with long-term debt at $11.51B. The stock's valuation is reasonable with a P/E of 22.44, but margin pressure and economic sensitivity in the food distribution sector warrant caution.
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
Latest headlines on both assets
Sysco is the largest U.S. food-service distributor, boasting 17% market share of the highly fragmented food-service distribution industry. Sysco distributes over 400,000 food and nonfood products to restaurants (63% of revenue), healthcare facilities (8%), education and government buildings (8%), travel and leisure (7%), and other locations (14%) where individuals consume away-from-home meals. In fiscal 2022, 82% of the firm's revenue was U.S.-based, with 7% from Canada, 4% from the U.K., 2% from France, and 4% other.
Read more on SYY →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 →