Compare Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA) vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Ulta Beauty Inc vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — how do they compare? Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $542.26 (market cap $23.17B), while Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated trades at $520 (market cap $134.06B). The key difference: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is far larger — about 5.8× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ulta Beauty Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ULTA | VRTX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.17B | $134.06B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Health |
52-Week High | $706.82 | $557.96 |
52-Week Low | $450.75 | $376.62 |
Enterprise Value | $25.48B | $128.18B |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ULTA Beauty trades at $549.23, down 2.64% today, but maintains strong technical support near $539-$530. The company reported solid Q2 2026 earnings with EPS of $6.55 beating expectations of $6.22, while raising full-year guidance. Revenue growth continues at 8.9% year-over-year, though profit margins show slight compression from 12.17% in 2023 to 10.63% in 2025. Analyst consensus remains bullish with a $644 price target representing 17% upside potential.
ULTA presents a compelling growth story with consistent earnings beats and strong institutional support, but faces margin pressure and competitive retail headwinds. The stock's current valuation at 20.54 P/E appears reasonable given its 46.12% ROE and market leadership position. Key risks include consumer spending sensitivity and execution challenges in maintaining growth momentum.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) trades at $528.9, down 3.15% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamentals. The stock shows robust profitability with an 86% gross margin and 35% net margin, supported by $12.0B revenue in 2025. Recent acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals expands its pipeline, while analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with an 85.7% buy rating and a $548.78 price target.
Outlook is positive driven by revenue growth and pipeline expansion, but risks include clinical setbacks and competition. The stock offers upside to the consensus target, with cash flow recovery in 2025 signaling operational strength. Investors should weigh high valuation multiples against earnings consistency and market sentiment.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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Latest headlines on both assets
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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 →About Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. In addition to its focus on cystic fibrosis, Vertex is diversifying its pipeline through gene-editing therapies such as CTX001 for beta-thalassemia and sickle-cell disease, small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using non-opioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
Read more on VRTX →
