Ulta Beauty Inc vs Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF — how do they compare? Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $563.56 (market cap $24.12B), while Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF trades at $92.1 (market cap $384.60B). The key difference: Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF is far larger — about 15.9× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ulta Beauty Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ulta Beauty Inc for 92 Days and Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF for 47 Days on average.
| ULTA | VUG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $24.12B | $384.60B |
Volume | 457,598 | 5,662,307 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $706.82 | $92.64 |
52-Week Low | $450.75 | $70.00 |
Typical Hold Time | 92 Days | 47 Days |
Enterprise Value | $26.43B | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ULTA stock trades at $545.48, down 0.33% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings that beat estimates and raised its 2026 outlook, driven by e-commerce growth. Key financials show robust profitability with a 9.34% net income margin and 46.12% ROE, though revenue growth has moderated recently. Analyst sentiment is positive with a consensus price target of $624.93, implying potential upside from current levels.
The outlook for ULTA is favorable, supported by raised guidance and strategic initiatives in omnichannel and wellness categories. Investment opportunities include valuation expansion if execution meets raised expectations. Key risks include margin pressure from promotions, flat store traffic, and competitive pressures in the beauty retail space that could challenge future earnings growth.
VUG trades at $92.42, down 0.24% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages but showing overbought conditions on shorter-term RSI readings. The ETF maintains strong long-term performance credentials with 11-12% average annual returns since 2004, though current concentration in mega-cap tech stocks presents both opportunity and risk. Recent dividend activity shows minimal income generation with a $0.09 distribution scheduled for September 2026.
The growth-focused ETF offers exposure to market-leading companies but faces concentration risk with over 36% in three holdings. Long-term investors benefit from Vanguard's low-cost structure and historical outperformance, though near-term technical indicators suggest potential consolidation. Market sentiment remains positive for buy-and-hold strategies despite recent value stock outperformance in 2026.
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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 →VUG is an index-based ETF that tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, providing concentrated exposure to the largest and fastest-growing companies in the United States. It focuses on stocks with high growth potential across tech, communication, and consumer sectors, serving as a low-cost, high-conviction core holding for long-term capital appreciation.
Read more on VUG →