Ulta Beauty Inc vs Western Alliance Bancorporation — how do they compare? Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $562.39 (market cap $23.32B), while Western Alliance Bancorporation trades at $76.21 (market cap $8.11B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 2.9× Western Alliance Bancorporation's market cap, and Western Alliance Bancorporation pays a 2.26% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ulta Beauty Inc for 92 Days and Western Alliance Bancorporation for 3 Days on average.
| ULTA | WAL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.32B | $8.11B |
Volume | 321,683 | 1,479,953 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Financials |
52-Week High | $706.82 | $96.08 |
52-Week Low | $450.75 | $66.70 |
Typical Hold Time | 92 Days | 3 Days |
Enterprise Value | $25.63B | $9.63B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.26% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) trades at $74.35, down 2.29% on the day, with a bearish technical outlook despite strong fundamentals. The company maintains robust profitability with 25.43% net income margin and 13.43% ROE, supported by recent earnings beats in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026. Recent developments include the launch of WA VenueX digital asset platform and participation in major financial conferences, while institutional investors show mixed positioning.
WAL presents a compelling value opportunity with attractive valuation multiples (P/E 8.39, P/B 1.07) and strong analyst support (79% buy ratings, $84.33 consensus target). However, near-term risks include the recent Q2 2026 EPS miss, bearish technical indicators, and regulatory uncertainty around Fed policy changes affecting bank asset thresholds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Western Alliance Bancorporation is a top-performing bank holding company that operates a dual business model: high-touch regional banking and specialized national business lines. It serves niche industries—including technology, life sciences, and homeowners associations—providing sophisticated commercial lending and treasury solutions that bridge the gap between regional service and national scale.
Read more on WAL →