Ulta Beauty Inc vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $564.83 (market cap $24.12B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $209.48 (market cap $83.98B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is far larger — about 3.5× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Waste Management, Inc. pays a 1.8% 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 Waste Management, Inc. for 130 Days on average.
| ULTA | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $24.12B | $83.98B |
Volume | 457,598 | 2,182,180 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Industrials |
52-Week High | $706.82 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $450.75 | $196.77 |
Typical Hold Time | 92 Days | 130 Days |
Enterprise Value | $26.43B | $106.78B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.8% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ULTA Beauty trades at $545.48, down 0.33% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings beat and raised 2026 guidance, though Q4 2025 missed expectations. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 20.55 and P/S of 1.92, with robust profitability including 46.12% ROE. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 59.57% buy ratings and a $624.93 price target, representing 14.6% upside potential.
ULTA presents a compelling growth story with e-commerce momentum and expansion into wellness categories, though margin compression and flat traffic pose near-term challenges. The stock offers attractive upside to analyst targets but faces execution risks amid consumer spending pressures. Institutional ownership remains strong with recent buying activity from major funds.
WM trades at $208.94, up 0.51% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including 11.12% net income margin and 29.83% ROE. Recent earnings show beats in Q1 and Q2 2026, while Q4 2025 missed estimates. Revenue grew to $25.20B in 2025, and cash flow from operations remains robust at $6.04B. Analyst sentiment is positive with 54% buy ratings and no sell recommendations.
The outlook is supported by steady revenue growth and high profitability, but risks include elevated debt levels and competitive pressures. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 29.72 may limit near-term upside, though institutional backing and dividend payments provide stability. Investors should weigh solid cash generation against debt concerns and market volatility.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Waste Management ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating approximately 260 active landfills and about 340 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Read more on WM →