Ulta Beauty Inc vs Williams-Sonoma, Inc. — how do they compare? Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $489.47 (market cap $20.98B), while Williams-Sonoma, Inc. trades at $223.2 (market cap $26.30B). The key difference: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. pays a 1.36% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ULTA | WSM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $20.98B | $26.30B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $706.82 | $240.06 |
52-Week Low | $450.75 | $168.64 |
Enterprise Value | $23.06B | $27.14B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.36% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) trades at $221.13, down 3.19% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company maintains strong profitability with a 13.81% net margin and 54.01% ROE, though revenue has shown volatility. Recent earnings beats and consistent dividend payments highlight operational strength amid consumer discretionary sector challenges noted in recent financial media coverage.
The outlook is mixed with solid fundamentals and analyst consensus near current price, but risks include consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pressures. Upside potential exists if earnings momentum continues, yet macroeconomic headwinds and sector underperformance pose near-term challenges for shareholder returns.
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 →With a wide retail and direct-to-consumer presence, Williams-Sonoma is a leader in the $300 billion domestic home category, focused on expanding its exposure in the B2B, marketplace, and franchise areas. Namesake Williams-Sonoma (175 stores) offers high-end cooking essentials, while Pottery Barn (189) provides casual home accessories. Brand extensions include Pottery Barn Kids (52) and PBteen. West Elm (121) is an emerging concept for young professionals, and Rejuvenation (9) offers lighting and house parts. Williams-Sonoma also has a business-to-business team that supports projects that range from residential to large-scale commercial.
Read more on WSM →