Ulta Beauty Inc vs Western Union Co — how do they compare? Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $562.39 (market cap $23.32B), while Western Union Co trades at $6.33 (market cap $1.91B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is far larger — about 12.2× Western Union Co's market cap, and Western Union Co pays a 15.38% 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 Union Co for 95 Days on average.
| ULTA | WU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.32B | $1.91B |
Volume | 321,683 | 6,459,194 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Financials |
52-Week High | $706.82 | $10.28 |
52-Week Low | $450.75 | $5.90 |
Typical Hold Time | 92 Days | 95 Days |
Enterprise Value | $25.63B | $1.81B |
Dividend Yield | — | 15.38% |
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 Union (WU) trades at $6.11, down 0.49% on the day, with bearish technical signals and mixed earnings performance. The stock shows attractive valuation metrics with a P/E of 4.93 and P/S of 0.48, while maintaining strong profitability with 9.79% net margins. Recent developments include the pending Intermex acquisition and expansion of retail partnerships, though earnings misses in Q1 and Q2 2026 raise execution concerns. Cash flow trends show volatility with a $469M net outflow in 2025.
WU presents a value opportunity with deep valuation discounts but faces execution risks amid digital transformation. The $200M cost-cutting plan and Intermex acquisition offer potential upside if successfully implemented, while competitive pressures and integration challenges pose downside risks. Analyst consensus at $6.86 suggests modest upside from current levels, though the mixed rating distribution reflects uncertainty about the turnaround strategy.
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 Union provides domestic and international money transfers through its global network of about 500,000 outside agents. It is the largest money transfer company in the world and one of only a few companies with a truly global agent network.
Read more on WU →