Ulta Beauty Inc vs Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $533.35 (market cap $23.27B), while Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $61. The key difference: Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ulta Beauty Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ULTA | XLE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.27B | — |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | — |
52-Week High | $706.82 | $62.57 |
52-Week Low | $450.75 | $42.33 |
Enterprise Value | $25.35B | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades at $537.69, down 2.0% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $618.29. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74 exceeding expectations, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.3B for 2025. The company maintains strong profitability with a net margin of 9.36% and ROE of 47.45%, supported by an omnichannel strategy highlighted in recent news.
The stock presents a buy opportunity with Wall Street optimism (56.53% buy ratings) and solid fundamentals, but risks include margin compression from rising costs and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include the Q2 2026 earnings report, with expected EPS of $6.17, and the transition from the Target partnership, viewed as a growth opportunity by analysts.
XLE trades at $60.87, up 1.13% with strong technical momentum as moving averages signal bullish conditions. The energy ETF has rallied approximately 40% over the past year, driven by elevated oil prices and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Recent earnings from major holdings like ExxonMobil and Chevron show strong profit growth, though valuation metrics remain undisclosed in current data.
Outlook remains positive with energy sector leadership in 2026 performance, though geopolitical risks and high volatility present challenges. The ETF's low 0.08% expense ratio and concentrated exposure to oil giants offer efficient energy market access, but dependence on Middle East stability creates significant price sensitivity.
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 →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes companies that have been identified as energy companies by the GICS®, including securities of companies from the following industries: oil, gas and consumable fuels; and energy equipment and services. It is non-diversified.
Read more on XLE →