Ulta Beauty Inc vs State Street PDR S&P Retail ETF — how do they compare? Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $542.13 (market cap $23.59B), while State Street PDR S&P Retail ETF trades at $89.79. The key difference: State Street PDR S&P Retail ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ulta Beauty Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ULTA | XRT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.59B | — |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $706.82 | $92.35 |
52-Week Low | $450.75 | $77.28 |
Enterprise Value | $25.67B | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ULTA stock trades at $565.15, up 4.89% in the last session, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong support at $547. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74, beating estimates, but faces margin compression with net income margin declining to 10.63% in 2025. Recent news highlights the end of its Target partnership as a potential growth opportunity, per BofA analysis on July 29, 2026.
The stock offers upside to the consensus price target of $618.29, with 57% of analysts rating it a buy, but risks include competitive pressures and volatile cash flows, with net cash flow turning negative in 2025. Investors should weigh robust ROE of 47.45% against elevated P/B of 9.41 and RSI levels suggesting overbought conditions.
XRT trades at $90.82, up 1.08% with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The ETF shows neutral oscillators like RSI at 57.83, while ADX indicates a strong trend. Support lies at $90 and resistance at $91. Recent retail sales growth and positive economic data provide a favorable backdrop, though sentiment is mixed amid inflation concerns.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with retail sector momentum, but risks include consumer sentiment pressures and valuation headwinds. The ETF's diversification offers stability, yet macroeconomic shifts could impact performance. Investors should weigh technical strength against fundamental uncertainties in the retail space.
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 →XRT is an equal-weighted ETF that tracks the U.S. retail sector. It provides diversified exposure to apparel, automotive, and online retailers, including well-known names like Amazon, Target, and Costco.
Read more on XRT →