Institutional Buyers Surge as Ulta Beauty Ranks 461st in 220 Million Dollar Trading Volume Amid Analysts Optimistic Price Target Hikes

On August 11, 2025, Ulta Beauty (ULTA) closed with a 0.10% gain, trading on a volume of $220 million, ranking 461st in market activity. Institutional ownership dynamics highlighted renewed interest in the stock, as Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management increased its stake by 3.9% in Q1, holding 95,279 shares valued at $34.92 million. This followed similar moves by Mirae Asset Global Investments and Kingswood Wealth Advisors, which boosted holdings by 17.9% and 14.8% respectively during the same period.

The retailer reported Q2 results exceeding expectations, posting $2.85 billion in revenue and $6.70 EPS, outperforming estimates of $2.79 billion and $5.73. Analysts maintained a "Hold" consensus rating, with price targets ranging between $364 and $525. Notably, Raymond James Financial upgraded its price objective to $500, while UBS Group raised its target to $525. These adjustments reflect cautious optimism about Ulta's market position despite mixed sentiment among investors.

Strategic buying activity by institutional investors underscores confidence in Ulta's liquidity profile. The stock's 19.46 P/E ratio and 1.12 beta position it as a mid-cap growth play, though its 4.5% year-over-year revenue growth suggests moderate expansion. With 90.39% of shares held by institutional investors, market movements could remain sensitive to further position adjustments by major fund managers.

A backtested strategy of holding the top 500 high-volume stocks for one day returned 166.71% since 2022, outperforming the benchmark by 137.53%. This highlights the potential for liquidity-driven momentum strategies in volatile markets, where Ulta's daily trading activity places it within a cohort historically associated with strong short-term performance.