Ulta Beauty's Q2 26 Earnings Driven by New Store Contribution and Acquisition of Space NK

Ulta Beauty's Q2 revenue increased 9.3% YoY to $2.8bn, driven by higher comparable sales and new store contribution. Operating income rose 4.8% YoY to $344.9m, and net income increased to $260.9m. The company opened 24 new stores and acquired Space NK, expanding its operations in the UK and Ireland.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) has reported robust second-quarter (Q2) financial results, with revenue and earnings outperforming expectations. The company's Q2 revenue increased by 9.3% year-over-year (YoY) to $2.79 billion, driven by higher comparable sales and new store contributions [2]. Operating income rose by 4.8% YoY to $344.9 million, and net income increased to $260.9 million [2].

Ulta Beauty opened 24 new stores during the quarter and acquired British beauty retailer Space NK, expanding its operations in the UK and Ireland [2]. These moves contributed to the company's strong performance, with comparable sales increasing by 6.7% YoY, driven by a 3.7% increase in transactions and a 2.9% increase in average ticket size [2].

The company's earnings per share (EPS) for Q2 came in at $5.78, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.03 per share. This represents a quarterly earnings surprise of +14.91% [1]. Over the last four quarters, Ulta Beauty has exceeded consensus EPS estimates four times [1].

Looking ahead, Ulta Beauty has raised its annual forecast for net sales to $12 billion to $12.1 billion, up from its previous range of $11.5 billion to $11.7 billion. The company expects earnings per share of $23.85 to $24.30 for the full year, up from its previous range of $22.65 to $23.20 [2].

The company's stock has added about 22.7% since the beginning of the year, compared to the S&P 500's gain of 10.2% [1]. The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) suggests that the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future, based on favorable earnings estimate revisions [1].

References:
[1] https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/ulta-beauty-ulta-surpasses-q2-211502910.html
[2] https://chainstoreage.com/ulta-beauty-q2-sales-rise-93-lifts-full-year-forecast