Ulta Beauty Beats Q4 Expectations but Lowers 2025 Guidance

New CEO Kecia Steelman outlines strategic shifts as Ulta faces competitive pressures and forecasts slower growth.

Ulta's Q4 earnings per share reached $8.46, surpassing Wall Street's forecast of $7.12, while net sales hit $3.49 billion, slightly above expectations.
Despite strong holiday performance, full-year 2025 guidance predicts flat to 1% comparable sales growth, below analysts' 1.2% forecast.
The company expects annual earnings per share between $22.50 and $22.90, missing the $23.47 projected by analysts.
CEO Kecia Steelman, in her first earnings call, introduced the 'Ulta Beauty Unleashed' strategy, focusing on digital growth, exclusives, and operational optimization.
Ulta's market share declined for the first time in 2024, as competition from Sephora, Amazon, and mass retailers intensified.