Finance
Ulta Beauty shines after annual forecast hike on steady demand, UK expansion
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 28, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 28, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Ulta Beauty raises its annual forecast due to strong demand and UK expansion, expecting $12 billion in sales. Quarterly sales beat estimates at $2.79 billion.
(Reuters) -Ulta Beauty raised its annual sales and profit forecast after topping quarterly sales estimates on Thursday, banking on steady demand for makeup and skincare brands at its stores as well as lower inventory losses.
Shares of the company were up 6% in trading after the bell.
The company saw stronger store sales, fueled by younger shoppers drawn to trendy and affordable brands such as Elf Beauty.
The cosmetics retailer also expanded internationally with its July acquisition of UK high street chain Space NK.
Ulta has been adding celebrity-owned labels, such as Rihanna's Fenty Beauty, to its shelves and ramping up digital and marketing investments to deepen shopper engagement.
Second-quarter sales came in at $2.79 billion, beating estimates of $2.67 billion, as per data compiled by LSEG.
It now expects annual net sales to be in the range of $12 billion to $12.1 billion, compared with its prior forecast of $11.5 billion to $11.7 billion.
The forecast upgrade comes amid global trade uncertainty, with executives warning that shifting U.S. policies have weighed on consumer and business sentiment.
Luxury cosmetic maker Estee Lauder last week flagged a $100 million tariff hit and said it would trim inventory and promotions to curb rising costs.
"Our outlook for the remainder of the year reflects both the strength of our year-to-date performance and our caution around how consumer demand may evolve in the second half of the year. While near-term uncertainty persists, we're staying focused on what we can control," said Ulta CEO Kecia Steelman.
Lower e-commerce shipping costs and reduced inventory losses also helped Ulta offset supply chain pressures.
Quarterly gross profit rose 11.6% to $1.10 billion. The company now expects annual earnings of $23.85 to $24.30 per share, up from $22.65 to $23.20 apiece.
(Reporting by Aatrayee Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
Inventory loss refers to the reduction in inventory value due to theft, damage, or obsolescence, impacting a company's financial performance.
Consumer demand is the desire of consumers to purchase goods and services at given prices, influenced by factors like income, preferences, and market conditions.
Market sentiment refers to the overall attitude of investors toward a particular security or financial market, often influenced by news, reports, and economic indicators.
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