Ulta Beauty

ULTA

Market cap $29.6B

Ulta Beauty stock had a banner year last year. It would have been one of Berkshire Hathaway's best performers had it not been sold.

Zacks highlights how Indivior, FIGS and Ulta Beauty delivered outsized gains as its ranks, recommendations and focus lists beat a volatile market.

Men's makeup is emerging as one of beauty's most lucrative growth areas, fueled by Gen Z men, social media and shifting attitudes toward masculinity. Global men's grooming sales are expected to climb over $85 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights, as skin-care routines are pulling more men into cosmetics through repeat purchases.

2025 was a rocky year for the retail sector. Retailers had to play a game of dodgeball against the tariff schedule while dealing with high rates, lingering inflation, and floundering consumer sentiment.

ULTA, AEO, GAP and FIVE stand out as retail picks for 2026, driven by brand strength, loyalty and innovation.

United Natural Foods leads a screen of five efficient stocks that beat peers on key ratios, highlighting names investors may consider for stronger returns.

As of quarter end, Invesco Global Opportunities Fund was well-balanced across 180 small- and mid-cap stocks from around the world, with approximately 60% of the fund invested in the US and 37% across non-US. The largest sector overweights compared to the benchmark were industrials at +6.4% and financials at -5.3%. During the quarter, we added and removed several stocks to reflect our desired positioning and upgrade the portfolio.

Ulta Beauty is well positioned for continued upside amid a likely 2026 market rotation favoring lagging retail sectors. ULTA has accelerated comp sales growth, raised FY25 guidance, and delivered robust Q3 results with 13% y/y revenue growth and 6.4% comp sales. Key drivers include strength in fragrances, successful new product launches, heavy marketing investment, and the launch of UB Marketplace expanding third-party offerings.

ULTA, PATH and SLDE made it to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) momentum stocks list on December 31, 2025.

The US economy continued to show resilience, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing at an annualised rate of 4.3% in the third quarter – its fastest pace in about two years. Household spending was the dominant driver (up 3.5%), underscoring the strength of the American consumer.