Seek Returns

AMZN vs. ULTA: Amazon.com vs. Ulta Beauty Stock Comparison

How do Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but AMZN is classified in Broadline Retail while ULTA is classified in Specialty Retail.

Company profile comparison for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
Profile ItemAMZNULTA
NameAmazon.com Inc.Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustryBroadline RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryBroadline RetailOther Specialty Retail
Market Capitalization2,803.85 billion USD27.57 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMay 15, 1997October 25, 2007
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AMZN
ULTA
GSPC
Loading price history…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricAMZNULTA
Total Return (1Y)9.80%29.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.05%19.79%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.46%11.09%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AMZN
ULTA
GSPC
Loading price history…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Amazon.com (AMZN) is heavily traded at around 38.50M shares per day, whereas Ulta Beauty (ULTA) sees a more moderate 548.94K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricAMZNULTA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.10%36.05%
Beta (5Y)1.450.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-55.73%-44.56%
Avg. Volume (3M)38.50M548.94K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
AMZN and ULTA are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricAMZNULTA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.160.69
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.261.01

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 46.12% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Amazon.com (AMZN) at 27.42% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ULTA.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

27.42%

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
AMZN
27.42%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

46.12%

Max
62.17%
ULTA
46.12%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 16.90% and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 9.34% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

16.90%

Max
16.94%
AMZN
16.90%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

9.34%

Max
16.94%
ULTA
9.34%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 13.90% and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 12.51% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.90%

Max
21.45%
AMZN
13.90%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

12.51%

Max
21.45%
ULTA
12.51%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricAMZNULTA
ROE (TTM)27.42%46.12%
ROA (TTM)6.62%14.84%
Net Margin (TTM)16.90%9.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.90%12.51%
Gross Margin (TTM)51.37%43.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Amazon.com (AMZN) at 12.38% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 9.71% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for AMZN.

Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Amazon.com (AMZN) at 29.66% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 1.18% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for AMZN.

Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricAMZNULTA
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.38%9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.73%6.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)29.66%1.18%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--2.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 1.35 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Amazon.com (AMZN) at 0.99 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AMZN.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.99

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
Q1
1.00
AMZN
0.99
Min
0.48

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.35

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
ULTA
1.35
Q1
1.00
Min
0.48
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Amazon.com (AMZN) at 0.50 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 0.95 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.50

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
AMZN
0.50
Min
0.01

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.95

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
ULTA
0.95
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricAMZNULTA
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.991.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.500.95
Net Debt / EBITDA1.041.19

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Amazon.com (AMZN) nor Ulta Beauty (ULTA) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
AMZN
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
ULTA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Amazon.com (AMZN) nor Ulta Beauty (ULTA) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
72.73%
Q3
32.44%
AMZN
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
72.73%
Q3
32.44%
ULTA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricAMZNULTA
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 20.96 and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 23.50 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

20.96

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
AMZN
20.96
Median
19.23
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

23.50

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
ULTA
23.50
Median
19.23
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 3.52 and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 2.13 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.52

Max
4.32
AMZN
3.52
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.13

Max
4.32
ULTA
2.13
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Amazon.com (AMZN) at 4.57 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 10.44 carries an above-peer premium to book — ULTA is pricier on assets.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

4.57

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
AMZN
4.57
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45

ULTA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.44

Max
10.96
ULTA
10.44
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45
Loading chart…
Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricAMZNULTA
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.9623.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.522.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.5710.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-1.24%3.32%