AZO vs. ULTA: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at AZO and ULTA, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
AZO dominates in value with a market cap of 64.78 billion USD, eclipsing ULTA’s 18.39 billion USD by roughly 3.52×.
ULTA carries a higher beta at 1.06, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while AZO remains steadier at 0.44.
| Symbol | AZO | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AutoZone, Inc. | Ulta Beauty, Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Specialty Retail | Specialty Retail |
| CEO | Mr. Philip B. Daniele III | Ms. Kecia L. Steelman |
| Price | 3,872.6 USD | 407.241 USD |
| Market Cap | 64.78 billion USD | 18.39 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.44 | 1.06 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | April 2, 1991 | October 25, 2007 |
| ADR | No | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of AZO and ULTA over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of AZO and ULTA based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- AZO has a negative P/B ratio of -14.98, indicating its liabilities exceed assets (negative equity). ULTA, with a P/B of 7.57, maintains positive shareholder equity.
| Symbol | AZO | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 25.62 | 15.69 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.13 | 1.31 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 3.47 | 1.63 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | -14.98 | 7.57 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 32.17 | 19.15 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 18.37 | 11.07 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 4.12 | 1.74 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | 38.16 | 20.42 |
Dividend Comparison
Neither AZO nor ULTA currently pays a dividend yield; this often indicates they are reinvesting earnings for growth, prioritizing long-term expansion over immediate cash returns to shareholders.
| Symbol | AZO | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of AZO and ULTA, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- AZO’s current ratio of 0.84 signals a possible liquidity squeeze, while ULTA at 1.70 comfortably covers its short-term obligations.
- Both AZO (quick ratio 0.13) and ULTA (quick ratio 0.60) fall below 0.8, meaning their most liquid assets—excluding inventory—aren’t enough to meet short-term obligations. This could force them to rely on receivables, inventory turn, or external financing.
- AZO has negative equity (debt-to-equity ratio -2.77), an unusual warning sign, while ULTA at 0.77 maintains a conventional debt-to-equity balance.
- AZO (at 7.90) covers its interest payments, while ULTA shows “--” for minimal debt service.
| Symbol | AZO | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.84 | 1.70 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.13 | 0.60 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | -2.77 | 0.77 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.68 | 0.32 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.90 | -- |