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GPC vs. ULTA: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

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Here’s a clear look at GPC and ULTA, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

SymbolGPCULTA
Company NameGenuine Parts CompanyUlta Beauty, Inc.
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS IndustryDistributorsSpecialty Retail
Market Capitalization19.05 billion USD23.22 billion USD
ExchangeNYSENasdaqGS
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980October 25, 2007
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of GPC and ULTA by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

GPC vs. ULTA: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolGPCULTA
5-Day Price Return-0.57%-1.80%
13-Week Price Return6.12%25.99%
26-Week Price Return9.87%43.35%
52-Week Price Return-1.22%37.03%
Month-to-Date Return6.29%0.33%
Year-to-Date Return17.33%18.80%
10-Day Avg. Volume0.91M0.59M
3-Month Avg. Volume1.22M0.73M
3-Month Volatility23.84%30.78%
Beta0.781.06

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

GPC

17.79%

Distributors Industry

Max
18.85%
Q3
17.85%
Median
13.11%
Q1
11.23%
Min
11.19%

GPC’s Return on Equity of 17.79% is on par with the norm for the Distributors industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

ULTA

49.73%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
61.19%
Q3
37.24%
Median
18.81%
Q1
8.92%
Min
-13.03%

In the upper quartile for the Specialty Retail industry, ULTA’s Return on Equity of 49.73% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

GPC

3.40%

Distributors Industry

Max
5.04%
Q3
4.92%
Median
4.56%
Q1
4.55%
Min
4.54%

GPC’s Net Profit Margin of 3.40% is below the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company may be facing challenges with cost control or operating in a highly competitive environment that limits its pricing power.

ULTA

10.70%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
21.28%
Q3
10.68%
Median
6.08%
Q1
2.43%
Min
-4.54%

A Net Profit Margin of 10.70% places ULTA in the upper quartile for the Specialty Retail industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

GPC

4.95%

Distributors Industry

Max
11.14%
Q3
7.80%
Median
5.53%
Q1
3.65%
Min
3.17%

GPC’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.95% is around the midpoint for the Distributors industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

ULTA

14.03%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
33.35%
Q3
15.84%
Median
9.34%
Q1
3.83%
Min
-8.97%

ULTA’s Operating Profit Margin of 14.03% is around the midpoint for the Specialty Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolGPCULTA
Return on Equity (TTM)17.79%49.73%
Return on Assets (TTM)4.06%20.15%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)3.40%10.70%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)4.95%14.03%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)36.88%38.55%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

1.14

Distributors Industry

Max
1.81
Q3
1.72
Median
1.48
Q1
1.24
Min
1.15

GPC’s Current Ratio of 1.14 is notably low, falling beneath the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests a heightened liquidity risk and could indicate potential challenges in meeting its short-term obligations.

ULTA

1.67

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
2.83
Q3
1.89
Median
1.39
Q1
1.11
Min
0.64

ULTA’s Current Ratio of 1.67 aligns with the median group of the Specialty Retail industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

1.02

Distributors Industry

Max
1.09
Q3
0.98
Median
0.75
Q1
0.52
Min
0.46

GPC’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Distributors industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.02. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

ULTA

0.00

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
3.02
Q3
1.57
Median
0.64
Q1
0.20
Min
0.00

Falling into the lower quartile for the Specialty Retail industry, ULTA’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.00 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

GPC

13.15

Distributors Industry

Max
13.15
Q3
10.84
Median
5.59
Q1
4.01
Min
3.80

GPC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 13.15 is in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

ULTA

649.00

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
48.12
Q3
35.95
Median
14.13
Q1
3.61
Min
-36.00

With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 649.00, ULTA demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Specialty Retail industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolGPCULTA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.141.67
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.490.39
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.020.00
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)13.15649.00

Growth

Revenue Growth

GPC vs. ULTA: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

GPC vs. ULTA: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

GPC

2.93%

Distributors Industry

Max
44.83%
Q3
35.02%
Median
4.81%
Q1
3.26%
Min
1.54%

GPC’s Dividend Yield of 2.93% is in the lower quartile for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

ULTA

0.00%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
6.53%
Q3
2.69%
Median
1.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ULTA currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GPC

69.26%

Distributors Industry

Max
1,122.47%
Q3
858.23%
Median
55.08%
Q1
44.32%
Min
34.92%

GPC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 69.26% is within the typical range for the Distributors industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

ULTA

0.00%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
165.81%
Q3
80.94%
Median
31.61%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ULTA has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolGPCULTA
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.93%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)69.26%0.00%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

GPC

23.67

Distributors Industry

Max
28.99
Q3
25.04
Median
23.42
Q1
13.71
Min
6.24

GPC’s P/E Ratio of 23.67 is within the middle range for the Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

ULTA

19.42

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
48.56
Q3
29.15
Median
22.00
Q1
15.46
Min
7.95

ULTA’s P/E Ratio of 19.42 is within the middle range for the Specialty Retail industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

GPC

0.81

Distributors Industry

Max
1.14
Q3
1.14
Median
0.96
Q1
0.61
Min
0.28

GPC’s P/S Ratio of 0.81 aligns with the market consensus for the Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

ULTA

2.61

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
5.08
Q3
2.69
Median
1.23
Q1
0.48
Min
0.09

ULTA’s P/S Ratio of 2.61 aligns with the market consensus for the Specialty Retail industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

3.58

Distributors Industry

Max
3.72
Q3
3.57
Median
3.12
Q1
2.41
Min
1.47

GPC’s P/B Ratio of 3.58 is in the upper tier for the Distributors industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

ULTA

7.32

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
16.93
Q3
7.98
Median
3.69
Q1
1.79
Min
0.21

ULTA’s P/B Ratio of 7.32 is within the conventional range for the Specialty Retail industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

GPC vs. ULTA: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolGPCULTA
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)23.6719.42
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)0.812.61
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)3.587.32
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)43.6119.19