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PAG vs. ULTA: Penske Automotive vs. Ulta Beauty Stock Comparison

How do Penske Automotive (PAG) 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

Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though PAG is classified under Automotive Retail while ULTA falls under Other Specialty Retail.

Company profile comparison for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
Profile ItemPAGULTA
NamePenske Automotive Group Inc.Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustrySpecialty RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryAutomotive RetailOther Specialty Retail
Market Capitalization13.94 billion USD27.57 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateOctober 23, 1996October 25, 2007
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAG
ULTA
GSPC
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Penske Automotive (PAG) 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

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Trailing total returns for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricPAGULTA
Total Return (1Y)39.10%29.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)16.11%19.79%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.74%11.09%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PAG
ULTA
GSPC
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Penske Automotive (PAG) 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

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricPAGULTA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.55%36.05%
Beta (5Y)0.900.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.03%-44.56%
Avg. Volume (3M)450.08K548.94K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PAG 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricPAGULTA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.260.69
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.271.01

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 46.12% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 15.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ULTA.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

15.47%

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
PAG
15.47%
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%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 9.34% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.77%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.77%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
PAG
2.77%
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%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 12.51% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Penske Automotive (PAG) at 3.60%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.60%

Max
21.45%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
PAG
3.60%
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%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricPAGULTA
ROE (TTM)15.47%46.12%
ROA (TTM)4.25%14.84%
Net Margin (TTM)2.77%9.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.60%12.51%
Gross Margin (TTM)16.05%43.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 9.71% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at -0.18% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.84% and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 1.18% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricPAGULTA
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.18%9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.57%6.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.84%1.18%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-8.67%2.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 1.35 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.98 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PAG.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.98

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
Q1
1.00
PAG
0.98
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
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Penske Automotive (PAG) at 1.53 and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 0.95 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.53

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
PAG
1.53
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
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
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Penske Automotive (PAG) 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricPAGULTA
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.981.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.530.95
Net Debt / EBITDA6.531.19

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Penske Automotive (PAG) reports a yield of 2.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.70%

Max
5.84%
PAG
2.70%
Q3
2.50%
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%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Penske Automotive (PAG) reports a payout of 41.11%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.11%

Max
72.73%
PAG
41.11%
Q3
32.44%
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%
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricPAGULTA
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.70%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)41.11%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Penske Automotive (PAG) at 14.80 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.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.80

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
PAG
14.80
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
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.43 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 2.13 sits in the pricier quartile — ULTA costs more per dollar of sales.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.43

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
PAG
0.43
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
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Penske Automotive (PAG) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.35 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.

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.35

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
PAG
2.35
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
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Penske Automotive (PAG) 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricPAGULTA
P/E Ratio (TTM)14.8023.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.432.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.3510.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.69%3.32%