PDD vs. ULTA: PDD vs. Ulta Beauty Stock Comparison
How do PDD (PDD) 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
PDD (PDD) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but PDD is classified in Broadline Retail while ULTA is classified in Specialty Retail.
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades as ordinary local shares, while PDD (PDD) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | PDD Holdings Inc. American Depositary Receipt | Ulta Beauty, Inc. |
| Country/Region | Ireland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail | Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail |
| GICS Industry | Broadline Retail | Specialty Retail |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Broadline Retail | Other Specialty Retail |
| Market Capitalization | 118.18 billion USD | 27.57 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | July 26, 2018 | October 25, 2007 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -40.88% | 29.08% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -9.51% | 19.79% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.72% | 11.09% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
PDD (PDD) reports a negative beta of -0.08, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. Ulta Beauty (ULTA) has a non-negative beta of 0.82.
| Metric | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.85% | 36.05% |
| Beta (5Y) | -0.08 | 0.82 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -73.13% | -44.56% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.15M | 548.94K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -1.33 | 0.69 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.75 | 1.01 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 46.12% sits in the top ROE quartile, while PDD (PDD) at 22.75% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ULTA.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
22.75%
- Max
- 62.17%
- Q3
- 29.44%
- PDD
- 22.75%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
PDD (PDD) at 20.43% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 9.34% also retains a top-quartile share.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
20.43%
- PDD
- 20.43%
- Max
- 16.94%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
PDD (PDD) at 24.71% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 12.51% also operates in the top quartile.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
24.71%
- PDD
- 24.71%
- Max
- 21.45%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 22.75% | 46.12% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.01% | 14.84% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 20.43% | 9.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.71% | 12.51% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 56.32% | 43.10% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both PDD (PDD) at 9.65% and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 9.71% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both PDD (PDD) at -11.79% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.65% | 9.71% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 49.00% | 6.68% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -11.79% | 1.18% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 45.15% | 2.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 1.35 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while PDD (PDD) at 2.62 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
2.62
- PDD
- 2.62
- Max
- 2.62
- Q3
- 1.75
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 1.00
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
PDD (PDD) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 0.95 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.01
- Max
- 3.93
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.25
- Q1
- 0.73
- PDD
- 0.01
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.62 | 1.35 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.01 | 0.95 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -4.56 | 1.19 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither PDD (PDD) nor Ulta Beauty (ULTA) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 5.84%
- Q3
- 2.50%
- PDD
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither PDD (PDD) nor Ulta Beauty (ULTA) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 72.73%
- Q3
- 32.44%
- PDD
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
PDD (PDD) at 9.34 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 23.50 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for PDD, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
9.34
- Max
- 40.50
- Q3
- 24.26
- Median
- 19.23
- Q1
- 12.64
- PDD
- 9.34
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
PDD (PDD) at 0.26 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 2.13 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.26
- Max
- 4.32
- Q3
- 1.99
- Median
- 0.70
- Q1
- 0.26
- PDD
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
PDD (PDD) at 1.74 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.
PDD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.74
- Max
- 10.96
- Q3
- 5.26
- Median
- 2.16
- PDD
- 1.74
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PDD | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 9.34 | 23.50 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.26 | 2.13 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.74 | 10.44 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 63.15% | 3.32% |