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ROST vs. ULTA: Ross Stores vs. Ulta Beauty Stock Comparison

How do Ross Stores (ROST) 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

Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though ROST is classified under Apparel Retail while ULTA falls under Other Specialty Retail.

Company profile comparison for Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
Profile ItemROSTULTA
NameRoss Stores 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-IndustryApparel RetailOther Specialty Retail
Market Capitalization74.13 billion USD27.57 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 8, 1985October 25, 2007
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ROST
ULTA
GSPC
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Ross Stores (ROST) 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 Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricROSTULTA
Total Return (1Y)49.04%29.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.07%19.79%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.09%11.09%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ROST
ULTA
GSPC
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Ross Stores (ROST) 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 Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricROSTULTA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.67%36.05%
Beta (5Y)0.830.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.66%-44.56%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.30M548.94K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ROST 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 Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricROSTULTA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.620.69
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.701.01

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 42.63% and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 46.12% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

42.63%

Max
62.17%
ROST
42.63%
Q3
29.44%
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%
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Ross Stores (ROST) 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 Ross Stores (ROST) at 10.85% 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.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.85%

Max
16.94%
ROST
10.85%
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%
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 13.58% 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.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.58%

Max
21.45%
ROST
13.58%
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%
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricROSTULTA
ROE (TTM)42.63%46.12%
ROA (TTM)12.79%14.84%
Net Margin (TTM)10.85%9.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.58%12.51%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.39%43.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 7.67% 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.

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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 4.59% 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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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricROSTULTA
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.67%9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.76%6.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.59%1.18%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.70%2.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 1.61 and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 1.35 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.61

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
ROST
1.61
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
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 0.70 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 0.95 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.70

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
ROST
0.70
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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Ross Stores (ROST) 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 Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricROSTULTA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.611.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.700.95
Net Debt / EBITDA0.121.19

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 Ross Stores (ROST) reports a yield of 0.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.72%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
ROST
0.72%
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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Ross Stores (ROST) 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 Ross Stores (ROST) reports a payout of 20.56%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

20.56%

Max
72.73%
Q3
32.44%
ROST
20.56%
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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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricROSTULTA
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.72%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.56%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 23.50 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ross Stores (ROST) at 27.94 sits in the richer quartile — ROST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

27.94

Max
40.50
ROST
27.94
Q3
24.26
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
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Ross Stores (ROST) 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 Ross Stores (ROST) at 3.02 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.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.02

Max
4.32
ROST
3.02
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
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Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Ulta Beauty (ULTA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 10.96 and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 10.44 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.96

ROST
10.96
Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
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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Ross Stores (ROST) 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 Ross Stores (ROST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
MetricROSTULTA
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.9423.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.022.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.9610.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.70%3.32%