ULTA vs. WSM: Ulta Beauty vs. Williams-Sonoma Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) 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

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though ULTA is classified under Other Specialty Retail while WSM falls under Homefurnishing Retail.

Company profile comparison for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Profile Item	ULTA	WSM
Name	Ulta Beauty, Inc.	Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Specialty Retail	Specialty Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Other Specialty Retail	Homefurnishing Retail
Market Capitalization	27.57 billion USD	29.92 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	October 25, 2007	July 7, 1983
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ULTA

WSM

GSPC

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), 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 Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ULTA	WSM
Total Return (1Y)	29.08%	34.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	19.79%	54.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.09%	22.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ULTA

WSM

GSPC

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), 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 Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ULTA	WSM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.05%	34.01%
Beta (5Y)	0.82	1.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-44.56%	-51.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)	548.94K	1.10M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ULTA and WSM 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 Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ULTA	WSM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.69	0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.01	1.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 46.12% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 54.96% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

54.96%

Max: 62.17%
WSM: 54.96%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 9.34% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 14.73% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.73%

Max: 16.94%
WSM: 14.73%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 12.51% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 17.27% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

17.27%

Max: 21.45%
WSM: 17.27%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ULTA	WSM
ROE (TTM)	46.12%	54.96%
ROA (TTM)	14.84%	16.64%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.34%	14.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	12.51%	17.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)	43.10%	45.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 9.71% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.24% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 1.18% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 0.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ULTA	WSM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	9.71%	1.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.68%	-3.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1.18%	0.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.21%	2.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 1.35 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.45 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.45

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
WSM: 1.45
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 0.71 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 0.95 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.71

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
WSM: 0.71
Min: 0.01

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ULTA	WSM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.35	1.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.95	0.71
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.19	0.30

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 Williams-Sonoma (WSM) reports a yield of 1.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.10%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
WSM: 1.10%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): 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 Williams-Sonoma (WSM) reports a payout of 29.13%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

29.13%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
WSM: 29.13%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ULTA	WSM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	1.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	29.13%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 23.50 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 26.06 sits in the richer quartile — WSM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.06

Max: 40.50
WSM: 26.06
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 2.13 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 3.74 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.74

Max: 4.32
WSM: 3.74
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Ulta Beauty (ULTA) at 10.44 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 13.98 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.98

WSM: 13.98
Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ULTA	WSM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.50	26.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.13	3.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	10.44	13.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.32%	3.57%