Jefferies Upgrades Ulta Beauty Stock On Renewed Makeup Momentum

Aditya Raghunath4 minute read
Reviewed by: Thomas Richmond
Last updated Apr 21, 2026

Key Stats for Ulta Beauty Stock

  • Price change for Ulta Beauty stock: 3%
  • $ULTA Share Price as of Apr. 20: $572
  • 52-Week High: $715
  • $ULTA Stock Price Target: $676

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What Happened?

Jefferies upgraded Ulta Beauty (ULTA) stock from hold to buy, raising its price target to $700 from $635. That new target implies about 26.5% upside from current levels.

  • The firm’s reasoning centers on one key shift: makeup is back.
  • Jefferies flagged rising consumer interest in products like blush and concealer, backed by Google Trends data showing a clear spike in searches.
  • Makeup makes up roughly 38% of Ulta’s sales, so when that category heats up, Ulta benefits more than most.
  • Analyst Sydney Wagner said confidence has improved in “revenue durability amid a broadening beauty backdrop and renewed makeup engagement.”
  • In plain terms, Jefferies now believes the growth is real and more sustainable than the market currently gives Ulta credit for.

Ulta Beauty stock also got a boost from better merchandising.

  • Previously, Jefferies had concerns that Ulta leaned too heavily on brands already available at Amazon and discount retailers. That’s changing.
  • Management has been adding newer, trend-driven brands and moving toward a more differentiated assortment.
  • The Rare Beauty launch at the start of fiscal 2026 is one example, and CEO Kecia Steelman confirmed on the Q4 earnings call that the company added more than 100 new brands in 2025 alone.
ULTA Stock Revenue, EBIT and Free Cash Flow Estimates in Billion USD (TIKR)

Jefferies also described Ulta Beauty stock as an “index fund of beauty,” covering everything from mass drugstore brands to prestige luxury.

That breadth is a real advantage. When consumers trade down, Ulta keeps them. When they splurge, Ulta keeps them too.

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What the Market Is Telling Us About Ulta Beauty Stock

Ulta delivered a strong Q4,

  • Comp sales up 5.8%
  • Full-year EPS of $25.64, ahead of expectations.
  • For fiscal 2026, the company guided for 6% to 7% revenue growth and
  • EPS between $28.05 and $28.55, representing up to 11% growth.
ULTA Stock Valuation Model (TIKR)

With beauty cycles historically lasting around five years, Jefferies sees this as early innings of a sustained upswing.

For investors who have been watching Ulta Beauty stock from the sidelines, this upgrade suggests the window to buy ahead of that momentum may be narrowing.

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How Much Upside Does Ulta Beauty Stock Have From Here?

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Disclaimer:

Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!

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