Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) today announced financial results for the thirteen-week period (“second quarter”) and twenty-six-week period (“first six months”) ended August 3, 2024 compared to the same periods ended July 29, 2023.

“While we are encouraged by many positive indicators across our business, our second quarter performance did not meet our expectations, driven primarily by a decline in comparable store sales. We are clear about the factors that adversely impacted our store performance, and we have actions underway to address the trends,” said Dave Kimbell, chief executive officer. “We are focused on driving stronger sales and traffic and continuing to exercise financial discipline. In light of our first half trends and a more cautious outlook, we have updated our full year expectations. I remain confident in the power of our differentiated model, the strength of our financial foundation, and our ability to deliver value for our shareholders over the long term.”

Second Quarter of Fiscal 2024 Compared to Second Quarter of Fiscal 2023

• Net sales increased 0.9% to $2.6 billion compared to $2.5 billion, primarily due to new store contribution and growth in other revenue.
• Comparable sales (sales for stores open at least 14 months and e-commerce sales) decreased 1.2% compared to an increase of 8.0%, driven by a 1.8% decrease in transactions and a 0.6% increase in average ticket.
• Gross profit was $978.2 million compared to $993.6 million. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit decreased to 38.3% compared to 39.3%, primarily due to lower merchandise margins and deleverage of store fixed costs, partially offset by growth in other revenue and lower inventory shrink.
• Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $644.8 million compared to $600.7 million. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses increased to 25.3% compared to 23.7%, primarily due to deleverage of store payroll and benefits, corporate overhead primarily due to strategic investments, store expenses, and marketing expenses, partially offset by lower incentive compensation.
• Operating income was $329.2 million, or 12.9% of net sales, compared to $391.6 million, or 15.5% of net sales.
• The tax rate was 24.3% compared to 24.2%.
• Net income was $252.6 million compared to $300.1 million.
• Diluted earnings per share was $5.30 compared to $6.02.

First Six Months of Fiscal 2024 Compared to First Six Months of Fiscal 2023

• Net sales increased 2.2% to $5.3 billion compared to $5.2 billion, primarily due to new store contribution and growth in other revenue.
• Comparable sales increased 0.2% compared to an increase of 8.7%, driven by a 0.4% increase in average ticket and a 0.2% decrease in transactions.
• Gross profit was flat at $2.0 billion. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit decreased to 38.8% compared to 39.7%, primarily due to lower merchandise margin and deleverage of store fixed costs, partially offset by growth in other revenue.
• SG&A expenses were $1.3 billion compared to $1.2 billion. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses increased to 24.8% compared to 23.5%, primarily due to deleverage of corporate overhead primarily due to strategic investments, store payroll and benefits, store expenses, and marketing expenses, partially offset by lower incentive compensation.
• Operating income was $730.1 million, or 13.8% of net sales, compared to $833.7 million, or 16.1% of net sales.
• The tax rate was 23.7% compared to 23.5%.
• Net income was $565.7 million compared to $647.2 million.
• Diluted earnings per share was $11.78, including a $0.10 benefit due to income tax accounting for stock-based compensation, compared to $12.90, including a $0.14 benefit due to income tax accounting for stock-based compensation.

Balance Sheet

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2024 totaled $414.0 million.

Merchandise inventories, net at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 10.1% to $2.0 billion compared to $1.8 billion at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily due to inventory to support new brand launches, the opening of the new market fulfillment center in Greer, SC, and the addition of 49 net new stores since July 29, 2023.

Share Repurchase Program

During the second quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company repurchased 549,852 shares of its common stock at a cost of $212.3 million. During the first six months of fiscal 2024, the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $497.5 million. As of August 3, 2024, $1.6 billion remained available under the $2.0 billion share repurchase program announced in March 2024.

Store Update

During the second quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company opened 17 new stores, relocated one store, remodeled nine stores, and closed one store. During the first six months of fiscal 2024, the Company opened 29 new stores, relocated two stores, remodeled nine stores, and closed three stores. At the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company operated 1,411 stores totaling 14.8 million square feet.

Fiscal 2024 Outlook

For fiscal 2024, the Company plans to:

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss second quarter of fiscal 2024 results is scheduled for today, August 29, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. CT. Investors and analysts who are interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 704-4453. Participants may also listen to a real-time audio webcast of the conference call by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website located at https://www.ulta.com/investor. A replay will be made available online approximately two hours following the live call for a period of 30 days.

About Ulta Beauty

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest specialty U.S. beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. In 1990, the Company reinvented the beauty retail experience by offering a new way to shop for beauty – bringing together All Things Beauty, All in One Place^®. Today, Ulta Beauty operates 1,411 retail stores across 50 states and also distributes its products through its website, which includes a collection of tips, tutorials, and social content. For more information, visit www.ulta.com.

Forward‑Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “strategies” or other comparable words. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon the Company’s historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future plans, estimates, targets, strategies or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation:

• macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, elevated interest rates and recessionary concerns, as well as continuing labor cost pressures, and transportation and shipping cost pressures, have had, and may continue to have, a negative impact on our business, financial condition, profitability, and cash flows (including future uncertain impacts);
• changes in the overall level of consumer spending and volatility in the economy, including as a result of macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical events;
• our ability to sustain our growth plans and successfully implement our long-range strategic and financial plan;
• the ability to execute our operational excellence priorities, including continuous improvement, Project SOAR (the replacement of our enterprise resource planning platform), and supply chain optimization;
• our ability to gauge beauty trends and react to changing consumer preferences in a timely manner;
• the possibility that we may be unable to compete effectively in our highly competitive markets;
• the possibility of significant interruptions in the operations of our distribution centers, fast fulfillment centers, and market fulfillment centers;
• the possibility that cybersecurity or information security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information or result in the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information;
• the possibility of material disruptions to our information systems, including our Ulta.com website and mobile applications;
• the failure to maintain satisfactory compliance with applicable privacy and data protection laws and regulations;
• changes in the good relationships we have with our brand partners, our ability to continue to obtain sufficient merchandise from our brand partners, and/or our ability to continue to offer permanent or temporary exclusive products of our brand partners;
• our ability to effectively manage our inventory and protect against inventory shrink;
• changes in the wholesale cost of our products and/or interruptions at our brand partners’ or third-party vendors’ operations;
• epidemics, pandemics or natural disasters, which could negatively impact sales;
• the possibility that new store openings and existing locations may be impacted by developer or co-tenant issues;
• our ability to attract and retain key executive personnel;
• the impact of climate change on our business operations and/or supply chain;
• our ability to successfully execute our common stock repurchase program or implement future common stock repurchase programs;
• a decline in operating results which could lead to asset impairment and store closure charges; and
• other risk factors detailed in the Company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including risk factors contained in its Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024, as such may be amended or supplemented in its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

The Company’s filings with the SEC are available at www.sec.gov. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Certain sales departments were reclassified between categories in the prior year to conform to current year presentation, including moving the bath category from Fragrance to Skincare.

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