Bath & Body Works (BBWI) vs Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) has outperformed Bath & Body Works (BBWI) over the past year, losing 0.3% versus a loss of 31.9%. Over five years, ULTA leads with a +39.1% price change compared with -72.7% for BBWI. Ulta Beauty is the larger company by market cap ($24.12 billion vs $3.57 billion), about 6.8 times the size.
On valuation, Bath & Body Works trades at a lower forward P/E (6.4x vs 17.6x for Ulta Beauty). Bath & Body Works pays a dividend yielding 4.52%, while Ulta Beauty does not currently pay one. Ulta Beauty converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.3% versus 8.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BBWI | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $17.71 | $564.21 |
| Market cap | $3.57B | $24.12B |
| 1-day change | -0.56% | +3.43% |
| YTD return | -11.80% | -6.74% |
| 1-year return | -31.88% | -0.28% |
| 5-year return | -72.71% | +39.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 4.66 | 20.56 |
| Forward P/E | 6.35 | 17.58 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.80 | $27.44 |
| Dividend yield | 4.52% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $7.29B | $12.39B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -0.22% | +9.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $649.00M | $1.15B |
| Gross margin | 43.74% | 39.10% |
| Operating margin | 15.44% | 12.37% |
| Net margin | 8.90% | 9.31% |
| 52-week high | $27.40 | $714.97 |
| 52-week low | $14.28 | $443.60 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -35.36% | -21.09% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +35.86% | +11.92% |
| Average volume | 6.22M | 577.12K |
| Shares outstanding | 201.65M | 42.76M |
| Employees | 9,071 | 21,382 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Other Specialty Stores | Other Specialty Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ulta Beauty is about 6.8 times larger than Bath & Body Works by market value ($24.12B vs $3.57B).
- ULTA has outperformed BBWI by 31.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Ulta Beauty trades at a higher earnings multiple (20.6x vs 4.7x trailing P/E).
- Bath & Body Works offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.52% vs 0.00%).
- Ulta Beauty grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+9.71% vs -0.22%).
About Bath & Body Works
BBWI stock →Bath & Body Works, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of personal care and home fragrance products.
Consumer Discretionary · Other Specialty Stores · 9,071 employees
About Ulta Beauty
ULTA stock →Ulta Beauty, Inc. operates as a specialty beauty retailer in the United States, Mexico, and Kuwait.
Consumer Discretionary · Other Specialty Stores · 21,382 employees
BBWI vs ULTA FAQ
Which is bigger, Bath & Body Works or Ulta Beauty?
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $24.12B compared with $3.57B for Bath & Body Works (BBWI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BBWI or ULTA?
ULTA returned -0.28% over the past 12 months, compared with -31.88% for BBWI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BBWI or ULTA?
BBWI has the lower trailing P/E at 4.7, versus 20.6 for ULTA. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Bath & Body Works or Ulta Beauty?
Bath & Body Works pays a dividend yielding 4.52%, while Ulta Beauty does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Bath & Body Works and Ulta Beauty in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Specialty Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.