Casey's General Stores (CASY) vs Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Casey's General Stores (CASY) has outperformed Ulta Beauty (ULTA) over the past year, gaining 14.1% versus a loss of 0.3%. Over five years, CASY leads with a +237.9% price change compared with +34.4% for ULTA. Ulta Beauty is the larger company by market cap ($24.12 billion vs $23.74 billion), about 1.0 times the size, while Casey's General Stores is growing revenue faster (+10.2% vs +9.7%).
On valuation, Ulta Beauty trades at a lower forward P/E (17.6x vs 27.4x for Casey's General Stores). Casey's General Stores pays a dividend yielding 0.37%, 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 4.1%.
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 | CASY | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $642.28 | $564.21 |
| Market cap | $23.74B | $24.12B |
| 1-day change | +1.43% | +3.43% |
| YTD return | +14.57% | -6.74% |
| 1-year return | +14.14% | -0.28% |
| 5-year return | +237.86% | +34.45% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 30.94 | 20.56 |
| Forward P/E | 27.39 | 17.58 |
| EPS (TTM) | $20.76 | $27.44 |
| Dividend yield | 0.37% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $2.36 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $17.56B | $12.39B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.16% | +9.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $714.45M | $1.15B |
| Gross margin | 24.61% | 39.10% |
| Operating margin | — | 12.37% |
| Net margin | 4.07% | 9.31% |
| 52-week high | $927.85 | $714.97 |
| 52-week low | $497.38 | $443.60 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -30.78% | -21.09% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.08% | +11.92% |
| Average volume | 484.58K | 576.14K |
| Shares outstanding | 36.96M | 42.76M |
| Employees | 23,490 | 21,382 |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Specialty Retail | 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
- CASY has outperformed ULTA by 14.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Casey's General Stores trades at a higher earnings multiple (30.9x vs 20.6x trailing P/E).
- Ulta Beauty is more profitable, keeping 9.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 4.1 cents for Casey's General Stores.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Casey's General Stores in Consumer Cyclical and Ulta Beauty in Consumer Discretionary.
About Casey's General Stores
CASY stock →Casey's General Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates convenience stores under the Casey's and Casey's General Store names in the United States. Its stores offer pizza, donuts, hot breakfast items, and sandwiches; and beverages, tobacco and nicotine products.
Consumer Cyclical · Specialty Retail · 23,490 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
CASY vs ULTA FAQ
Which is bigger, Casey's General Stores or Ulta Beauty?
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $24.12B compared with $23.74B for Casey's General Stores (CASY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CASY or ULTA?
CASY returned +14.14% over the past 12 months, compared with -0.28% for ULTA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CASY or ULTA?
ULTA has the lower trailing P/E at 20.6, versus 30.9 for CASY. 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, Casey's General Stores or Ulta Beauty?
Casey's General Stores pays a dividend yielding 0.37%, while Ulta Beauty does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Casey's General Stores and Ulta Beauty in the same industry?
No. Casey's General Stores is in the Consumer Cyclical sector, while Ulta Beauty is in Consumer Discretionary.