FirstCash (FCFS) 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
FirstCash (FCFS) has outperformed Ulta Beauty (ULTA) over the past year, gaining 36.4% versus a loss of 2.0%. Over five years, FCFS leads with a +142.1% price change compared with +34.4% for ULTA. Ulta Beauty is the larger company by market cap ($24.12 billion vs $9.17 billion), about 2.6 times the size.
On valuation, FirstCash trades at a lower forward P/E (16.3x vs 17.6x for Ulta Beauty). FirstCash pays a dividend yielding 0.79%, 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 9.0%.
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 | FCFS | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $211.49 | $564.21 |
| Market cap | $9.17B | $24.12B |
| 1-day change | +0.92% | +3.43% |
| YTD return | +31.48% | -9.84% |
| 1-year return | +36.37% | -2.03% |
| 5-year return | +142.13% | +34.45% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 24.06 | 20.56 |
| Forward P/E | 16.29 | 17.58 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.79 | $27.44 |
| Dividend yield | 0.79% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.68 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.66B | $12.39B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.04% | +9.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $330.38M | $1.15B |
| Gross margin | 50.28% | 39.10% |
| Operating margin | — | 12.37% |
| Net margin | 9.02% | 9.31% |
| 52-week high | $238.93 | $714.97 |
| 52-week low | $146.77 | $443.60 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.48% | -21.09% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.09% | +11.92% |
| Average volume | 414.63K | 576.14K |
| Shares outstanding | 43.37M | 42.76M |
| Employees | — | 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 2.6 times larger than FirstCash by market value ($24.12B vs $9.17B).
- FCFS has outperformed ULTA by 38.4 percentage points over the past year.
About FirstCash
FCFS stock →FirstCash Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates retail pawn stores in the United States, Mexico, rest of Latin America, and the United Kingdom. The company operates through four segments: U.S.
Consumer Discretionary · Other Specialty Stores
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
FCFS vs ULTA FAQ
Which is bigger, FirstCash or Ulta Beauty?
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $24.12B compared with $9.17B for FirstCash (FCFS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FCFS or ULTA?
FCFS returned +36.37% over the past 12 months, compared with -2.03% for ULTA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FCFS or ULTA?
ULTA has the lower trailing P/E at 20.6, versus 24.1 for FCFS. 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, FirstCash or Ulta Beauty?
FirstCash pays a dividend yielding 0.79%, while Ulta Beauty does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are FirstCash and Ulta Beauty in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Specialty Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.