Sally Beauty (Name to be changed from Sally) (SBH) 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
Sally Beauty (Name to be changed from Sally) (SBH) has outperformed Ulta Beauty (ULTA) over the past year, gaining 3.0% versus a loss of 0.3%. Over five years, ULTA leads with a +39.1% price change compared with -0.1% for SBH. Ulta Beauty is the larger company by market cap ($24.12 billion vs $1.50 billion), about 16.1 times the size.
On valuation, Sally Beauty (Name to be changed from Sally) trades at a lower forward P/E (7.2x vs 17.6x for Ulta Beauty). Ulta Beauty converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.3% versus 5.3%.
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 | SBH | ULTA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $16.03 | $564.21 |
| Market cap | $1.50B | $24.12B |
| 1-day change | -2.85% | +3.43% |
| YTD return | +12.41% | -6.74% |
| 1-year return | +3.02% | -0.28% |
| 5-year return | -0.12% | +39.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.35 | 20.56 |
| Forward P/E | 7.16 | 17.58 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.92 | $27.44 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.70B | $12.39B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -0.42% | +9.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $195.88M | $1.15B |
| Gross margin | 51.62% | 39.10% |
| Operating margin | 8.86% | 12.37% |
| Net margin | 5.29% | 9.31% |
| 52-week high | $17.92 | $714.97 |
| 52-week low | $11.54 | $443.60 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.55% | -21.09% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +6.05% | +11.92% |
| Average volume | 1.34M | 577.12K |
| Shares outstanding | 93.62M | 42.76M |
| Employees | 11,000 | 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 16.1 times larger than Sally Beauty (Name to be changed from Sally) by market value ($24.12B vs $1.50B).
- Ulta Beauty trades at a higher earnings multiple (20.6x vs 8.3x trailing P/E).
- Ulta Beauty grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+9.71% vs -0.42%).
About Sally Beauty (Name to be changed from Sally)
SBH stock →Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies.
Consumer Discretionary · Other Specialty Stores · 11,000 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
SBH vs ULTA FAQ
Which is bigger, Sally Beauty (Name to be changed from Sally) or Ulta Beauty?
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $24.12B compared with $1.50B for Sally Beauty (Name to be changed from Sally) (SBH).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SBH or ULTA?
SBH returned +3.02% 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, SBH or ULTA?
SBH has the lower trailing P/E at 8.3, 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.
Are Sally Beauty (Name to be changed from Sally) and Ulta Beauty in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Specialty Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.