Ulta Beauty (ULTA) vs Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) has outperformed Ulta Beauty (ULTA) over the past year, gaining 25.1% versus a loss of 0.3%. Over five years, WSM leads with a +162.3% price change compared with +39.1% for ULTA. Williams-Sonoma is the larger company by market cap ($28.15 billion vs $24.12 billion), about 1.2 times the size, while Ulta Beauty is growing revenue faster (+9.7% vs +1.2%).
On valuation, Ulta Beauty trades at a lower forward P/E (17.6x vs 22.7x for Williams-Sonoma). Williams-Sonoma pays a dividend yielding 1.19%, while Ulta Beauty does not currently pay one. Williams-Sonoma converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.9% versus 9.3%.
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 | ULTA | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $564.21 | $239.00 |
| Market cap | $24.12B | $28.15B |
| 1-day change | +3.43% | -0.61% |
| YTD return | -6.74% | +33.83% |
| 1-year return | -0.28% | +25.06% |
| 5-year return | +39.06% | +162.26% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.56 | 24.51 |
| Forward P/E | 17.58 | 22.73 |
| EPS (TTM) | $27.44 | $9.75 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.19% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.84 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $12.39B | $7.81B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.71% | +1.24% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.15B | $1.09B |
| Gross margin | 39.10% | 46.15% |
| Operating margin | 12.37% | 18.13% |
| Net margin | 9.31% | 13.94% |
| 52-week high | $714.97 | $254.89 |
| 52-week low | $443.60 | $165.51 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -21.09% | -6.23% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.92% | +3.70% |
| Average volume | 577.12K | 1.07M |
| Shares outstanding | 42.76M | 117.78M |
| Employees | 21,382 | 19,800 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Other Specialty Stores | Home Furnishings |
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
- WSM has outperformed ULTA by 25.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Williams-Sonoma offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.19% vs 0.00%).
- Ulta Beauty grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+9.71% vs +1.24%).
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
About Williams-Sonoma
WSM stock →Williams-Sonoma, Inc. operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Home Furnishings · 19,800 employees
ULTA vs WSM FAQ
Which is bigger, Ulta Beauty or Williams-Sonoma?
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $28.15B compared with $24.12B for Ulta Beauty (ULTA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ULTA or WSM?
WSM returned +25.06% 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, ULTA or WSM?
ULTA has the lower trailing P/E at 20.6, versus 24.5 for WSM. 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, Ulta Beauty or Williams-Sonoma?
Williams-Sonoma pays a dividend yielding 1.19%, while Ulta Beauty does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Ulta Beauty and Williams-Sonoma in the same industry?
Both are in the Consumer Discretionary sector, but in different industries: Other Specialty Stores for Ulta Beauty and Home Furnishings for Williams-Sonoma.