Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Ulta Beauty

With 1,385 stores at the end of fiscal 2023 and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the US. The firm offers makeup (41% of 2023 sales), fragrances, skin care (19% of sales), and hair care products (19% of sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

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Ulta Beauty posts Q2 earnings miss. Comps decline by 1.2% and GMs contract. The trends are expected to continue. Some analysts reduce price targets.

Ulta Beauty Misses Q2: Loses Market Share, Inventories Continue To Grow, Says Analysts

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Ulta shares are moving lower on Friday after the company cut its 2024 fiscal year guidance.

What&#39;s Going On With Ulta Beauty Stock Friday?

Ulta Beauty Inc

ULTA BEAUTY ORD

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Ulta Beauty. Our analysis of options history for Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) revealed 15 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 60% of traders were bullish, while 26% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 2 were puts, with a value of $219,960, and 13 were calls, valued at $917,758.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $340.0 to $500.0 for Ulta Beauty over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Ulta Beauty options trades today is 211.0 with a total volume of 702.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Ulta Beauty's big money trades within a strike price range of $340.0 to $500.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Ulta Beauty 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726844484_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$54.7</td>
<td>$54.3</td>
<td>$54.3</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$190.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">101</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$114.2</td>
<td>$110.8</td>
<td>$112.8</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$180.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">35</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$75.7</td>
<td>$74.1</td>
<td>$75.7</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$151.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">58</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$5.1</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$410.00</td>
<td>$115.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">372</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">276</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$34.7</td>
<td>$34.0</td>
<td>$34.3</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$99.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">351</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">44</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Ulta Beauty</h3>
With 1,385 stores at the end of fiscal 2023 and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the US. The firm offers makeup (41% of 2023 sales), fragrances, skin care (19% of sales), and hair care products (19% of sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Ulta Beauty, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is Ulta Beauty Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 284,429, the price of ULTA is up by 0.78%, reaching $406.43.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 70 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Ulta Beauty</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $456.6.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Loop Capital persists with their Buy rating on Ulta Beauty, maintaining a target price of $450. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Deutsche Bank persists with their Buy rating on Ulta Beauty, maintaining a target price of $448. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Raymond James downgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $450. 
&#x2A; An analyst from UBS persists with their Buy rating on Ulta Beauty, maintaining a target price of $505. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Ulta Beauty, which currently sits at a price target of $430. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Ulta Beauty options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Markets

Looking At Ulta Beauty's Recent Unusual Options Activity

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ULTA usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 9 extraordinary options activities for Ulta Beauty. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 22% leaning bullish and 55% bearish. Among these notable options, 4 are puts, totaling $275,733, and 5 are calls, amounting to $175,502.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $350.0 and $450.0 for Ulta Beauty, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Ulta Beauty's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Ulta Beauty's significant trades, within a strike price range of $350.0 to $450.0, over the past month.
<h3>Ulta Beauty Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726671842_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$45.6</td>
<td>$45.1</td>
<td>$45.6</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$114.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$33.9</td>
<td>$32.7</td>
<td>$33.1</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$66.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">102</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$33.1</td>
<td>$29.4</td>
<td>$33.1</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$52.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">102</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$51.2</td>
<td>$49.0</td>
<td>$49.5</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$49.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">308</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$12.9</td>
<td>$12.4</td>
<td>$12.9</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$42.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">94</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">28</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Ulta Beauty</h3>
With 1,385 stores at the end of fiscal 2023 and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the US. The firm offers makeup (41% of 2023 sales), fragrances, skin care (19% of sales), and hair care products (19% of sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
In light of the recent options history for Ulta Beauty, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Ulta Beauty's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 355,430, the price of ULTA is up 2.01% at $404.99. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 72 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Ulta Beauty</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $413.4.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Canaccord Genuity persists with their Buy rating on Ulta Beauty, maintaining a target price of $500. </li>
<li>An analyst from TD Cowen persists with their Buy rating on Ulta Beauty, maintaining a target price of $395. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Canaccord Genuity keeps a Buy rating on Ulta Beauty with a target price of $442. </li>
<li>An analyst from Stifel persists with their Hold rating on Ulta Beauty, maintaining a target price of $385. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Citigroup keeps a Neutral rating on Ulta Beauty with a target price of $345. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Ulta Beauty options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Ulta Beauty Unusual Options Activity For September 18

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>JD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$37.50</td>
<td>$62.0K</td>
<td>13.1K</td>
<td>9.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$192.50</td>
<td>$40.4K</td>
<td>15.5K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$30.1K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$67.00</td>
<td>$72.1K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>W</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$63.3K</td>
<td>8.7K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LCID</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$4.00</td>
<td>$31.2K</td>
<td>61.6K</td>
<td>760</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EVGO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$4.50</td>
<td>$45.1K</td>
<td>985</td>
<td>500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$385.00</td>
<td>$57.7K</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>453</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$290.00</td>
<td>$94.5K</td>
<td>287</td>
<td>334</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$390.00</td>
<td>$32.0K</td>
<td>800</td>
<td>290</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For JD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 123 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 2000 contract(s) at a $37.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.0K, with a price of $31.0 per contract. There were 13194 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 9938 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1618 contract(s) at a $192.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.4K, with a price of $25.0 per contract. There were 15510 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4877 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on September 27, 2024. Parties traded 60 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.1K, with a price of $503.0 per contract. There were 2479 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3025 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NKE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 18 day(s) on October 4, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1799 contract(s) at a $67.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 35 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $72.1K, with a price of $40.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1799 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding W (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/W#NYSE">W</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 95 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 75 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $63.3K, with a price of $845.0 per contract. There were 8781 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1075 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LCID (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 123 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 315 contract(s) at a $4.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 13 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.2K, with a price of $99.0 per contract. There were 61603 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 760 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For EVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVGO#NASDAQ">EVGO</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 158 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 500 contract(s) at a $4.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 22 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.1K, with a price of $90.0 per contract. There were 985 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 500 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HD (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 60 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 35 contract(s) at a $385.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.7K, with a price of $1650.0 per contract. There were 27 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 453 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MCD (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 60 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 150 contract(s) at a $290.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $94.5K, with a price of $630.0 per contract. There were 287 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 334 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ULTA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $390.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.0K, with a price of $640.0 per contract. There were 800 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 290 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AMZN

EVGO

LCID

TSLA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Ulta Beauty's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NYSE">ULTA</a>) short percent of float has risen 44.12% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.23 million shares sold short, which is 8.82% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.7 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Ulta Beauty Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726254012_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Ulta Beauty has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Ulta Beauty's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Ulta Beauty's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 12.73%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Peering Into Ulta Beauty's Recent Short Interest

Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 11.83% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 23.45%. Currently, Ulta Beauty has a market capitalization of $17.70 billion. 
Buying $100 In ULTA: If an investor had bought $100 of ULTA stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $2,468.66 today based on a price of $375.73 for ULTA at the time of writing.
<h3>Ulta Beauty's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726149880_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Ulta Beauty Stock In The Last 15 Years

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ULTA, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 24 uncommon options trades for Ulta Beauty.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 37% bullish and 54%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $298,006, and 18 are calls, for a total amount of $1,248,319.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $330.0 to $470.0 for Ulta Beauty over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Ulta Beauty's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Ulta Beauty's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $330.0 to $470.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Ulta Beauty Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725999333_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$21.1</td>
<td>$18.5</td>
<td>$18.5</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$560.5K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>432</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$20.8</td>
<td>$17.2</td>
<td>$18.5</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$133.2K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$11.9</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$11.9</td>
<td>$377.50</td>
<td>$83.3K</td>
<td>128</td>
<td>103</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$14.9</td>
<td>$14.5</td>
<td>$14.5</td>
<td>$375.00</td>
<td>$72.5K</td>
<td>52</td>
<td>53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$6.3</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$375.00</td>
<td>$53.0K</td>
<td>574</td>
<td>149</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Ulta Beauty</h3>
With 1,385 stores at the end of fiscal 2023 and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the US. The firm offers makeup (41% of 2023 sales), fragrances, skin care (19% of sales), and hair care products (19% of sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Ulta Beauty</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,008,257, with ULTA's price down by -2.11%, positioned at $373.5.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 80 days.</li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Ulta Beauty options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Ulta Beauty

Across the recent three months, 30 analysts have shared their insights on Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The following table provides a quick overview of their recent ratings, highlighting the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $417.37, a high estimate of $505.00, and a low estimate of $300.00. Experiencing a 10.5% decline, the current average is now lower than the previous average price target of $466.34. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725969731_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
A clear picture of Ulta Beauty's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Anna Glaessgen</td>
<td>B. Riley Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Sell</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anthony Chukumba</td>
<td>Loop Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$520.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Baker</td>
<td>DA Davidson</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$435.00</td>
<td>$507.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dana Telsey</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kelly Crago</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$345.00</td>
<td>$375.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Susan Anderson</td>
<td>Canaccord Genuity</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$442.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adrienne Yih</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$335.00</td>
<td>$328.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Lasser</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$505.00</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Simeon Siegel</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$385.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Korinne Wolfmeyer</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$356.00</td>
<td>$404.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ike Boruchow</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$325.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Astrachan</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$385.00</td>
<td>$475.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oliver Chen</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$395.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rupesh Parikh</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$435.00</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Binetti</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$420.00</td>
<td>$430.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Olivia Tong</td>
<td>Raymond James</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lorraine Hutchinson</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$425.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Krisztina Katai</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$448.00</td>
<td>$552.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Susan Anderson</td>
<td>Canaccord Genuity</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$522.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dana Telsey</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Binetti</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$430.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Altschwager</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$485.00</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rupesh Parikh</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kate McShane</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$412.00</td>
<td>$475.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ike Boruchow</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$325.00</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Korinne Wolfmeyer</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$404.00</td>
<td>$494.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dana Telsey</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rupesh Parikh</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$475.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Korinne Wolfmeyer</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$494.00</td>
<td>$498.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adrienne Yih</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$355.00</td>
<td>$394.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Ulta Beauty. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Ulta Beauty compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Delving into movements, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Ulta Beauty's stock. This analysis reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of Ulta Beauty's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ULTA/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Ulta Beauty analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Ulta Beauty: A Closer Look</h2>
With 1,385 stores at the end of fiscal 2023 and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the US. The firm offers makeup (41% of 2023 sales), fragrances, skin care (19% of sales), and hair care products (19% of sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
<h3>Ulta Beauty: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization surpasses industry averages, showcasing a dominant size relative to peers and suggesting a strong market position.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Ulta Beauty showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 0.88% as of 31 July, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company stands out with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Consumer Discretionary sector.
Net Margin: Ulta Beauty's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 9.9%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Ulta Beauty's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 10.87%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 4.44%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.82.
<h2>The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts will also offer forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide further guidance on stocks. Investors who use analyst ratings should note that this specialized advice comes from humans and may be subject to error.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Expert Outlook: Ulta Beauty Through The Eyes Of 30 Analysts

B. Riley Securities analyst Anna Glaessgen initiates coverage on Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) with a Sell rating and announces Price Target of $300.

Initiation

B. Riley Securities Initiates Coverage On Ulta Beauty with Sell Rating, Announces Price Target of $300

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$59.4K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td>35.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GME</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$23.50</td>
<td>$118.5K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
<td>$47.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PTON</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$3.00</td>
<td>$73.3K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$136.00</td>
<td>$42.6K</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>840</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$101.4K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>807</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$29.5K</td>
<td>11.1K</td>
<td>663</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$36.6K</td>
<td>564</td>
<td>428</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$4.00</td>
<td>$27.4K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td>417</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARMK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
<td>$40.2K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>415</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on September 13, 2024. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $210.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 28 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $59.4K, with a price of $238.0 per contract. There were 7376 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 35726 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GME (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on September 13, 2024. Parties traded 474 contract(s) at a $23.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $118.5K, with a price of $250.0 per contract. There were 3620 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2079 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 1576 contract(s) at a $76.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 33 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.4K, with a price of $30.0 per contract. There were 1028 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1638 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PTON (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTON#NASDAQ">PTON</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 39 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 486 contract(s) at a $3.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $73.3K, with a price of $151.0 per contract. There were 5170 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1502 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ANF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on September 13, 2024. This event was a transfer of 142 contract(s) at a $136.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $42.6K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 9 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 840 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $101.4K, with a price of $406.0 per contract. There were 1735 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 807 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.5K, with a price of $1475.0 per contract. There were 11160 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 663 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ULTA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 37 contract(s) at a $380.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.6K, with a price of $990.0 per contract. There were 564 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 428 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 102 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 150 contract(s) at a $4.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.4K, with a price of $183.0 per contract. There were 2679 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 417 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ARMK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARMK#NYSE">ARMK</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 201 contract(s) at a $36.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.2K, with a price of $200.0 per contract. There were 1924 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 415 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ARMK

BABA

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

PTON

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$32.4K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>25.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$86.0K</td>
<td>6.9K</td>
<td>6.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$119.1K</td>
<td>12.7K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$152.50</td>
<td>$38.2K</td>
<td>61</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$367.50</td>
<td>$32.2K</td>
<td>43</td>
<td>154</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$44.5K</td>
<td>16.6K</td>
<td>146</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$69.2K</td>
<td>96</td>
<td>90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CPRI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$27.50</td>
<td>$29.7K</td>
<td>88</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$34.1K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$535.00</td>
<td>$119.4K</td>
<td>83</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 8 day(s) on September 13, 2024. Parties traded 51 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.4K, with a price of $635.0 per contract. There were 5457 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 25147 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 1 day(s) on September 6, 2024. Parties traded 400 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $86.0K, with a price of $215.0 per contract. There were 6949 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6318 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 134 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $160.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $119.1K, with a price of $596.0 per contract. There were 12759 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1888 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ROST (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROST#NASDAQ">ROST</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on September 6, 2024. This event was a transfer of 403 contract(s) at a $152.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 32 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.2K, with a price of $95.0 per contract. There were 61 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1244 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HD (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 8 day(s) on September 13, 2024. This event was a transfer of 142 contract(s) at a $367.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.2K, with a price of $227.0 per contract. There were 43 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 154 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 15 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.5K, with a price of $890.0 per contract. There were 16657 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 146 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 197 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 90 contract(s) at a $20.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $69.2K, with a price of $769.0 per contract. There were 96 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 90 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CPRI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPRI#NYSE">CPRI</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 43 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 30 contract(s) at a $27.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.7K, with a price of $990.0 per contract. There were 88 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 30 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 498 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 27 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.1K, with a price of $1265.0 per contract. There were 1489 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 27 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ULTA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 15 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 7 contract(s) at a $535.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $119.4K, with a price of $17070.0 per contract. There were 83 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 7 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

CPRI

CVNA

ROST

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ULTA usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 13 extraordinary options activities for Ulta Beauty. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 53% leaning bullish and 46% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $285,634, and 7 are calls, amounting to $317,876.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $170.0 to $450.0 for Ulta Beauty over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Ulta Beauty's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Ulta Beauty's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $170.0 to $450.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Ulta Beauty Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725549392_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$36.9</td>
<td>$34.2</td>
<td>$36.4</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$72.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">98</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$5.1</td>
<td>$4.9</td>
<td>$4.9</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$72.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">770</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">239</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$46.0</td>
<td>$42.6</td>
<td>$45.0</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$72.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">110</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$36.8</td>
<td>$35.9</td>
<td>$36.2</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$68.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">98</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$5.6</td>
<td>$4.9</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$44.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">770</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">91</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Ulta Beauty</h3>
With 1,385 stores at the end of fiscal 2023 and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the US. The firm offers makeup (41% of 2023 sales), fragrances, skin care (19% of sales), and hair care products (19% of sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Ulta Beauty, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Ulta Beauty Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 222,251, with ULTA's price up by 0.02%, positioned at $360.0.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 85 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Ulta Beauty</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $391.4.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Wells Fargo continues to hold a Underweight rating for Ulta Beauty, targeting a price of $300. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Telsey Advisory Group keeps a Outperform rating on Ulta Beauty with a target price of $500. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for Ulta Beauty, targeting a price of $335. </li>
<li>An analyst from Canaccord Genuity persists with their Buy rating on Ulta Beauty, maintaining a target price of $442. </li>
<li>An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Ulta Beauty, which currently sits at a price target of $380. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Ulta Beauty options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Ulta Beauty's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Loop Capital analyst Anthony Chukumba maintains Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $520 to $450.

Loop Capital Maintains Buy on Ulta Beauty, Lowers Price Target to $450

<h3>Gainers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Leslies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LESL#NASDAQ">LESL</a>) shares moved upwards by 10.0% to $2.75 during Monday's pre-market session. The company's market cap stands at $508.5 million. </li>
<li>Forza X1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRZA#NASDAQ">FRZA</a>) shares moved upwards by 9.12% to $0.26. The company's market cap stands at $4.0 million. </li>
<li>MGO Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGOL#NASDAQ">MGOL</a>) shares moved upwards by 9.09% to $3.6. The company's market cap stands at $9.3 million. </li>
<li>Perfect Moment (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PMNT#AMEX">PMNT</a>) shares rose 8.29% to $1.11. </li>
<li>Allurion Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALUR#NYSE">ALUR</a>) shares rose 8.14% to $0.73. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $46.9 million. </li>
<li>Lixiang Education Hldg (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LXEH#NASDAQ">LXEH</a>) shares increased by 6.64% to $0.27. The company's market cap stands at $3.1 million. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Losers</h3>
<ul>
<li>SRIVARU Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVMH#NASDAQ">SVMH</a>) shares fell 11.2% to $0.11 during Monday's pre-market session. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $4.2 million. </li>
<li>Allbirds (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIRD#NASDAQ">BIRD</a>) stock fell 9.13% to $0.65. The company's market cap stands at $102.6 million. </li>
<li>Four Seasons Education (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEDU#NYSE">FEDU</a>) stock fell 9.03% to $20.0. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $42.3 million. </li>
<li>Fitell (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTEL#NASDAQ">FTEL</a>) shares fell 7.34% to $15.15. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $304.5 million. </li>
<li>Raytech Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RAY#NASDAQ">RAY</a>) stock declined by 6.74% to $1.94. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $34.1 million. </li>
<li>Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) stock declined by 6.61% to $343.3. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $16.3 billion. As per the news, the Q2 earnings report came out 2 days ago. 
See Also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/best-consumer-cyclical-stocks/" title="www.benzinga.com/money/best-consumer-cyclical-stocks/">www.benzinga.com/money/best-consumer-cyclical-stocks/</a></li>
</ul>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ALUR

BIRD

FEDU

FRZA

FTEL

LESL

LXEH

MGOL

PMNT

SVMH

12 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Moving In Monday's Pre-Market Session

DA Davidson analyst Michael Baker maintains Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $507 to $435.

DA Davidson Maintains Buy on Ulta Beauty, Lowers Price Target to $435

Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey maintains Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $500 to $450.

Telsey Advisory Group Maintains Outperform on Ulta Beauty, Lowers Price Target to $450

Citigroup analyst Kelly Crago maintains Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $375 to $345.

Citigroup Maintains Neutral on Ulta Beauty, Lowers Price Target to $345

Wall Street is seeing a relatively timid session, with the major indices displaying a slight negative performance. 
While a timid rebound in semiconductor stocks is taking shape, aided by NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)&#8217;s pause of the sell-off in the previous session, the Dow Jones edged lower after reaching record <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40633329/us-stocks-rally-dow-jones-achieves-record-highs-as-gdp-outperforms-nvidia-falls-whats-driv">highs the day before.</a>
The weak risk sentiment on Friday threatens to end the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100's streak of three consecutive weekly rallies
The AI darling rose by 1% by midday in New York, contributing to the positive momentum in chipmakers, buoyed by strong earnings from Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>) and MongoDB Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDB#NASDAQ">MDB</a>).
On the data front, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge — the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Price Index — remained flat in July, breaking a three-month streak of declines.
While the index came in slightly below expectations of an increase, personal spending and income data accelerated more than anticipated, indicating that the positive momentum among U.S. consumers extended into the first month of the current quarter.
The dollar gained 0.3% on the back of the economic data, as traders trimmed expectations on a large 50-basis-point rate cut in September. The greenback&#8217;s strength pressured commodities: gold dropped 0.7%, while oil declined by 2.7%.
The sentiment in the cryptocurrency market remains negative, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) down 2.3%.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,367.31</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,588.51</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>41,177.11</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,192.94</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent083024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;was 0.1% lower to $557.38.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;fell 0.4% to $412.33.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) was up 0.1% to $470.97.</li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.6% to $217.58.</li>
<li>The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up by 0.1%. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down by 0.7%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>
<ul>
<li>Marvell Technology Inc. rose 9.1%; eer MongoDB Inc. soared 16%.</li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to company earnings included Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADSK#NASDAQ">ADSK</a>) up 1.7%, Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>) up 3%, Elastic N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESTC#NYSE">ESTC</a>) down over 27%, Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>) down about 0.7% and Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) down 4.3%).</li>
<li>Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) soared by 7.7% after rumors indicating he company is considering options, including separating its product design and manufacturing divisions.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40655318/ethereum-co-founders-2-1m-ether-transfer-raises-eyebrows-why-is-vitalik-buterin-dumping"> • Ethereum Co-Founder&#8217;s $2.1M Ether Transfer Raises Eyebrows: Why Is Vitalik Buterin Dumping?</a>
Photo: Lucky Photographer via Shutterstock

Chipmakers Tick Up As Nvidia Halts Sell-Off, Dollar Rises As Traders Revise Fed Wagers: What's Driving Markets Friday?

Ulta Beauty Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) shares are down on Friday, after the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40654581/whats-going-on-with-ulta-beauty-stock-friday">a second-quarter earnings miss</a>.
The company reported its results amid an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">exciting earnings season</a>. Here are some key analyst takeaways.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Goldman Sachs On Ulta Beauty</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/606da90a9e63ea00016f92d0/toshiya-hari">Analyst</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/606da90a9e63ea00016f92d0/toshiya-hari"> Kate McShane</a> maintained a Neutral rating while reducing the price target from $412 to $398.
Ulta Beauty reported a 1.2% decline in same-store sales, "driven by lower transactions (-1.8%) and higher ticket (+0.6%)," McShane said in a note. The company continued to lose market share in prestige, "largely driven by pressure in makeup and hair," he added.
"Factors driving the decline in comp store transactions include normalization in the beauty category and an increasingly value-focused consumer, competitive intensity in the category, operational disruption from the completion of the company's ERP transition, and incremental promotions, which did not deliver the expected sales lift in stores," the analyst wrote.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Stifel On Ulta Beauty</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/585aa876b5a482000151d0ec/mark-astrachan">Analyst Mark Astrachan</a> reiterated a Hold rating while cutting the price target from $475 to $385.
Ulta Beauty reported disappointing quarterly results, with EBIT of $329 million missing consensus of $344 million and weaker-than-forecast comp, which were down 1.2% versus expectations of 1.4% growth, Astrachan said. The company reduced its full-year guidance "across key metrics," he added.
The company's comp trends weakened through the second quarter, even with increased promotions, suggesting the "magnitude of challenges" it faces, the analyst stated. "Comp weakness reflects ongoing modest U.S. beauty category growth and most notably share loss, especially in prestige (hair and makeup) as competition (distribution points and promotions) pressures trends," he further wrote.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">BMO Capital Markets On Ulta Beauty</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/583f220faae83900016b3aee/simeon-siegel">Analyst Simeon Siege</a> maintained a Market Perform rating while slashing the price target from $500 to $385.
Ulta Beauty's revenues came in at around $2.552 billion, missing consensus of $2.612 billion, with a 1.2% decline comp, Siege said. "Sales decelerated throughout 2Q, with July the most challenged, though Digital accelerated throughout 2Q," he added.
Although management expects the trends witnessed in the first half to continue in the second half of the year, the 100 basis point (bps) change in EBIT margin "is largely a result of fixed cost deleverage on the worse-than-originally-expected sales trends," the analyst wrote. The company's inventory continued to grow, rising 10.1% year-on-year and 4.8% sequentially, he further stated.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Piper Sandler On Ulta Beauty</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/625eb91472b50e0001b1f6b5/korinne-wolfmeyer">Analyst </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/625eb91472b50e0001b1f6b5/korinne-wolfmeyer">Korinne Wolfmeyer</a> reaffirmed a Neutral rating while reducing the price target from $404 to $356.
Ulta Beauty's same-store sales decline is expected to continue in the fiscal third and fourth quarters, "with spending trends worsening throughout the quarter," Wolfmeyer said. Although trends did improve in August, "the midpoint of the guidance still implies overall deceleration," he added.
&nbsp;"Management&#8217;s commentary around efforts to re-accelerate the business were encouraging, but we&#8217;re not out of the woods with competitive rollout and the macro, and incremental promo tactics are not proving as effective yet," the analyst wrote.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">JPMorgan On Ulta Beauty</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/586bcbd9351b9b0001ab738c/matthew-boss">Analyst Christopher Horvers</a> reiterated an Overweight rating and price target of $450.
The company's second-quarter comp declined by 1.2% and gross margins contracted by 100 bps, Horvers said. Management slashed 2024 guidance, implying a 2% decline in comps in the back half, at the midpoint, and operating margins of 12.7%-13.0%, he added.
"The big question going forward is whether this is a clearing event, both in terms of the FY24 outlook and ahead of ULTA's October Analyst Day (where they provide a long-term outlook), with the mgmt team (and a new CFO) chasing numbers down since the start of the year," the analyst further wrote.
ULTA Price Action: Shares of Ulta Beauty had declined by 2.33% to $359.30 at the time of publication on Friday.
Photo: Freestocks for Unsplash

Canaccord Genuity analyst Susan Anderson maintains Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $500 to $442.

Canaccord Genuity Maintains Buy on Ulta Beauty, Lowers Price Target to $442

Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih maintains Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $328 to $335.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Ulta Beauty, Raises Price Target to $335

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Press Releases

Ulta Beauty Announces Strategic Mission Focused on Well-Being for Women and Teens

Ulta Beauty to Report First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results on May 30, 2024

Ulta Beauty to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences

Ulta Beauty Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

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Ulta Beauty to Report Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results on August 29, 2024

Ulta Beauty Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

Ulta Beauty Aims to Spread Joy Across Generations With The Joy Council

Ulta Beauty Announces 2024 MUSE Accelerator Cohort

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Ulta Beauty (ULTA) Forecast

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