Ulta Beauty's Earnings Exceed Expectations in Q4, but Overall Outlook Disappoints

For the current fiscal year, the cosmetics retailer expects unchanged or a 1% increase in comparable store sales. Ulta Beauty lost market share for the first time in 2024 and provided a worse earnings forecast for 2025 than expected. However, in after-hours trading, shares rose due to a profit increase in the fourth quarter that surpassed Wall Street's expectations. In her first earnings announcement since her appointment as CEO, Kecia Steelman addressed the increasingly competitive environment and introduced her new strategy "Ulta Beauty Unleashed."...