Net Sales of $2.5 Billion Compared to $2.3 Billion in the Year-Ago Quarter

Comparable Sales Increased 8.0%

Net Income of $300.1 Million or $6.02 Per Diluted Share

Company Raises Outlook for Fiscal Year 2023

BOLINGBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) today announced financial results for the thirteen-week period (“second quarter”) and twenty-six-week period (“first six months”) ended July 29, 2023 compared to the same periods ended July 30, 2022.

“The Ulta Beauty team delivered another quarter of strong performance, with sales, gross profit, and SG&A expenses all better than our internal expectations. During the quarter, we drove growth across all major categories, increased the number of loyalty members, and strengthened engagement with the Ulta Beauty brand. In addition, our teams achieved important milestones for our multi-year, transformational investment agenda designed to drive efficiencies and support our future growth,” said Dave Kimbell, chief executive officer. “The beauty category has continued to deliver healthy growth, as consumers maintain their post-pandemic routines and expand their definition of beauty. Our proven business model, diverse assortment, best-in-class loyalty program, and outstanding teams have enabled us to deliver stronger-than expected results for the first half of fiscal 2023, and I remain confident we can deliver against our updated expectations for the rest of the year.”

For the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2023

• Net sales increased 10.1% to $2.5 billion compared to $2.3 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 primarily due to increased comparable sales, strong new store performance, and growth in other revenue.
• Comparable sales (sales for stores open at least 14 months and e-commerce sales) increased 8.0% compared to an increase of 14.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022, driven by a 9.0% increase in transactions and a 1.0% decrease in average ticket.
• Gross profit increased 7.1% to $993.6 million compared to $928.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit decreased to 39.3% compared to 40.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022, primarily due to lower merchandise margin, higher inventory shrink, and higher supply chain costs, partially offset by strong growth in other revenue and leverage of store fixed costs.
• Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased 12.4% to $600.7 million compared to $534.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses increased to 23.7% compared to 23.3% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022, primarily due to higher corporate overhead due to strategic investments, higher store payroll and benefits, and higher store expenses, partially offset by leverage of incentive compensation.
• Operating income increased to $391.6 million, or 15.5% of net sales, compared to $391.4 million, or 17.0% of net sales.
• Net interest income increased to $4.4 million compared to $0.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2022, due to higher average interest rates on cash balances.
• The tax rate decreased to 24.2% compared to 24.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022.
• Net income increased to $300.1 million compared to $295.7 million.
• Diluted earnings per share increased 5.6% to $6.02 compared to $5.70, including a $0.01 benefit due to income tax accounting for stock-based compensation.

For the First Six Months of Fiscal 2023

• Net sales increased 11.2% to $5.2 billion compared to $4.6 billion in the first six months of fiscal 2022, primarily due to increased comparable sales, strong new store performance, and growth in other revenue.
• Comparable sales increased 8.7% compared to an increase of 16.2% in the first six months of fiscal 2022, driven by a 10.1% increase in transactions and a 1.4% decrease in average ticket.
• Gross profit increased 9.6% to $2.0 billion compared to $1.9 billion in the first six months of fiscal 2022. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit decreased to 39.7% compared to 40.3% in the first six months of fiscal 2022, primarily due to higher inventory shrink, lower merchandise margin, and higher supply chain costs, partially offset by strong growth in other revenue and leverage of store fixed costs.
• SG&A expenses increased 17.1% to $1.2 billion compared to $1.0 billion in the first six months of fiscal 2022. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses increased to 23.5% compared to 22.3% in the first six months of fiscal 2022, primarily due to higher corporate overhead due to strategic investments, higher store payroll and benefits, and higher marketing expenses, partially offset by leverage of incentive compensation.
• Net interest income increased to $11.8 million compared to net interest expense of $0.3 million in the first six months of fiscal 2022, due to higher average interest rates on cash balances.
• Operating income increased to $833.7 million, or 16.1% of net sales, compared to $829.1 million, or 17.9% of net sales.
• The tax rate decreased to 23.5% compared to 24.3%.
• Net income increased to $647.2 million compared to $627.1 million.
• Diluted earnings per share increased 7.5% to $12.90, including a $0.14 benefit due to income tax accounting for stock-based compensation, compared to $12.00, including a $0.03 benefit due to income tax accounting for stock-based compensation.

Balance Sheet

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2023 totaled $388.6 million.

Merchandise inventories, net at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2023 increased 9.0% to $1.82 billion compared to $1.67 billion at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2022. The increase was primarily due to inventory to support higher sales demand, 37 net new stores, product cost increases, and new brand launches.

Share Repurchase Program

During the second quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company repurchased 593,629 shares of its common stock at a cost of $275.5 million. During the first six months of fiscal 2023, the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $559.0 million. As of July 29, 2023, $541.0 million remained available under the $2.0 billion share repurchase program announced in March 2022.

Store Update

Real estate activity in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 included three new stores located in Crestview, FL; Lebanon, TN; and Lynchburg, VA. In addition, the Company relocated two stores and remodeled three stores. During the first six months of fiscal 2023, the Company opened eight new stores, relocated three stores, remodeled five stores, and closed one store.

At the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company operated 1,362 stores totaling 14.3 million square feet.

Fiscal 2023 Outlook

The Company has updated its outlook for fiscal 2023.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss second quarter of fiscal 2023 results is scheduled for today, August 24, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. CT. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 704-4453. The conference call will also be webcast live at https://ulta.com/investor. A replay of the webcast will remain available for 90 days. A replay of the conference call will be available until 11:59 p.m. ET on September 7, 2023 and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512‑2921 and entering conference ID number 13739561.

About Ulta Beauty

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest specialty U.S. beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. In 1990, the Company reinvented the beauty retail experience by offering a new way to shop for beauty – bringing together All Things Beauty, All in One Place®. Today, Ulta Beauty operates 1,362 retail stores across 50 states and also distributes its products through its website, which includes a collection of tips, tutorials, and social content. For more information, visit www.ulta.com.

Forward‑Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “strategies” or other comparable words. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon the Company’s historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future plans, estimates, targets, strategies or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation:

• macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, rising interest rates and recessionary concerns, as well as ongoing labor pressures, transportation and shipping cost pressures, and the COVID-19 pandemic, have had, and may continue to have, a negative impact on our business, financial condition, profitability, and cash flows (including future uncertain impacts);
• changes in the overall level of consumer spending and volatility in the economy, including as a result of the macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical events;
• our ability to sustain our growth plans and successfully implement our long-range strategic and financial plan;
• the ability to execute our operational excellence priorities, including continuous improvement, Project SOAR (our replacement enterprise resource planning platform), and supply chain optimization;
• our ability to gauge beauty trends and react to changing consumer preferences in a timely manner;
• the possibility that we may be unable to compete effectively in our highly competitive markets;
• the possibility of significant interruptions in the operations of our distribution centers, fast fulfillment centers, and market fulfillment centers;
• the possibility that cybersecurity or information security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information or result in the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information;
• the possibility of material disruptions to our information systems, including our Ulta.com website and mobile applications;
• the failure to maintain satisfactory compliance with applicable privacy and data protection laws and regulations;
• changes in the good relationships we have with our brand partners and/or our ability to continue to offer permanent or temporary exclusive products of our brand partners;
• changes in the wholesale cost of our products and/or interruptions at our brand partners’ or third-party vendors’ operations;
• future epidemics, pandemics or natural disasters could negatively impact sales;
• the possibility that new store openings and existing locations may be impacted by developer or co-tenant issues;
• our ability to attract and retain key executive personnel;
• the impact of climate change on our business operations and/or supply chain;
• our ability to successfully execute our common stock repurchase program or implement future common stock repurchase programs;
• a decline in operating results may lead to asset impairment and store closure charges; and
• other risk factors detailed in the Company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including risk factors contained in its Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2023, as such may be amended or supplemented in its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

The Company’s filings with the SEC are available at www.sec.gov. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Investor Contacts:

Kiley Rawlins, CFA

Vice President, Investor Relations

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Crystal Carroll

Director, Public Relations

[email protected]

Source: Ulta Beauty, Inc.