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Beauty and Cosmetics Retailer Q1 Earnings: Ulta (NASDAQ:ULTA) is the Best in the Biz

By: StockStory

July 29, 2025 at 23:30 PM EDT

ULTA Cover Image

Looking back on beauty and cosmetics retailer stocks’ Q1 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Ulta (NASDAQ: ULTA) and its peers.

Beauty and cosmetics retailers understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but a little lipstick, nail polish, and glowing skin also help the cause. These stores—which mostly cater to consumers but can also garner the attention of salon pros—aim to be a one-stop personal care and beauty products shop with many brands across many categories. E-commerce is changing how consumers buy cosmetics, so these retailers are constantly evolving to meet the customer where and how they want to shop.

The 4 beauty and cosmetics retailer stocks we track reported a mixed Q1. As a group, revenues along with next quarter’s revenue guidance were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

Luckily, beauty and cosmetics retailer stocks have performed well with share prices up 22.5% on average since the latest earnings results.

Best Q1: Ulta (NASDAQ: ULTA)

Offering high-end prestige brands as well as lower-priced, mass-market ones, Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA) is an American retailer that sells makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance products.

Ulta reported revenues of $2.85 billion, up 4.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Ulta scored the biggest analyst estimates beat and highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 21.9% since reporting and currently trades at $514.50.

We think Ulta is a good business, but is it a buy today? Read our full report here, it’s free.

Warby Parker (NYSE: WRBY)

Founded in 2010, Warby Parker (NYSE: WRBY) designs, manufactures, and sells eyewear, including prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses, through its e-commerce platform and physical retail locations.

Warby Parker reported revenues of $223.8 million, up 11.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 0.8%. However, the business still had a strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Warby Parker delivered the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 42.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $23.05.

Is now the time to buy Warby Parker? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q1: Bath and Body Works (NYSE: BBWI)

Spun off from L Brands in 2020, Bath & Body Works (NYSE: BBWI) is a personal care and home fragrance retailer where consumers can find specialty shower gels, scented candles for the home, and lotions.

Bath and Body Works reported revenues of $1.42 billion, up 2.9% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted EPS guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations significantly and full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $30.73.

Read our full analysis of Bath and Body Works’s results here.

Sally Beauty (NYSE: SBH)

Catering to both everyday consumers as well as salon professionals, Sally Beauty (NYSE: SBH) is a retailer that sells salon-quality beauty products such as makeup and haircare products.

Sally Beauty reported revenues of $883.1 million, down 2.8% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 2%. All in all, it was a mixed quarter for the company.

Sally Beauty had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 24.3% since reporting and currently trades at $10.16.

Read our full, actionable report on Sally Beauty here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

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