Ulta Beauty Raises 2026 Outlook Following Better-than-Expected Q2 Results
Ulta Beauty is having a stronger year than expected. The beauty retailer raised its fiscal 2026 outlook after second quarter sales and earnings came in ahead of Wall Street expectations. The results show that beauty shoppers are still willing to spend, even as households remain careful about prices. Fragrance, exclusive products, new stores, and stronger customer engagement helped Ulta Beauty keep shoppers interested during the quarter.
For the 13 weeks ended August 1, 2026, Ulta Beauty reported net sales of $3.04 billion. That marked an 8.9% increase from $2.79 billion during the same period last year. Comparable sales increased 3.8% during the quarter. Ulta said the gain was mainly driven by a 3.9% increase in the average amount customers spent per transaction.
Profit growth added another positive sign. Net income increased 8.1% from $260.9 million to $282 million, while operating income climbed 10.1% to nearly $380 million. Diluted earnings per share reached $6.55, up 13.3% from $5.78 a year earlier. Both quarterly sales and earnings per share topped analyst expectations, giving Ulta more confidence about the rest of fiscal 2026.
Fragrance Sales are Giving Ulta Beauty a Major Boost
WWD / Comparable fragrance sales grew at a high teen rate as shoppers continued spending on scents across different price ranges.
New releases from major fragrance brands helped keep demand strong. Product innovation also gave customers more reasons to return as brands introduced fresh scents, formats, and collections throughout the season.
Fragrance has become a larger part of Ulta’s overall business. The category represented about 13% of second quarter net sales, compared with 12% during the same quarter last year. The change looks even stronger across the first half of the fiscal year. Fragrance generated about 13% of sales during the first 26 weeks of 2026, compared with 11% during the comparable period last year.
The cosmetics giant is also building around wellness, another area attracting younger beauty shoppers. The company has been adding products and experiences that connect traditional beauty categories with self-care and everyday wellness routines.
Exclusive Brands are Becoming a Powerful Sales Engine
Fragrance is only part of Ulta Beauty’s growth story. Exclusive products are becoming increasingly important, with brands available only through Ulta or through limited retail channels now accounting for nearly half of company sales.
Celebrity-backed beauty launches have also helped generate attention. These releases can attract large audiences quickly, especially when creators and fans start sharing product reviews, tutorials, and first impressions across social media.
Ulta has been leaning further into platforms where younger customers already spend their time. Its presence on TikTok Shop gives the retailer another way to reach Gen Z shoppers without relying entirely on traditional stores or its own website. During the second quarter, the company opened 13 new stores, adding more locations where customers can test products and discover new brands in person.
Ulta ended the quarter with 1,622 stores across its operations, including 1,534 locations in the United States. Its international footprint has also expanded through businesses and partnerships outside the U.S. The acquisition of British luxury beauty retailer Space NK contributed to the increase in quarterly sales.
Strong Q2 Results Give Ulta More Confidence for 2026
Rare Beauty / IG / Ulta Beauty’s strong first half has encouraged management to raise its fiscal 2026 financial guidance. The company now expects annual net sales growth between 6.7% and 7.2%.
That range is higher than its previous forecast of 6% to 7% growth. Comparable sales are now expected to rise between 3.2% and 3.7%, compared with the earlier forecast of 2.5% to 3.5%.
Ulta also expects diluted earnings per share between $28.70 and $29 for the full year. The higher forecast signals that management expects current sales momentum to remain healthy through the rest of the fiscal year. Expansion remains part of that plan. Ulta expects to open about 60 new stores during fiscal 2026 while relocating seven existing locations and remodeling roughly 40 stores.
The company is also putting more money behind its own shares. Ulta increased its planned fiscal 2026 stock repurchases to $1.8 billion from its previous target of $1.5 billion.