Ulta Beauty posted better-than-expected second-quarter results
The shares of Ulta Beauty Inc (NASDAQ:ULTA) are up 0.2% to trade at $390.31 at last check, and earlier surged to a fresh record high of $414.98, after the company's strong second-quarter earnings report. The retailer posted profits of $4.56 per share -- much higher than the profits of $2.59 per share analysts anticipated -- as well as a revenue beat. Sales rose 60% as customers replenished their makeup supplies, leading Ulta Beauty to raise its full-year guidance.
In response, no fewer than 16 analysts chimed in with price-target hikes, with the highest coming from Cowen and Company to $490 from $385. Of the 21 analysts in question, 14 carry a "buy" or better rating on ULTA, while seven say "hold."
Options traders are chiming in on the results as well, and are similarly bullish. So far, 20,000 calls have crossed the tape, which is 25 times what is typically seen at this point, compared to 7,862 puts. The most popular positions are the weekly 8/27 420- and 410-strike calls, with new positions being opened at both.
If today's highs hold, the equity could nab its fifth-straight gain and third-straight record close. Year-over-year, Ulta Beauty stock is up 77.1%, with support coming from the 20-day moving average. It's worth noting that the security could be due for a short-term correction, however. This is per ULTA's 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 84, which sits firmly in "overbought" territory.