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ULTAUlta Beauty, Inc.Sell6.0·$470.75-1.50%
ULTA · Why this verdict

Why Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score6.0/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

6.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E7.1
P/S9.2
EV/EBITDA4.7
Fwd P/E8.0
PEG4.9
Analyst target7.5
  • Forward P/E: 15.0x
  • PEG: 1.61

Quality

6.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE10.0
ROA10.0
Gross margin4.6
Op margin5.7
Net margin4.7
Current ratio4.9
FCF quality6.1
Moat6.8
Piotroski F7.8
  • Excellent ROE: 47%
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9

Growth

5.2/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth5.3
EPS growth5.1

Momentum

3.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.5
MACD0.0
OBV10.0
MA position1.5
Volume2.1
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Below 200-MA, MA slope flat

Sentiment

7.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
LLM sentiment6.5
Analyst rating7.5
Price target8.8
  • Analyst upside: 33%

Insider

5.0/10data confidence 50%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change5.1
  • Negligible insider selling — $243,759 (0.001% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

5.9/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank3.9
quality rank7.5
growth rank7.2

Technical

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger7.8
support resistance8.2
52w position3.2

Risk (lower is worse)

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest7.3
days to cover7.4
volatility4.0
put call6.4
implied vol5.8
max pain risk7.0
beta7.8
debt equity5.6
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

6.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history6.7
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg7.1
news activity7.0
  • Strong earnings: 3B/1M

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_SELL
Passed (7)
  • ASYMMETRY:2.9>=1.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • NEWS_BOOST:ANALYST:0.40
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:78d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
  • MOMENTUM:3.6<4.5
  • DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK
Warning (0)

none

Reward-to-Risk
2.90
Upside
+19.7%
Downside
6.8%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupUNKNOWN No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityMODERATE Balanced profile

Investment implication

The F-path SELL output reflects an overall score of 4.5 below the 5.6 soft trigger — multiple weakening dimensions accumulated rather than a single hard-floor breach. The strongest dimension ( Sentiment at 7.6) was not enough to lift the adjusted overall above the threshold. Co-occurring failed gates ( MOMENTUM:3.6<4.5, DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK) reinforce the read. Current asymmetry R:R is 2.90 — supplementary context, not the trigger for this path.

The strongest dimensions are Sentiment at 7.6, Value at 6.9, and Quality at 6.7; the weakest are Momentum at 3.6, Insider at 5.0, and Growth at 5.2. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 2.90 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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