UL
ULTA
Feb 1, 2025
Quarter ended Feb 1, 2025 · FY2024 Q4

Ulta Beauty, Inc. stock research

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Feb 1, 2025

In the current quarter, free cash flow was positive with a healthy margin, driven by strong operating cash flow and reduced capital expenditure. Compared to the prior quarter, performance improved markedly, while relative to the same quarter last year, results were slightly lower.

Free cash flow takeaway

A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.

In the current quarter, free cash flow was positive with a healthy margin, driven by strong operating cash flow and reduced capital expenditure. Compared to the prior quarter, performance improved markedly, while relative to the same quarter last year, results were slightly lower.

  • Revenue generated substantial operating cash flow, and after deducting capital expenditure, free cash flow was robust, resulting in a solid free cash flow margin.
  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow turned positive from negative in the previous quarter, and while both were slightly lower than the same quarter last year, the margin remained strong.

FCF snapshot

Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.

TTM free cash flow

$964.1M

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$962.6M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$1.0B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$73.9M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

27.6%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2024-05-04$2.7B$159.3M$91.0M$68.3M2.5%
2024-08-03$2.6B$199.5M$95.3M$104.3M4.1%
2024-11-02$2.5B-$56.8M$114.2M-$171.1M-6.8%
2025-02-01$3.5B$1.0B$73.9M$962.6M27.6%

Cash conversion quality

Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.

FCF / net income244.8%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue2.1%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cashn/aCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Supportive

Operating Cash Flow Recovery

Operating cash flow swung from negative in the prior quarter to positive in the current quarter, significantly boosting free cash flow.

This recovery was the primary factor behind the improvement in free cash flow and margin.

What the cash flow says

How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.

Revenue generated substantial operating cash flow, and after deducting capital expenditure, free cash flow was robust, resulting in a solid free cash flow margin.

Operating cash flow and free cash flow turned positive from negative in the previous quarter, and while both were slightly lower than the same quarter last year, the margin remained strong.

Monitor capital expenditure levels, which decreased from both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, as they directly impact free cash flow.

ULTA Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Feb 1, 2025