UL

Ulta Beauty, Inc. stock research

Feb 3, 2024

FY2023 Q4

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) Gross Margin — Quarter Ended Feb 3, 2024

Revenue and gross profit both increased compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, while cost of revenue also rose. Gross margin weakened slightly from the prior quarter but was stable compared to the same quarter last year.

Gross margin takeaway

Quarter ended Feb 3, 2024 · FY2023 Q4

Revenue and gross profit both increased compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, while cost of revenue also rose. Gross margin weakened slightly from the prior quarter but was stable compared to the same quarter last year.

  • The strongest observable margin driver is the relationship between revenue growth and cost of revenue growth; revenue increased more than cost of revenue compared to the same quarter last year, supporting gross profit expansion.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, gross margin was lower as cost of revenue grew at a faster pace relative to revenue. Compared to the same quarter last year, gross margin was essentially unchanged.

Gross margin snapshot

The selected quarter's reported revenue, gross profit, direct costs, and margin comparisons.

Gross margin

37.7%

Gross profit

$1.3B

Revenue

$3.6B

Cost of revenue

$2.2B

Quarter-over-quarter change

-2.1 pts

Year-over-year change

+0.1 pts

Quarterly gross margin trend

A four-quarter view of the revenue and direct-cost bridge behind gross margin.

PeriodRevenueGross profitCost of revenueGross margin
Apr 29, 2023$2.6B$1.1B$1.6B40.0%
Jul 29, 2023$2.5B$993.6M$1.5B39.3%
Oct 28, 2023$2.5B$992.1M$1.5B39.9%
Feb 3, 2024$3.6B$1.3B$2.2B37.7%

Quarterly comparisons

Compare the selected margin with the preceding quarter and the same fiscal quarter one year earlier.

Previous-quarter change

Oct 28, 2023

-2.1 pts

Year-over-year change

Jan 28, 2023

+0.1 pts

What the margin says

Filing-constrained interpretation of margin direction, comparisons, and what to monitor next.

The strongest observable margin driver is the relationship between revenue growth and cost of revenue growth; revenue increased more than cost of revenue compared to the same quarter last year, supporting gross profit expansion.

Compared to the prior quarter, gross margin was lower as cost of revenue grew at a faster pace relative to revenue. Compared to the same quarter last year, gross margin was essentially unchanged.

Monitor the trajectory of cost of revenue relative to revenue in upcoming quarters to assess margin sustainability.