-=Ulta Beauty (ULTA) reported earnings on Thur 15 March 18 (a/h)

Ulta Beauty misses by $0.03, reports revs in-line; guides AprQ EPS and revs below consensus; approves a new $625 mln share repurchase authorization 

• Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $2.75 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.03 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of $2.78; revenues rose 22.6% year/year to $1.94 bln vs the $1.94 bln Capital IQ Consensus.
  • Reports Q4 same store comps of +8.8%, driven by +6.2% transaction growth and +2.6% growth in average ticket; Retail comps +4.2%, including salon comps of +3.2%.
• Co issues downside guidance for Q1 (Apr), sees EPS of $2.43-2.48 vs. $2.66 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees Q1 revs of $1.506-1.519 bln vs. $1.52 bln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.
• FY18 Outlook:Sales in the low teens percentage range; comps of +6-8%, including the impact of e-commerce; co expects to grow e-commerce sales in the 40% range. Co expects to open approximately 100 new stores in FY18.
• Co also approves a new share repurchase authorization of $625 mln, which replaces the prior authorization implemented in March 2017.