Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. said Thursday that revenue at stores open at least a year surged 9.5 percent for its seven-week holiday period. The strong performance prompted the beauty retailer to boost its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and revenue outlooks. Its stock jumped $1.60, or 4.6 percent, to $36.12 in morning trading.
“Our sales strength was broad based across categories and was achieved primarily through higher traffic as well as slightly higher average ticket,” President and CEO Chuck Rubin said in a statement.
Total revenue for the period from Nov. 14, 2010 through Jan. 1 rose 18.4 percent to $310.4 million.
Ulta now anticipates fourth-quarter earnings of 43 cents to 44 cents per share, or earnings of 44 cents to 45 cents per share excluding a one-time compensation charge of a penny. The company, based in Bolingbrook, Ill., now expects quarterly revenue between $463 million and $467 million
Its prior guidance called for adjusted earnings of 40 cents to 42 cents per share on revenue of $447 million to $456 million. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect earnings of 41 cents per share on revenue of $458 million, on average.
Ulta also raised its forecast for fourth-quarter revenue at stores open at least a year. It now anticipates that figure will rise 8 percent to 9 percent, compared with prior expectations for a 4 percent to 6 percent increase.
The company currently runs 389 retail stores in 39 states.
