Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc.’s fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped 49 percent, and core results topped its upbeat expectations amid continued strength in same-store sales.
Shares edged up 0.9 percent, to $42.50, after hours as the company also forecast current-quarter earnings of 29 to 31 cents a share, topping the 27-cent average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. The company predicted sales of $364 million to $370 million, compared to analysts’ $371 million.
The beauty-products retailer has continued to report strong top-line and profit growth. It went public right before the recession but has seen strong performance since.
For the quarter ended Jan. 29, Ulta posted a profit of $30.1 million, or 49 cents a share, up from $20.2 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest result included a 2-cent tax benefit and a 1-cent compensation charge. Net sales jumped 20 percent, to $473.7 million, as same-store sales increased 10 percent.
The company was expecting adjusted earnings of 44 cents to 45 cents on $463 million to $467 million in sales after raising its guidance in January.
Gross margin widened to 33.1 percent from 32 percent.
The company opened five stores in the quarter, ending with 389, up from 346 a year earlier. Square footage was up 13 percent on the year.
