Boston, MA 03/14/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) is best known as a beauty retailer. The company provides prestigious beauty products and services across the U.S. And as other retailers in the country have been consolidating by shrinking location presence, the company is out to build an empire with more than a hundred stores coming up almost every year.
In the latest performance results which reveal how the company conducted businesses in the fourth quarter and the full-year 2013, there are several areas that investors need to understand better.
Latest earnings data
In the latest performance numbers, Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) reported that revenue in the fourth quarter was up 14.4 percent year-over-year to $868 million. Yet, analysts expected revenue to come in at $856 million. For the full-year 2013, revenue rose 20.3 percent to $2.67 billion.
As for the earnings, the company reported $1.09 per share in the fourth quarter, ahead of 2 cents that Street had estimated.
Explaining the strong numbers
With both fourth quarter and fiscal 2013 resulting coming strongly, we find that compelling comparable store sales were responsible for the growth noted. The holiday season was particular rewarding for the beauty retailer. Also adding on to the gain was online sales which noted a surprise surge of 82.5 percent compared with last year’s performance. Expansion of outlets and release of new popular brands was yet another support area for the company towards registering earnings growth.
Management sentiment
From the management standpoint, the company’s compelling growth came on the back of well choreographed strategies. These strategies included remodeling, efficiency in the supply chain, building of a vibrant e-commerce platforms and strong brand awareness among others. According to Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) CEO Mary Dillon, what the company has done is far from a quick fix to win investor confidence. Instead, it is a plot towards long-term growth. In other words, investors can look back here in the next report for event stronger results.
In 2013, the company created 127 more stores, bringing the totals number of store in the year to 675. This year it plans to add 100 more stores and remodel several others. The target is to have 1,200 stores in the future.
Conclusion
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) is emerging as generally strong business and stock with potential to put massive profits into the hands of investors.
