RGS vs ULTA

For growth investors, Ulta Beauty, Inc.

(ULTA) is the stronger pick with 9. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Regis Corporation (RGS). Regis Corporation (RGS) offers the better valuation at 0. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) a "Buy" — based on 47 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Regis Corporation (RGS) is the cheapest at 0.

6x versus Ulta Beauty, Inc. at 20. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, Ulta Beauty, Inc.

(ULTA) delivered a total return of +63. 1%, compared to -85. 5% for Regis Corporation (RGS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ULTA returned +152. 6% versus RGS's -89. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ulta Beauty, Inc.

(ULTA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Regis Corporation's 0. 79β — meaning RGS is approximately 5% more volatile than ULTA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 78% versus 189% for Regis Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ulta Beauty, Inc.

(ULTA) is pulling ahead at 9. 7% versus 3. 5% for Regis Corporation (RGS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Regis Corporation grew EPS 13. 9% year-over-year, compared to 1. 2% for Ulta Beauty, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ULTA leads at 6. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Regis Corporation (RGS) is the more profitable company, earning 58.

8% net margin versus 9. 3% for Ulta Beauty, Inc. — meaning it keeps 58. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ULTA leads at 39. 1% versus 9. 5% for RGS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ULTA leads at 39. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ulta Beauty, Inc.

(ULTA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), +152. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ULTA: +152. 6%, RGS: -89. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: RGS is a small-cap deep-value stock; ULTA is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.