Market Overview - U.S. stock markets began 2026 positively, with major indexes like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite rising by 1.7%, 1.4%, and 1% respectively in January, while the Russell 2000 increased by over 5% [2] Investment Opportunities - Five stocks with favorable Zacks Rank and momentum for February include Amphenol Corp. (APH), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX), Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA), Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE), and KLA Corp. (KLAC), all rated as Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) with a Momentum Score of A [3] Amphenol Corp. (APH) - Amphenol benefits from a diversified business model and holds a 33% market share in AI-powered data center interconnects, with strong demand for high-speed and power interconnect products [5][6] - Increased spending on defense technologies and strong demand across Commercial Air, Industrial, and IT Datacom sectors support top-line growth [6] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 24.1% and 30.2% respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [9] Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) - Seagate is experiencing strong demand driven by cloud and AI, with a focus on balancing performance and cost efficiency [10] - High-capacity nearline production is booked through 2026, ensuring strong demand visibility [11] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 24.6% and 52.6% respectively, with a 6.5% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [14] Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA) - Ulta's retail model combines mass, prestige, and luxury beauty, driving consistent customer engagement [15] - Strong loyalty programs and digital capabilities enhance customer relationships and repeat purchases [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 6.1% and 11.4% respectively, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [18] Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE) - Coeur Mining is a primary silver and gold producer with operations in the Americas, including key properties in Mexico, Bolivia, Nevada, and Alaska [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 30.2% and over 100% respectively, with a 10.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last month [20] KLA Corp. (KLAC) - KLA is benefiting from strong demand in the semiconductor industry, particularly in AI infrastructure and advanced packaging [21] - The company’s leadership in process control systems supports revenue growth amid increasing design complexity [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 7.92% and 8.8% respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [23]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Ulta Beauty (ULTA), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank for making informed investment decisions [1][5]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - Ulta Beauty has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.79, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 26 brokerage firms' recommendations [2]. - Out of the 26 recommendations, 16 are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 61.5%, while one is classified as Buy, making up 3.9% of the total [2]. Group 2: Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - The article highlights that brokerage recommendations may not be reliable indicators of stock performance due to the vested interests of brokerage firms, which often lead to a bias in favor of positive ratings [6][11]. - Research indicates that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, there are five "Strong Buy" recommendations, suggesting a significant bias in the ratings provided by analysts [6]. Group 3: Zacks Rank as an Alternative - The Zacks Rank is presented as a more reliable tool for predicting near-term stock performance, based on earnings estimate revisions rather than brokerage recommendations [8][12]. - The Zacks Rank is distinct from the ABR, as it is a quantitative model that reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, while the ABR may not always be up-to-date [10][13]. Group 4: Ulta's Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ulta has increased by 0.2% over the past month to $25.57, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [14]. - This increase in earnings estimates has contributed to Ulta receiving a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting a positive outlook for the stock [15].

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, with the aim of buying high and selling higher, capitalizing on established price movements [1] Company Overview: Ulta Beauty (ULTA) - Ulta Beauty currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong momentum characteristics [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting a favorable outlook based on historical performance metrics [3] Performance Metrics - Over the past week, Ulta's shares increased by 3.41%, while the Zacks Retail - Miscellaneous industry remained flat [5] - In the last month, Ulta's stock price rose by 7.32%, outperforming the industry's 0.69% [5] - Over the past quarter, Ulta's shares have increased by 26.06%, and over the last year, they have gained 57.61%, compared to the S&P 500's increases of 1.81% and 17.32%, respectively [6] Trading Volume - Ulta's average 20-day trading volume is 486,125 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, 12 earnings estimates for Ulta have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $24.26 to $25.57 [9] - For the next fiscal year, 12 estimates have also moved upwards without any downward revisions [9] Conclusion - Given the strong performance metrics and positive earnings outlook, Ulta Beauty is positioned as a 1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A, making it a compelling investment opportunity [11]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the cosmetics industry [7]. Core Insights - The U.S. beauty market is experiencing a notable divide, with consumers becoming more selective in their purchases, leading to a stronger performance in the high-end segment compared to mass-market products [1]. - Estee Lauder's "Beauty Reimagined" strategy is showing early signs of success, with market share recovery in the U.S. and significant growth in China after a period of decline [2]. - ULTA Beauty reported strong same-store sales growth, leading to an upward revision of its revenue guidance for FY25 [3]. - Smaller players in the beauty and medical aesthetics sectors are facing challenges, with many reporting declining revenues [4]. - K-beauty brands are performing exceptionally well in the U.S., with significant export growth and market share gains [5]. Summary by Sections U.S. Beauty Market Overview - The U.S. high-end and mass beauty markets grew by 4% and 5% year-over-year respectively in Q1-Q3 2025, with mass fragrances showing the strongest growth [1]. - Consumers are cutting back on non-essential spending, impacting overall market performance, but brands like ELF and Coty are still facing challenges [1]. Estee Lauder's Strategy - The new CEO's "Beauty Reimagined" strategy is effectively attracting new consumers and has led to a recovery in market share in the U.S. and China [2]. - The company's stock has rebounded approximately 130% since April 2025, although it remains below its peak market value of $133.9 billion from December 2021 [2]. ULTA Beauty Performance - ULTA reported a 6.3% year-over-year increase in same-store sales for Q3, exceeding Bloomberg consensus estimates [3]. - The company has raised its FY25 revenue guidance to $12.3 billion, with same-store sales growth projected between 4.4% and 4.7% [3]. Challenges for Smaller Players - Smaller beauty and medical aesthetics companies are struggling, with ELF reporting a -3% organic revenue growth in FY26Q2, and Coty experiencing five consecutive quarters of revenue decline in the Americas [4]. - Medical aesthetics companies like InMode are facing significant revenue drops, with a 28% year-over-year decline reported for Q3 2025 [4]. K-beauty Market Performance - South Korea's beauty exports to the U.S. reached $1.75 billion in 2025, marking a 13% year-over-year increase, making the U.S. the largest export market for Korean beauty products [5]. - New entrants like APR are gaining market share rapidly, with significant sales growth in the U.S. [5].

Market Overview - Stocks are showing gains after two weeks of decline, with the Dow up about 320 points or 0.67% [1] - The NASDAQ Composite is up over 0.5%, while the S&P 500 is performing similarly [2] - The Russell 2000, which had a record 14-day outperformance, is down approximately 0.3% [3] Bond Market and Currency - Yields in the bond market are down, with the 10-year Treasury yield at 4.21%, down three basis points [3] - The US dollar index has decreased by 0.5% amid potential currency intervention by the Bank of Japan [4] Sector Performance - Technology is leading the large-cap sectors, with notable performances from companies like Apple and Broadcom [4][5] - Consumer stocks are facing challenges, particularly in large-cap, with Nvidia down 0.7% and AMD down 3% [6] - Utilities and communication services are outperforming the S&P 500, while consumer discretionary and energy sectors are slightly in the red [5][6] Commodities - Natural gas prices have surged by 25% today, rising from $3 to $6.50 per unit due to increased heating demand [7][8] - Gold futures are above $5,000 an ounce, with Goldman Sachs raising their price target for gold [9] Corporate Developments - Microsoft has announced its new AI chip, the Maya 200, aimed at competing with Google and Amazon's chips, and reducing reliance on Nvidia [29][30] - GameStop's stock is seeing a boost after investor Michael Burry disclosed his bullish stance on the company [58][60] - CoreWeave has received a $2 billion investment from Nvidia to expand its AI cloud capabilities [63] Economic Outlook - Analysts expect a potential hit to US GDP in Q1, estimating a decrease of 0.5% to 1.5% [13] - The Fed is anticipated to maintain interest rates steady, with no cuts expected until at least June [92][94] CEO Responses to Social Issues - CEOs from major companies are publicly calling for de-escalation in response to unrest in Minneapolis, marking a rare moment of corporate intervention [39][40]

Core Viewpoint - Ulta Beauty is launching "Wellness by Ulta," a dedicated shop-in-shop retail concept aimed at enhancing the in-store wellness experience, moving beyond mere product merchandising to provide education and guidance for consumers [3][8] Group 1: Concept Development - The "Wellness by Ulta" initiative is being rolled out in four locations: Columbus, Ohio; Short Pump, Virginia; and Peabody, Massachusetts, showcasing Ulta's commitment to evolving wellness into an experiential retail format [3] - The concept aims to deliver discovery, education, and trusted guidance, positioning Ulta as a credible destination for wellness shoppers [3][4] Group 2: Brand Collaborations - Ulta is partnering with wellness brands like The Nue Co, which will exclusively launch mood-boosting fragrances in over 1,000 Ulta locations, emphasizing the importance of trained staff in the wellness section [4][5] - Another brand featured in Ulta's wellness corners is Naomi Watts' "Stripes Beauty," which focuses on personal care solutions for perimenopause and menopause, indicating Ulta's intent to cater to diverse consumer needs [6] Group 3: Market Trends - The boundaries between beauty and wellness are increasingly blurring, with beauty brands adopting wellness language and wellness brands framing well-being as a pathway to beauty [7] - Ulta's wellness concept reflects a broader trend in the retail industry, where beauty retailers are evolving into trusted destinations for holistic guidance and education, potentially capturing a more engaged and loyalty-driven consumer base [8]

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty, Inc. has announced its first store opening in the United Arab Emirates, set to debut at Mall of the Emirates on January 29, in partnership with Alshaya Group [1] - The UAE store will follow the opening of Ulta's first Middle East store in Kuwait, which launched in November 2025 [1] - The company plans to expand further in the region with additional stores at Dubai Mall and Red Sea Mall in Jeddah later in 2026 [2] Product Offering - The UAE store will feature a wide range of products including makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrance, and beauty services [2] - The curated assortment will include products from both prestige and emerging brands, featuring names such as Ulta Beauty Collection, Ôrəbella, Morphe, Polite Society, and LolaVie [2][3] - Global brands like Peter Thomas Roth and RMS will also be available alongside local labels [3] Events and Promotions - Ulta Beauty will host pre-launch and launch-week events that include live demonstrations and appearances by regional founders [4] - The opening day will feature an appearance by actress Nadine Njeim, founder of Nadine Njeim Beauty, with events scheduled from January 30 to February 7 [4] - These events will include product demonstrations and showcases of local entrepreneurs [4] Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Ulta Beauty shares increased by 0.79%, trading at $687.16 [5]

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty, Inc. has announced its first store opening in the United Arab Emirates, set to debut at Mall of the Emirates on January 29, in partnership with Alshaya Group [1] - The UAE store will follow the opening of Ulta's first Middle East store in Kuwait, which launched in November 2025 [1] - The company plans to expand further in the region with additional stores at Dubai Mall and Red Sea Mall in Jeddah later in 2026 [2] Product Offering - The UAE store will feature a wide range of products including makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrance, and beauty services [2] - The curated assortment will include products from both prestige and emerging brands, such as Ulta Beauty Collection, Ôrəbella, Morphe, Polite Society, and LolaVie [2] - Global brands like Peter Thomas Roth and RMS will also be available alongside local labels [3] Events and Promotions - Ulta Beauty will host pre-launch and launch-week events featuring live demonstrations and appearances by regional founders [4] - The opening day will feature an appearance by actress Nadine Njeim, founder of Nadine Njeim Beauty [4] - Events from January 30 to February 7 will include product demonstrations and showcases of local entrepreneurs [4] Company Performance - Following the announcement, Ulta Beauty shares increased by 0.79%, trading at $687.16 [5]

Core Insights - Ulta Beauty is set to enter the UAE market with its first store opening at Mall of the Emirates on January 29, 2026, in partnership with Alshaya Group, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy [1][5] Group 1: Company Expansion - The opening in the UAE follows Ulta Beauty's first store launch in Kuwait on November 7, 2025, and will be succeeded by additional stores in Dubai Mall and Red Sea Mall in Jeddah [1][5] - Ulta Beauty aims to enhance its presence in the Middle East with further store openings planned, including Dubai Mall on March 27, 2026, and Red Sea Mall on May 7, 2026 [5] Group 2: Product Offering - The Mall of the Emirates store will feature a comprehensive beauty destination, offering a wide range of products including makeup, skincare, hair care, and fragrance from both prestige and emerging brands [2] - Exclusive US brands such as Ulta Beauty Collection, Ôrbella, and Morphe will be available alongside global favorites like Peter Thomas Roth and RMS, as well as new local brands [2] Group 3: Launch Events - To celebrate its UAE debut, Ulta Beauty will host a series of prelaunch and launch week events, featuring regional beauty brand founders and live demonstrations [3][4] - The launch will include appearances by notable figures such as actress Nadine Njeim and singer Balqees Fathi, enhancing community engagement and brand visibility [3][4] Group 4: Partnership and Leadership - Alshaya Group's CEO John Hadden expressed pride in partnering with Ulta Beauty, emphasizing the significance of this launch for their beauty portfolio and customer experience in the region [5] - Ulta Beauty's President Kecia Steelman highlighted the UAE launch as a milestone in their Middle East expansion, focusing on creating a unique beauty experience [5][6]

Company Overview - Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) has a market cap of $30.3 billion and is a specialty beauty retailer offering a variety of branded and private-label products, including cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, and bath and body products, along with in-store beauty services [1] Financial Performance - Analysts expect Ulta to report an adjusted EPS of $7.91 for fiscal Q4 2025, which is a decrease of 6.5% from $8.46 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, the forecasted adjusted EPS is $25.54, a slight increase from $25.34 in fiscal 2024, with an anticipated growth of 11.2% year-over-year to $28.41 in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Ulta Beauty's shares have increased by 62.9% over the past 52 weeks, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's gain of 13.6% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF's return of 6.6% during the same period [4] - Following the Q3 2025 results announcement, Ulta's shares jumped 12.7% after reporting an EPS of $5.14 and revenue of $2.86 billion, driven by a 12.9% year-over-year increase in net sales and a gross margin expansion to 40.4% [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus view on Ulta stock is cautiously optimistic, with an overall "Moderate Buy" rating from 26 analysts, including 16 recommending "Strong Buy," one suggesting "Moderate Buy," eight indicating "Hold," and one advising "Strong Sell" [6] - The stock is currently trading above the average analyst price target of $662.95 [6]