Ulta Salon Profit Tops Estimate

(RTTNews) - Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc (ULTA) Thursday reported third-quarter net earnings of $59 million or $0.91 per share compared with $45.4 million or $0.70 per share last year.

On average, 17 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $0.84 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Revenues for the quarter were up 20.5 percent at $745.7 million compared with $618.8 million in the prior year. Fifteen analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $734 million for the quarter.

Comparable sales for the quarter climbed 9.5 percent.

For the fourth quarter, the company expects earnings of $1.21 to $1.26 per share, revenues of $997 million to $1.01 billion and comparable sales growth of 6 to 8 percent. Analysts expect earnings of $1.27 per share on revenues of $1.01 billion.

For the full year, the company expects earnings per share growth in the low 20s percentage range, and revenue growth in the 20 percent range. It now expects comparable sales growth of 8 to 9 percent, from prior guidance of 7 to 8 percent.