Ulta Beauty (FRA:34U) Beneish M-Score: -1.51 (As of Jun. 26, 2026)


FRA:34U Ulta Beauty Inc FRA:34U
96 GF Score
Price €424.40
GF Value €487.50
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 2 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Ulta Beauty Beneish M-Score?

Ulta Beauty FRA:34U +5.21% 96 Beneish M-Score is -1.51 as of Jun. 26, 2026. GuruFocus rates FRA:34U with a GF Score™ of 96/100 and a GF Value™ of €487.50 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,087 Retail - Cyclical companies, Ulta Beauty ranks worse than 85.83% on this metric.

The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Warning Sign:

Beneish M-Score -1.51 higher than -1.78, which implies that the company might have manipulated its financial results.

The historical rank and industry rank for Ulta Beauty's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:

FRA:34U' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.2   Med: -2.45   Max: -1.14
Current: -1.51

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Ulta Beauty was -1.14. The lowest was -3.20. And the median was -2.45.


Ulta Beauty Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Ulta Beauty's Beneish M-Score can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Ulta Beauty Beneish M-Score Chart

Ulta Beauty Annual Data
Trend Jan17 Jan18 Jan19 Jan20 Jan21 Jan22 Jan23 Jan24 Jan25 Jan26
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.33 -2.76 -2.48 -2.50 -1.14

Ulta Beauty Quarterly Data
Jul21 Oct21 Jan22 Apr22 Jul22 Oct22 Jan23 Apr23 Jul23 Oct23 Jan24 Apr24 Jul24 Oct24 Jan25 Apr25 Jul25 Oct25 Jan26 Apr26
Beneish M-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.50 -1.17 -1.31 -1.14 -1.51

FRA:34U vs WSM, DKS, TSCO: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Specialty Retail subindustry, Ulta Beauty's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Ulta Beauty Beneish M-Score vs Retail - Cyclical Industry

For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Ulta Beauty's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Ulta Beauty's Beneish M-Score falls into.


FRA:34U
96GF Score
Ulta Beauty Inc FRA:34U
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Ulta Beauty Beneish M-Score Calculation

The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.

The M-Score Variables:

The M-score of Ulta Beauty for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:

M=-4.84+0.92 * DSRI+0.528 * GMI+0.404 * AQI+0.892 * SGI+0.115 * DEPI
=-4.84+0.92 * 1.0312+0.528 * 0.9864+0.404 * 3.829+0.892 * 1.0272+0.115 * 1.0285
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 1.072+4.679 * -0.048118-0.327 * 1.0439
=-1.54

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

This Year (Apr26) TTM:Last Year (Apr25) TTM:
Total Receivables was €212 Mil.
Revenue was 2705.098 + 3317.505 + 2454.698 + 2389.718 = €10,867 Mil.
Gross Profit was 1083.815 + 1262.581 + 992.716 + 935.583 = €4,275 Mil.
Total Current Assets was €2,583 Mil.
Total Assets was €5,895 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was €2,796 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was €265 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was €2,908 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was €1,970 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was €1,580 Mil.
Net Income was 291.101 + 303.532 + 198.322 + 223.57 = €1,017 Mil.
Non Operating Income was -3.989 + -3.03 + -4.575 + -4.375 = €-16 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was 223.919 + 1004.687 + 4.846 + 82.719 = €1,316 Mil.
Total Receivables was €200 Mil.
Revenue was 2535.047 + 3369.04 + 2322.632 + 2353.024 = €10,580 Mil.
Gross Profit was 991.655 + 1288.308 + 923.181 + 901.879 = €4,105 Mil.
Total Current Assets was €2,616 Mil.
Total Assets was €5,328 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was €2,590 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was €253 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was €2,641 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was €1,570 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was €1,504 Mil.




1. DSRI = Days Sales in Receivables Index

Measured as the ratio of Revenue in Total Receivables in year t to year t-1.

A large increase in DSR could be indicative of revenue inflation.

DSRI=(Receivables_t / Revenue_t) / (Receivables_t-1 / Revenue_t-1)
=(212.245 / 10867.019) / (200.38 / 10579.743)
=0.019531 / 0.01894
=1.0312

2. GMI = Gross Margin Index

Measured as the ratio of gross margin in year t-1 to gross margin in year t.

Gross margin has deteriorated when this index is above 1. A firm with poorer prospects is more likely to manipulate earnings.

GMI=GrossMargin_t-1 / GrossMargin_t
=(GrossProfit_t-1 / Revenue_t-1) / (GrossProfit_t / Revenue_t)
=(4105.023 / 10579.743) / (4274.695 / 10867.019)
=0.388008 / 0.393364
=0.9864

3. AQI = Asset Quality Index

AQI is the ratio of asset quality in year t to year t-1.

Asset quality is measured as the ratio of non-current assets other than Property, Plant and Equipment to Total Assets.

AQI=(1 - (CurrentAssets_t + PPE_t) / TotalAssets_t) / (1 - (CurrentAssets_t-1 + PPE_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=(1 - (2583.471 + 2795.839) / 5895.434) / (1 - (2616.324 + 2590.008) / 5328.153)
=0.087546 / 0.022864
=3.829

4. SGI = Sales Growth Index

Ratio of Revenue in year t to sales in year t-1.

Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.

SGI=Sales_t / Sales_t-1
=Revenue_t / Revenue_t-1
=10867.019 / 10579.743
=1.0272

5. DEPI = Depreciation Index

Measured as the ratio of the rate of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization in year t-1 to the corresponding rate in year t.

DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.

DEPI=(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1)) / (Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=(253.443 / (253.443 + 2590.008)) / (265.286 / (265.286 + 2795.839))
=0.089132 / 0.086663
=1.0285

Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.

6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index

The ratio of Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) to Sales in year t relative to year t-1.

SGA expenses index > 1 means that the company is becoming less efficient in generate sales.

SGAI=(SGA_t / Sales_t) / (SGA_t-1 /Sales_t-1)
=(2908.26 / 10867.019) / (2641.154 / 10579.743)
=0.267623 / 0.249643
=1.072

7. LVGI = Leverage Index

The ratio of total debt to Total Assets in year t relative to yeat t-1.

An LVGI > 1 indicates an increase in leverage

LVGI=((LTD_t + CurrentLiabilities_t) / TotalAssets_t) / ((LTD_t-1 + CurrentLiabilities_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=((1580.013 + 1969.988) / 5895.434) / ((1503.601 + 1569.827) / 5328.153)
=0.602161 / 0.576828
=1.0439

8. TATA = Total Accruals to Total Assets

Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.

TATA=(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(1016.525 - -15.969 - 1316.171) / 5895.434
=-0.048118

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Ulta Beauty has a M-score of -1.54 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Beneish M-Score →
What does a Beneish M-Score of -1.51 mean?
Ulta Beauty (FRA:34U) has a Beneish M-Score of -1.51 as of Jun. 26, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Ulta Beauty and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Ulta Beauty ranks #933 out of 1087 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 85.8%.
Is Ulta Beauty's Beneish M-Score too high?
Ulta Beauty's current Beneish M-Score is -1.51. Based on the distribution chart, Ulta Beauty ranks #933 out of 1087 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Ulta Beauty has a GF Score™ of 96/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ulta Beauty's Beneish M-Score compare to WSM and DKS?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, Ulta Beauty ranks #933 out of 1087 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places Ulta Beauty in the lower half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for a Retail - Cyclical company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Retail - Cyclical industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Ulta Beauty and its competitors. Ulta Beauty's current Beneish M-Score is -1.51. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Ulta Beauty stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ulta Beauty (FRA:34U) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €487.50, compared to a current price of €424.40 — trading 12.9% below its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -1.51. Ulta Beauty's overall GF Score™ is 96/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ulta Beauty (FRA:34U), the current Beneish M-Score is -1.51 as of Jun. 26, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Ulta Beauty (FRA:34U) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ulta Beauty stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of €424.40 is trading 12.9% below its estimated GF Value™ of €487.50. GuruFocus considers Ulta Beauty to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for FRA:34U:

  • Beneish M-Score: -1.51
  • GF Value™: €487.50 vs. price of €424.40 (12.9% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 96/100 with 2 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:34U stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Ulta Beauty Business Description

Address 1000 Remington Boulevard, Suite 120, Bolingbrook, IL, USA, 60440
Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the US with more than 1,500 freestanding stores. The firm offers cosmetics (38% of 2025 sales), fragrances (13%), skin care (24%), and hair care products (19%). It also has salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow, that account for 4% of its revenue and drive customer traffic. Outside of the US, Ulta operates premium beauty retailer Space NK (86 stores at year-end 2025 in the UK and Ireland) and has franchised stores in Mexico, and a joint venture in the Middle East. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
96GF Score

Get the complete analysis for FRA:34U

Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€424.40
Price
€487.50
GF Value