← Bath & Body Works overview

Bath & Body Works vs Ulta Beauty: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Bath & Body Works Inc. (BBWI)

Q3 2026
▲2▼1

BBWI beats on tariff refunds, raises outlook, but store traffic still weak

  • Ulta Beauty partnership expands distribution Bath & Body Works will sell candles, soaps and body care in over 600 Ulta Beauty stores and online from July 2026. This puts products in front of new shoppers, which can lift sales over time and is a real reason the stock rose.

    It is the period's main new growth driver and explains the June share jump.

  • Goldman Sachs downgrade warns of cannibalization Goldman cut BBWI to Sell, saying weaker consumer sentiment and softer appeal to younger shoppers could hurt, and that selling through Ulta might steal sales from its own stores. The stock fell about 4% on that warning, a real counterweight to the Ulta optimism.

    It is the main bearish force in the period and offsets the partnership story.

  • Q2 profit beat, but mostly from tariff refunds Second-quarter earnings of $0.62 a share crushed the $0.24 estimate, yet about $80 million came from one-time tariff refunds; without that, profit was $0.31. Sales fell 2.3% to $1.51 billion. The beat looks better than the underlying business.

    It is the period's biggest earnings event and shows the quality of the beat.

  • Full-year outlook raised, but third-quarter guidance misses BBWI lifted full-year earnings guidance to $2.60-$2.80 a share, yet third-quarter profit guidance of 7-12 cents badly missed the 26-cent consensus, and sales are expected to fall 2.5%-5%. Online sales grew 3% and international rose nearly 25%, but declining store traffic remains the drag.

    It captures the mixed forward picture that pushed shares lower despite the raised year outlook.

July 2026
▲2▼1

BBWI beats on tariff refunds, raises outlook, but store traffic still weak

  • Ulta Beauty partnership expands distribution Bath & Body Works will sell candles, soaps and body care in over 600 Ulta Beauty stores and online from July 2026. This puts products in front of new shoppers, which can lift sales over time and is a real reason the stock rose.

    It is the period's main new growth driver and explains the June share jump.

  • Goldman Sachs downgrade warns of cannibalization Goldman cut BBWI to Sell, saying weaker consumer sentiment and softer appeal to younger shoppers could hurt, and that selling through Ulta might steal sales from its own stores. The stock fell about 4% on that warning, a real counterweight to the Ulta optimism.

    It is the main bearish force in the period and offsets the partnership story.

  • Q2 profit beat, but mostly from tariff refunds Second-quarter earnings of $0.62 a share crushed the $0.24 estimate, yet about $80 million came from one-time tariff refunds; without that, profit was $0.31. Sales fell 2.3% to $1.51 billion. The beat looks better than the underlying business.

    It is the period's biggest earnings event and shows the quality of the beat.

  • Full-year outlook raised, but third-quarter guidance misses BBWI lifted full-year earnings guidance to $2.60-$2.80 a share, yet third-quarter profit guidance of 7-12 cents badly missed the 26-cent consensus, and sales are expected to fall 2.5%-5%. Online sales grew 3% and international rose nearly 25%, but declining store traffic remains the drag.

    It captures the mixed forward picture that pushed shares lower despite the raised year outlook.

Latest
▲2▼1

BBWI beats on tariff refunds, raises outlook, but store traffic still weak

  • Ulta Beauty partnership expands distribution Bath & Body Works will sell candles, soaps and body care in over 600 Ulta Beauty stores and online from July 2026. This puts products in front of new shoppers, which can lift sales over time and is a real reason the stock rose.

    It is the period's main new growth driver and explains the June share jump.

  • Goldman Sachs downgrade warns of cannibalization Goldman cut BBWI to Sell, saying weaker consumer sentiment and softer appeal to younger shoppers could hurt, and that selling through Ulta might steal sales from its own stores. The stock fell about 4% on that warning, a real counterweight to the Ulta optimism.

    It is the main bearish force in the period and offsets the partnership story.

  • Q2 profit beat, but mostly from tariff refunds Second-quarter earnings of $0.62 a share crushed the $0.24 estimate, yet about $80 million came from one-time tariff refunds; without that, profit was $0.31. Sales fell 2.3% to $1.51 billion. The beat looks better than the underlying business.

    It is the period's biggest earnings event and shows the quality of the beat.

  • Full-year outlook raised, but third-quarter guidance misses BBWI lifted full-year earnings guidance to $2.60-$2.80 a share, yet third-quarter profit guidance of 7-12 cents badly missed the 26-cent consensus, and sales are expected to fall 2.5%-5%. Online sales grew 3% and international rose nearly 25%, but declining store traffic remains the drag.

    It captures the mixed forward picture that pushed shares lower despite the raised year outlook.

Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA)

Q3 2026
▲4

Ulta raises outlook, boosts buybacks, adds AI shopping and Bath & Body Works

  • Q2 beat and raised full-year guidance Ulta beat second-quarter sales and profit estimates and raised its full-year outlook for sales, comparable sales and earnings per share. Stronger results and a higher forecast tell investors the business is growing faster than expected, which supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core new fundamental event that directly lifts earnings expectations and the stock.

  • Bigger buybacks and prestige brands return after Target exit Ulta increased planned annual share repurchases to $1.8 billion and said prestige brands from the ended Target partnership have returned to its stores. Fewer shares outstanding can lift earnings per share, and recapturing those brands gives Ulta a chance to win back sales it had lost.

    New capital return and brand recovery details directly affect future earnings and investor confidence.

  • Bath & Body Works products coming to 600+ Ulta stores Bath & Body Works announced a partnership to sell its products in more than 600 Ulta stores and online. New exclusive brands can draw more shoppers into Ulta stores and increase sales per visit, though the partner's own weak store traffic is a reminder that retail demand is uneven.

    A new distribution deal expands Ulta's product assortment and is a fresh demand driver.

  • AI shopping integrations with Meta Muse and Gemini/ChatGPT Ulta is integrating with Meta's new Muse AI shopping agent, and earlier data showed AI-referred shoppers convert at about double the usual rate. These tools can send higher-intent buyers to Ulta, and its 47-million-member loyalty program helps keep the customer relationship and repeat sales.

    New AI shopping channels are an emerging demand source that could lower customer acquisition costs.

September 2026
▲4

Ulta raises outlook, boosts buybacks, adds AI shopping and Bath & Body Works

  • Q2 beat and raised full-year guidance Ulta beat second-quarter sales and profit estimates and raised its full-year outlook for sales, comparable sales and earnings per share. Stronger results and a higher forecast tell investors the business is growing faster than expected, which supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core new fundamental event that directly lifts earnings expectations and the stock.

  • Bigger buybacks and prestige brands return after Target exit Ulta increased planned annual share repurchases to $1.8 billion and said prestige brands from the ended Target partnership have returned to its stores. Fewer shares outstanding can lift earnings per share, and recapturing those brands gives Ulta a chance to win back sales it had lost.

    New capital return and brand recovery details directly affect future earnings and investor confidence.

  • Bath & Body Works products coming to 600+ Ulta stores Bath & Body Works announced a partnership to sell its products in more than 600 Ulta stores and online. New exclusive brands can draw more shoppers into Ulta stores and increase sales per visit, though the partner's own weak store traffic is a reminder that retail demand is uneven.

    A new distribution deal expands Ulta's product assortment and is a fresh demand driver.

  • AI shopping integrations with Meta Muse and Gemini/ChatGPT Ulta is integrating with Meta's new Muse AI shopping agent, and earlier data showed AI-referred shoppers convert at about double the usual rate. These tools can send higher-intent buyers to Ulta, and its 47-million-member loyalty program helps keep the customer relationship and repeat sales.

    New AI shopping channels are an emerging demand source that could lower customer acquisition costs.

Latest
▲4

Ulta raises outlook, boosts buybacks, adds AI shopping and Bath & Body Works

  • Q2 beat and raised full-year guidance Ulta beat second-quarter sales and profit estimates and raised its full-year outlook for sales, comparable sales and earnings per share. Stronger results and a higher forecast tell investors the business is growing faster than expected, which supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core new fundamental event that directly lifts earnings expectations and the stock.

  • Bigger buybacks and prestige brands return after Target exit Ulta increased planned annual share repurchases to $1.8 billion and said prestige brands from the ended Target partnership have returned to its stores. Fewer shares outstanding can lift earnings per share, and recapturing those brands gives Ulta a chance to win back sales it had lost.

    New capital return and brand recovery details directly affect future earnings and investor confidence.

  • Bath & Body Works products coming to 600+ Ulta stores Bath & Body Works announced a partnership to sell its products in more than 600 Ulta stores and online. New exclusive brands can draw more shoppers into Ulta stores and increase sales per visit, though the partner's own weak store traffic is a reminder that retail demand is uneven.

    A new distribution deal expands Ulta's product assortment and is a fresh demand driver.

  • AI shopping integrations with Meta Muse and Gemini/ChatGPT Ulta is integrating with Meta's new Muse AI shopping agent, and earlier data showed AI-referred shoppers convert at about double the usual rate. These tools can send higher-intent buyers to Ulta, and its 47-million-member loyalty program helps keep the customer relationship and repeat sales.

    New AI shopping channels are an emerging demand source that could lower customer acquisition costs.

Q2 2026
▲2▼1

Ulta beats Q1, raises outlook, adds Bath & Body Works

  • Q1 earnings beat and raised full-year guidance Ulta reported first-quarter revenue of $3.16 billion, up 11.1%, with earnings per share of $7.74 beating estimates. Comparable sales rose 5.3%, and the company raised its full-year earnings guidance. This shows the business is growing faster than expected, which supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core fundamental driver of the period, showing stronger-than-expected profit and growth.

  • Bath & Body Works partnership adds new products Bath & Body Works will sell body care and home fragrance products in over 600 Ulta stores and online starting July 12, 2026. This fills a gap in Ulta's offerings and could attract new customers, boosting sales and making the stock more attractive.

    This is a new growth initiative that expands Ulta's product assortment and customer base.

  • Removed from Russell index, causing temporary selling Ulta was removed from a Russell index, which forced some funds tracking that index to sell the stock, and shares dropped 6% in one day. This is a technical, short-term event that doesn't reflect the company's underlying health, but it did push the price down temporarily.

    This is a new negative event that impacted the stock price during the period, though it is not fundamental.

June 2026
▲2▼1

Ulta beats Q1, raises outlook, adds Bath & Body Works

  • Q1 earnings beat and raised full-year guidance Ulta reported first-quarter revenue of $3.16 billion, up 11.1%, with earnings per share of $7.74 beating estimates. Comparable sales rose 5.3%, and the company raised its full-year earnings guidance. This shows the business is growing faster than expected, which supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core fundamental driver of the period, showing stronger-than-expected profit and growth.

  • Bath & Body Works partnership adds new products Bath & Body Works will sell body care and home fragrance products in over 600 Ulta stores and online starting July 12, 2026. This fills a gap in Ulta's offerings and could attract new customers, boosting sales and making the stock more attractive.

    This is a new growth initiative that expands Ulta's product assortment and customer base.

  • Removed from Russell index, causing temporary selling Ulta was removed from a Russell index, which forced some funds tracking that index to sell the stock, and shares dropped 6% in one day. This is a technical, short-term event that doesn't reflect the company's underlying health, but it did push the price down temporarily.

    This is a new negative event that impacted the stock price during the period, though it is not fundamental.

▲2▼1

Ulta beats Q1, raises outlook, adds Bath & Body Works

  • Q1 earnings beat and raised full-year guidance Ulta reported first-quarter revenue of $3.16 billion, up 11.1%, with earnings per share of $7.74 beating estimates. Comparable sales rose 5.3%, and the company raised its full-year earnings guidance. This shows the business is growing faster than expected, which supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core fundamental driver of the period, showing stronger-than-expected profit and growth.

  • Bath & Body Works partnership adds new products Bath & Body Works will sell body care and home fragrance products in over 600 Ulta stores and online starting July 12, 2026. This fills a gap in Ulta's offerings and could attract new customers, boosting sales and making the stock more attractive.

    This is a new growth initiative that expands Ulta's product assortment and customer base.

  • Removed from Russell index, causing temporary selling Ulta was removed from a Russell index, which forced some funds tracking that index to sell the stock, and shares dropped 6% in one day. This is a technical, short-term event that doesn't reflect the company's underlying health, but it did push the price down temporarily.

    This is a new negative event that impacted the stock price during the period, though it is not fundamental.

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