Ulta Beauty Inc. reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, surpassing Wall Street expectations with a revenue of $3.49 billion and earnings per share of $8.46, compared to estimates of $3.46 billion and $7.14, respectively. Despite the quarterly beat, the company issued a weaker-than-expected full-year guidance for 2025, projecting earnings per share between $22.50 and $22.90, below the anticipated $23.20. The company's net sales for the quarter decreased by 1.9% year-over-year to $3.5 billion, primarily due to the absence of an extra week of sales that was present in the previous fiscal year. However, comparable sales grew by 1.5%, driven by a 3% increase in average ticket, although transactions fell by 1.4%. Ulta Beauty's gross margin for the quarter was 38.2%, beating the estimate of 37.2%. Ulta Beauty's new CEO, Kecia Steelman, who assumed the role in January, described 2025 as a pivotal year for the company, focusing on investments to fuel future growth. The company plans to spend between $425 million and $500 million in capital expenditures, with a significant portion allocated to new stores, remodels, and merchandise initiatives. Following the earnings release, Ulta Beauty's stock rose by 5% in after-hours trading, reflecting investor reactions to the quarterly performance despite the cautious outlook for the coming year. Revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% year-over-year, while earnings per share increased by 4.7%.