Ulta Q4 Profit Up 39%, Sees Q1 Below View - Quick Facts

(RTTNews.com) - Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. ( ULTA ) Thursday said fourth-quarter profit improved, mainly on higher revenues. Both earnings and revenues came in above analysts' expectations. The company also provided an outlook for its fiscal first quarter, which is currently below Street estimates.

Net income for the quarter increased to $64.5 million or $1.00 per share from $46.3 million or $0.73 per share in the same period last year.

Fourth-quarter results included one-time benefit of $0.05 per share, excluding which earnings grew 30.1 percent.

On average, 11 analysts polled by Thomson reuters expected the company to earn $0.98 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Revenues totaled $758.8 million, up 30.3 percent from $582.5 million last year. Analysts expected revenues of $752.27 million.

Comparable store sales were up 8.0 percent year-over-year, compared to growth of 11.5 percent last year.

Looking ahead to the first quarter, the company has forecast earnings in the range of $0.60 to $0.63 per share. Revenues are expected to range between $568 million and $577 million.

Analysts, based on consensus, currently expect the company to report first-quarter earnings of $0.72 per share on revenues of $579.66 million.

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