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Side-by-side financial comparison of Post Holdings, Inc. (POST) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Ulta Beauty is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($2.9B vs $2.2B, roughly 1.3× Post Holdings, Inc.). Ulta Beauty runs the higher net margin — 8.1% vs 4.5%, a 3.6% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Ulta Beauty posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (12.9% vs 10.1%). Post Holdings, Inc. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($119.3M vs $-81.6M). Over the past eight quarters, Ulta Beauty's revenue compounded faster (7.2% CAGR vs 4.3%).
Post Consumer Brands, LLC, also known as Post, is an American consumer packaged goods food manufacturer headquartered in Lakeville, Minnesota.
Ulta Beauty, Inc., formerly known as Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. and before 2000 as Ulta3, is an American chain of cosmetic stores headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Ulta Beauty carries both high- and low-end cosmetics, fragrances, nail products, bath and body products, beauty tools and haircare products. Each location has a beauty salon available to the public.
POST vs ULTA — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q3 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2.2B | $2.9B |
| Net Profit | $96.8M | $230.9M |
| Gross Margin | 29.4% | 40.4% |
| Operating Margin | 11.0% | 10.8% |
| Net Margin | 4.5% | 8.1% |
| Revenue YoY | 10.1% | 12.9% |
| Net Profit YoY | -14.6% | -4.7% |
| EPS (diluted) | $1.71 | $5.14 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q4 25 | $2.2B | $2.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.2B | $2.8B | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.0B | $2.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.0B | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $2.0B | $2.5B | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.0B | $2.6B | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.9B | $2.7B | ||
| Q1 24 | $2.0B | $3.6B |
| Q4 25 | $96.8M | $230.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $51.0M | $260.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $108.8M | $305.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $62.6M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $113.3M | $242.2M | ||
| Q3 24 | $81.6M | $252.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $99.8M | $313.1M | ||
| Q1 24 | $97.2M | $394.4M |
| Q4 25 | 29.4% | 40.4% | ||
| Q3 25 | 26.8% | 39.2% | ||
| Q2 25 | 30.0% | 39.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 28.0% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 30.1% | 39.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 28.6% | 38.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 29.6% | 39.2% | ||
| Q1 24 | 29.0% | 37.7% |
| Q4 25 | 11.0% | 10.8% | ||
| Q3 25 | 7.5% | 12.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 11.8% | 14.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 9.3% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 10.8% | 12.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 9.5% | 12.9% | ||
| Q2 24 | 10.4% | 14.7% | ||
| Q1 24 | 9.5% | 14.5% |
| Q4 25 | 4.5% | 8.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.3% | 9.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 5.5% | 10.7% | ||
| Q1 25 | 3.2% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 5.7% | 9.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 4.1% | 9.9% | ||
| Q2 24 | 5.1% | 11.5% | ||
| Q1 24 | 4.9% | 11.1% |
| Q4 25 | $1.71 | $5.14 | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.91 | $5.78 | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.79 | $6.70 | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.03 | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.78 | $5.14 | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.28 | $5.30 | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.53 | $6.47 | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.48 | $8.06 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $279.3M | $204.9M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $7.5B | — |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $3.5B | $2.6B |
| Total Assets | $13.0B | $7.0B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 2.16× | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $279.3M | $204.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $176.7M | $242.7M | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.1B | $454.6M | ||
| Q1 25 | $617.6M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $872.9M | $177.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $787.4M | $414.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $333.8M | $524.6M | ||
| Q1 24 | $333.4M | $766.6M |
| Q4 25 | $7.5B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $7.4B | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $7.3B | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $6.9B | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $6.9B | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $6.8B | — | ||
| Q2 24 | $6.4B | — | ||
| Q1 24 | $6.4B | — |
| Q4 25 | $3.5B | $2.6B | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.8B | $2.6B | ||
| Q2 25 | $4.0B | $2.4B | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.8B | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.9B | $2.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.1B | $2.3B | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.9B | $2.3B | ||
| Q1 24 | $4.0B | $2.3B |
| Q4 25 | $13.0B | $7.0B | ||
| Q3 25 | $13.5B | $6.6B | ||
| Q2 25 | $13.4B | $6.0B | ||
| Q1 25 | $12.8B | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $12.8B | $6.0B | ||
| Q3 24 | $12.9B | $5.7B | ||
| Q2 24 | $12.1B | $5.6B | ||
| Q1 24 | $12.2B | $5.7B |
| Q4 25 | 2.16× | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.98× | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 1.84× | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 1.81× | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 1.79× | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.67× | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.62× | — | ||
| Q1 24 | 1.61× | — |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $235.7M | $5.6M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $119.3M | $-81.6M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 5.5% | -2.9% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 5.4% | 3.1% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 2.43× | 0.02× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $436.0M | $-92.2M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $235.7M | $5.6M | ||
| Q3 25 | $301.3M | $96.5M | ||
| Q2 25 | $225.9M | $220.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $160.7M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $310.4M | $-56.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $235.4M | $199.5M | ||
| Q2 24 | $272.3M | $159.3M | ||
| Q1 24 | $249.6M | $1.1B |
| Q4 25 | $119.3M | $-81.6M | ||
| Q3 25 | $151.6M | $19.6M | ||
| Q2 25 | $94.9M | $141.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $70.2M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $171.4M | $-171.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $96.2M | $104.3M | ||
| Q2 24 | $161.5M | $68.3M | ||
| Q1 24 | $150.9M | $994.0M |
| Q4 25 | 5.5% | -2.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | 6.7% | 0.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 4.8% | 4.9% | ||
| Q1 25 | 3.6% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 8.7% | -6.8% | ||
| Q3 24 | 4.8% | 4.1% | ||
| Q2 24 | 8.3% | 2.5% | ||
| Q1 24 | 7.5% | 28.0% |
| Q4 25 | 5.4% | 3.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | 6.7% | 2.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | 6.6% | 2.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | 4.6% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 7.0% | 4.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | 6.9% | 3.7% | ||
| Q2 24 | 5.7% | 3.3% | ||
| Q1 24 | 4.9% | 3.5% |
| Q4 25 | 2.43× | 0.02× | ||
| Q3 25 | 5.91× | 0.37× | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.08× | 0.72× | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.57× | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.74× | -0.23× | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.88× | 0.79× | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.73× | 0.51× | ||
| Q1 24 | 2.57× | 2.84× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
POST
| Post Consumer Brands Segment | $1.1B | 51% |
| Pet Food | $360.4M | 17% |
| Side Dishes | $221.5M | 10% |
| Weetabix | $137.9M | 6% |
| Other | $122.1M | 6% |
| Nut Butters | $105.8M | 5% |
| Sausage | $53.1M | 2% |
| Cheeseand Dairy | $41.3M | 2% |
| Protein Based Shakes | $29.3M | 1% |
| Bell Ring | $18.1M | 1% |
ULTA
Segment breakdown not available.
