Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) vs Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA)

ULTA leads on 10 of 15 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Smurfit Westrock Plc and Ulta Beauty, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 15, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Compare

Total return — SW vs ULTA

growth of $100 · last 18y
SW +431.5%ULTA +3484.2%ULTA compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
101001k10kStart $100201120142017202020232026$532$3,584
SW ULTA

SW vs ULTA: by the numbers

  • SW is the larger company ($22.72B vs $20.11B market cap).
  • ULTA trades at the lower earnings multiple (17.53 vs 60.47 P/E).
  • ULTA converts more revenue to profit (9.36% vs 1.23% net margin).
  • SW grew revenue faster over the past five years (24.07% vs 12.93% CAGR).
  • SW pays a dividend (4.08% yield) while ULTA does not currently pay one.

Which is better, SW or ULTA?

Metric tally: SW 5 · ULTA 10

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueULTA(lower P/E)
GrowthSW(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
QualityULTA(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

MetricSWULTA
P/E ratio60.4717.53
Forward P/E14.65
P/S ratio0.771.62
P/B ratio1.297.97
PEG ratio0.4322.87
EV / EBITDA5.8212.53
FCF yield4.38%5.10%

Profitability

MetricSWULTA
Gross margin18.42%39.33%
Operating margin6.24%12.54%
Net margin1.23%9.36%
ROE2.06%46.06%
ROIC3.59%22.76%

Dividends

MetricSWULTA
Dividend yield4.08%
Payout ratio131.81%

Growth (annualized)

MetricSWULTA
Revenue CAGR (5Y)24.07%12.93%
EPS CAGR (5Y)-16.43%52.49%
FCF CAGR (5Y)-3.68%0.55%
Total return CAGR (5Y)-1.87%6.68%

Frequently asked

Which is better, SW or ULTA?
It depends on your goal. value: ULTA (lower P/E); growth: SW (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: ULTA (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ULTA leads 10 to 5.
Is SW or ULTA cheaper?
On trailing earnings, ULTA is cheaper: SW trades at a 60.47 P/E and ULTA at 17.53.
Which has grown faster, SW or ULTA?
Over the past five years, SW grew revenue faster — SW at a 24.07% CAGR versus ULTA at 12.93%.
Does SW or ULTA pay a bigger dividend?
SW pays a dividend (4.08% yield) while ULTA does not currently pay one.
Is SW or ULTA more profitable?
ULTA runs the higher net margin — SW at 1.23% versus ULTA at 9.36%.
Which has been the better investment, SW or ULTA?
Over the past 10-year, ULTA delivered the higher annualized total return — SW at 4.59% versus ULTA at 6.90%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 15, 2026.