=Ulta Beauty (ULTA) reported earnings on Thur 30 Nov 2017 (a/h)

Ulta Beauty beats by $0.03, reports revs in-line; guides Q4 EPS below consensus, revs in-line; Q3 comps +10.3%; sees Q4 comps +8-10%; Reaffirms 2017 fiscal outlook

• Reports Q3 (Oct) earnings of $1.69 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.03 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $1.66; revenues rose 18.7% year/year to $1.34 bln vs the $1.34 bln Capital IQ Consensus. Comparable sales (sales for stores open at least 14 months and e-commerce sales) increased 10.3%compared to an increase of 16.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Income per diluted share increased 21.4% to $1.70, including a benefit of $0.04 due to a lower tax rate, a benefit of $0.03 due to a lower share count, offset by approximately $0.08 due to the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in the quarter, compared to $1.40 in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Co issues below guidance for Q4, sees EPS of $2.73-2.78, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $2.84 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees Q4 revs of $1.926-1.959 bln vs. $1.93 bln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate. Comparable sales for the fourth quarter of 2017, including e-commerce sales, are expected to increase 8% to 10%. The Company reported a comparable sales increase of 16.6% in the fourth quarter of 2016.
• The Company is reaffirming its previously announced fiscal 2017 guidance. The Company plans to: achieve comparable sales growth of approximately 10% to 11%, including the impact of the e-commerce business; grow e-commerce sales in the 50% to 60% range; open approximately 100 new stores; remodel 11 locations and relocate 7 stores.