ULTA vs. IWM
ULTA (Ulta Beauty, Inc.) is a stock, while IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) is Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index. Over the past 10 years, ULTA returned 6.46%/yr vs 10.82%/yr for IWM. At a 0.49 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
ULTA vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ULTA achieves a -20.85% return, which is significantly lower than IWM's 20.58% return. Over the past 10 years, ULTA has underperformed IWM with an annualized return of 6.46%, while IWM has yielded a comparatively higher 10.82% annualized return.
ULTA
- 1D
- 2.73%
- 1M
- 3.27%
- 6M
- -28.00%
- YTD
- -20.85%
- 1Y
- -1.28%
- 3Y*
- 0.43%
- 5Y*
- 7.59%
- 10Y*
- 6.46%
IWM
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- 1.20%
- 6M
- 11.79%
- YTD
- 20.58%
- 1Y
- 35.13%
- 3Y*
- 16.52%
- 5Y*
- 7.91%
- 10Y*
- 10.82%
ULTA vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ULTA Ulta Beauty, Inc. | -20.85% | 39.11% | -11.24% | 4.46% | 13.76% | 43.59% | 13.44% | 3.39% | 9.47% | -12.27% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 20.58% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 14.58% |
Correlation
The correlation between ULTA and IWM is 0.38, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 25, 2007 | 0.49 |
The correlation between ULTA and IWM shifts across timeframes, from 0.38 (1 year) to 0.49 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
ULTA vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
ULTA
IWM
ULTA vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ULTA | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.86 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.02 | 1.31 | -0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.04 | 3.20 | -3.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.07 | 11.30 | -11.38 |
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Drawdowns
ULTA vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ULTA drawdown since its inception was -87.89%, which is greater than IWM's maximum drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ULTA and IWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ULTA | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -87.89% | -59.05% | -28.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -36.23% | -11.03% | -25.20% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -44.56% | -27.50% | -17.06% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -44.56% | -31.91% | -12.65% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -64.92% | -41.13% | -23.79% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -32.25% | -1.62% | -30.63% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.87% | -10.72% | -10.15% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 17.38% | 3.12% | +14.26% |
Volatility
ULTA vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) has a higher volatility of 10.23% compared to iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) at 3.72%. This indicates that ULTA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ULTA | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.23% | 3.72% | +6.51% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 26.17% | 14.17% | +12.00% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 34.46% | 19.39% | +15.07% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 34.42% | 22.54% | +11.88% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.43% | 23.00% | +15.43% |
Dividends
ULTA vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
ULTA has not paid dividends to shareholders, while IWM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.90%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.90% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
ULTA Ulta Beauty, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ULTA and IWM have a correlation of 0.38, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ULTA has higher volatility (10.23%) compared to IWM (3.72%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ULTA dropped -87.89% vs IWM's -59.05%.
IWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.82 vs -0.04), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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