Pre-market strength in shares of Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is being attributed to a suggestion made by an analyst at Monness Crespi that the company could be a better M&A fit for Amazon (AMZN) than Target (TGT). AMAZON ALTERNATIVES: In a note to investors this morning, Monness, Crespi, Hardt analyst James Cakmak noted the speculation that has swirled since Amazon’s deal to buy Whole Foods about what categories and kinds of companies the e-commerce giant might acquire. He also noted that Target (TGT) most recently “has been floated as a prospect,” but he doesn’t see how such a deal would “change the game” in terms of pricing and selection for Amazon. Beauty is a category important for Amazon, and Ulta Beauty could be an M&A fit, Cakmak said. Lyft would also makes sense, as would a purchase of Costco (COST), even though that hypothetical deal “is highly unlikely,” Cakmak also told investors. WHAT’S NOTABLE: Cakmak’s note appears to be in response to Loup Venture’s Gene Munster having said yesterday that Amazon may be eyeing Target as its next major retail acquisition. PRICE ACTION: In pre-market trading, Ulta is up $4.78, or 2%, to $249.90 per share.