Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results

Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.21, FiscalAI reports. Kohl’s had a net margin of 1.75% and a return on equity of 4.72%. The business had revenue of $5.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.95 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Kohl’s updated its FY 2026 guidance to 1.000-1.600 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Kohl’s’ conference call:

• Q4 EPS beat and balance-sheet improvement: adjusted diluted EPS was $1.07 while disciplined inventory and expense management left Kohl’s with $674M cash, no revolver borrowings, and $1.4B operating cash flow for the year.
• Cautious 2026 outlook: the company guided net sales/comps of down 2% to flat and EPS of $1.00–$1.60, and expects other revenue (credit) to be down ~4%–6% as receivables and cardholder activity lag.
• Focused turnaround initiatives: management is prioritizing investment in proprietary brands and opening-price-point value, better inventory depth/allocation, expanded Sephora and impulse offerings, and omni/digital modernization to drive traffic and share over time.
• Operational execution hurt Q4 sales: Kohl’s attributed the comp decline to missed fall seasonal assortment and allocation (especially in smaller stores), weaker holiday promotional positioning, and overbuys in seasonal home decor, plus severe winter weather that closed many stores.

Kohl’s Stock Performance

NYSE KSS opened at $13.81 on Thursday. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $18.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.09. Kohl’s has a fifty-two week low of $6.04 and a fifty-two week high of $25.22. The company has a market cap of $1.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.85 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a current ratio of 1.46.

Kohl’s Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 18th will be given a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 18th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. Kohl’s’s payout ratio is currently 29.07%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on KSS shares. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Kohl’s from $24.00 to $20.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Evercore lifted their price objective on Kohl’s from $13.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Kohl’s from $22.00 to $15.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Kohl’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Finally, BTIG Research restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Kohl’s in a research report on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $14.82.

Trending Headlines about Kohl’s

Here are the key news stories impacting Kohl’s this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat — Kohl’s reported $1.07 EPS versus ~$0.86 expected and showed margin improvement, a primary reason for the post‑earnings rally. Kohl’s Q4 Earnings Beat (Zacks)
• Positive Sentiment: Index/institutional visibility — coverage noting Kohl’s expanded retail positioning within the Russell 1000 sector can attract passive/index flows and institutional interest. Kohl’s Expands Retail Reach In Russell 1000 (Kalkine)
• Positive Sentiment: High trading volume — unusually heavy volume after the print indicates strong investor attention/liquidity around the beat. Unusually-High Trading Volume After Earnings (AmericanBankingNews)
• Neutral Sentiment: Company press release and presentation summarize results and the FY2026 outlook; useful for checking management commentary and assumptions. Kohl’s Reports 2025 Results and Sets 2026 Outlook (Globe & Mail)
• Negative Sentiment: Light FY2026 guidance — Kohl’s set EPS guidance of $1.00–$1.60, below the Street (~$1.82), and flagged sales challenges; that guidance is the main negative catalyst weighing on the shares. Kohl’s Forecasts Annual Sales Below Estimates (Reuters)
• Negative Sentiment: Sales and comps weakness — revenue and comparable‑store sales declined (sales down ~3.9% y/y; comps down ~2.8%), underscoring demand pressure among core shoppers. Comparable Sales Dip (Zacks)
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst downgrades and price‑target cuts — multiple firms (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Jefferies, TD Cowen, Telsey, others) trimmed targets and ratings after the mixed print and weak guide, increasing sell‑side pressure. JPMorgan Lowers Expectations (AmericanBankingNews) Telsey Pessimistic Forecast (AmericanBankingNews)
• Negative Sentiment: Management caution — Kohl’s CFO warned core shoppers are being “choiceful,” signaling potential ongoing pressure on higher‑margin categories and slower traffic. CFO: Core Shoppers Are Being ‘Choiceful’ (Benzinga)

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of KSS. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kohl’s in the fourth quarter valued at $49,796,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its stake in shares of Kohl’s by 118.0% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 211,640 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,320,000 after purchasing an additional 1,388,707 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in Kohl’s during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,343,000. Hancock Whitney Corp bought a new position in Kohl’s during the 3rd quarter valued at about $17,125,000. Finally, M&G PLC purchased a new stake in Kohl’s in the 4th quarter worth about $16,225,000. 98.04% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Kohl’s

Kohl’s Corporation, founded in 1962 by Maxwell Kohl and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is a leading American department store retailer. The company operates approximately 1,100 stores across 49 states, offering a combination of value-oriented pricing, private-label brands and national labels. Since its initial public offering in 1992, Kohl’s has focused on broadening its product assortment and enhancing the in-store and online shopping experience.

The retailer’s merchandise portfolio spans apparel, footwear, accessories, and beauty products for women, men and children, as well as home goods, kitchenware and seasonal décor.