Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) Announces Earnings Results

Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) posted its earnings results on Thursday. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.18) by $0.05, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $3.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.99 billion. Kohl’s had a return on equity of 4.67% and a net margin of 1.76%.Kohl’s’s quarterly revenue was down 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.13) earnings per share. Kohl’s updated its FY 2026 guidance to 1.000-1.600 EPS.

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

• Kohl’s said Q1 comparable sales declined only 1.1%, its best quarterly performance in more than four years, and management said results improved progressively through the quarter.
• Proprietary brands were a standout, rising 6% on a comparable basis and helping both sales and gross margin, with management planning to keep investing in this portfolio.
• The company highlighted a meaningful recovery in its core Kohl’s Card customer, whose comp turned flat versus a mid-single-digit decline in Q4, signaling better customer engagement and value perception.
• Kohl’s said inventory is cleaner and more productive, with inventory down about 8%, receipts up 1%, and depth increasing while choice counts are being reduced to improve trip assurance and in-stock levels.
• The company reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance, calling for comps down 2% to flat, operating margin of 2.8% to 3.4%, and EPS of $1.00 to $1.60, while noting tariff refunds are not included in the outlook.

Kohl’s Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:KSS opened at $14.41 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.62 billion, a PE ratio of 6.11 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The business has a 50-day moving average of $13.47 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.07. Kohl’s has a 12 month low of $7.82 and a 12 month high of $25.22.

Kohl’s Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 10th will be given a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 10th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. Kohl’s’s dividend payout ratio is 21.19%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kohl’s

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KSS. Baird Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Kohl’s during the first quarter worth about $96,000. Caxton Associates LLP acquired a new stake in Kohl’s during the first quarter worth about $166,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in Kohl’s by 14.2% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 489,708 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,006,000 after acquiring an additional 60,769 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Kohl’s during the second quarter worth about $120,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Kohl’s by 21.6% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 33,708 shares of the company’s stock worth $286,000 after acquiring an additional 5,997 shares during the last quarter. 98.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Kohl’s News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Kohl’s Q1 results topped expectations, with EPS of -$0.13 versus -$0.18 expected and revenue of $3.17 billion versus $2.99 billion expected, helping support the stock. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Management said comparable sales improved at the strongest pace in four years and that traffic and balance-sheet trends are getting better, reinforcing hopes for a turnaround. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Several articles noted a sharp rally in the shares after earnings, with investors rewarding the better-than-expected quarter and signs that the turnaround is taking hold. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Kohl’s reaffirmed its annual targets, which suggests management is not yet raising expectations despite the better quarter. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: FY2026 guidance calls for EPS of $1.00 to $1.60, which is below some analyst estimates and may cap some of the enthusiasm. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the earnings beat, revenue still declined 1.7% year over year, showing Kohl’s turnaround remains early and sales pressure has not fully disappeared. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst action was mixed, with Bank of America lowering its price target to $14 and UBS maintaining a sell rating, which may temper upside expectations. Article Title Article Title

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. BTIG Research restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Kohl’s in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. Gordon Haskett downgraded Kohl’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $14.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Friday, May 15th. Telsey Advisory Group restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $17.00 price objective on shares of Kohl’s in a research report on Tuesday, March 17th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Kohl’s from $22.00 to $15.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 11th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on Kohl’s from $23.00 to $20.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and six have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Kohl’s has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $14.77.

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.