Kohl's (KSS)
NYSE:KSS
Earnings Data
Report Date
May 27, 2026Before Open (Confirmed)
Period Ending
2026 (Q1)Consensus EPS Forecast
-0.21Last Year’s EPS
-0.13Same Quarter Last Year
Moderate Sell
Based on 11 Analysts Ratings
Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Sentiment|Neutral
The call presents a balanced picture: strong operational and financial improvements (EPS upside, margin expansion, significant cash flow improvement, reduced leverage and tighter inventory) provide a solid foundation, while top-line challenges persist (comp declines, transaction weakness, credit revenue decline, and seasonal/promotional execution issues). Management has articulated detailed corrective actions and cautious guidance for 2026, expecting progressive improvement but acknowledging it will take time and may not be a straight line.Company Guidance
Earnings Per Share and Adjusted Net Income Improvement
Adjusted net income of $125M in Q4 and $186M for 2025; adjusted diluted EPS of $1.07 in Q4 and $1.62 for the full year, with management noting EPS 'well ahead of last year' despite weaker top-line results.
Stronger Liquidity and Deleveraging
Cash and cash equivalents of $674M at year-end, up $540M year-over-year; operating cash flow of $750M in Q4 and $1.4B for the year (a $700M increase vs. 2024); fully exited the revolver (no borrowings) and repurchased $87M of long-term debt at a discount; interest expense down $15M in Q4 and $31M for the year.
Gross Margin Expansion and Inventory Discipline
Gross margin expanded by 25 basis points in Q4 to 33.1% and by 34 basis points for the full year to 37.5%, driven by disciplined inventory management and lower clearance markdowns; inventory reduced roughly 7% year-over-year, positioning fresher spring receipts.
SG&A and Cost Reductions
SG&A decreased $76M (4.9%) in Q4 and 4.1% for the year (ex-shift: Q4 down 4.1%, full year down 2.8%), driven by lower store, marketing, and fulfillment costs; depreciation declined (Q4 depreciation $174M, down $9M).
Progress on Omnichannel and Digital Capabilities
Digital sales grew low-single-digits in Q4 and were flat for the year; digital penetration increased ~220 basis points to 35% of total sales in Q4; management highlighted improvements in store-enabled fulfillment (BOPIS/BOSS/ship-from-store) and digital modernization efforts (site structure, personalization, AI-ready data architecture).
Momentum in Proprietary Brands and Specific Categories
Proprietary brands showed pockets of strength: juniors +8% and petites +26% in Q4; proprietary apparel flat (overall proprietary brands down 3%); men's and kids proprietary books ran positive comps; Impulse expansion drove over a 40% comparable sales increase versus last year in areas where rolled out; Sephora at Kohl's grew 2% with comps improving to flat in Q4 and MAC launched in ~850 Sephora locations.
Concrete Operational Plans and Early Execution Wins
Management implemented inventory and allocation changes that produced a 'substantially smoother' spring receipt transition; plans to increase inventory depth (high-single-digit target), curate choice counts, expand proprietary brand marketing ('By Kohl's'), roll out $10-and-under impulse assortments (Deal Bar, toy tower) and further omnichannel improvements in 2026.
KSS Earnings History
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
Beat
Missed
KSS Earnings-Related Price Changes
Report Date | Price 1 Day Before | Price 1 Day After | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Mar 10, 2026 | $14.65 | $14.44 | -1.49% |
Nov 25, 2025 | $15.49 | $22.08 | +42.53% |
Aug 27, 2025 | $12.75 | $15.80 | +24.00% |
May 29, 2025 | $7.81 | $7.75 | -0.74% |
Earnings announcements can affect a stock’s price. This table shows the stock's price the day before and the day after recent earnings reports, including the percentage change.
FAQ
When does Kohl's (KSS) report earnings?
Kohl's (KSS) is schdueled to report earning on May 27, 2026, Before Open (Confirmed).
What is Kohl's (KSS) earnings time?
Kohl's (KSS) earnings time is at May 27, 2026, Before Open (Confirmed).
Where can I see when companies are reporting earnings?
You can see which companies are reporting today on our designated earnings calendar.
What companies are reporting earnings today?
You can see a list of the companies which are reporting today on TipRanks earnings calendar.
What is KSS EPS forecast?
KSS EPS forecast for the fiscal quarter 2026 (Q1) is -0.21.
