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Kohl's (KSS)
NYSE:KSS

Kohl's (KSS) AI Stock Analysis

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KSS

Kohl's

(NYSE:KSS)

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Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:50Neutral
Price Target:
$12.50
▲(0.32% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/10/26
The score reflects mixed fundamentals led by improved cash flow and operational cost discipline, but weighed down by an ongoing multi-year sales decline and meaningful leverage. Technicals are notably bearish with the stock below key moving averages and negative MACD, and valuation looks demanding due to a very high P/E despite a moderate dividend yield. Earnings call guidance was cautious, reinforcing that a top-line turnaround is still uncertain.
Positive Factors
Strengthened cash generation
Material improvement in operating and free cash flow provides durable internal funding to support inventory refresh, capex, debt paydown and the dividend. Stronger cash conversion versus prior years reduces near-term refinancing risk and underpins strategic investments even if sales recover slowly.
Negative Factors
Multi-year top-line decline
A persistent decline in net sales and comps erodes scale, reduces purchasing leverage and makes fixed-cost absorption harder. Even with cost cuts, prolonged top-line weakness risks margin volatility, slower deleveraging and weaker long-term franchise economics.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Strengthened cash generation
Material improvement in operating and free cash flow provides durable internal funding to support inventory refresh, capex, debt paydown and the dividend. Stronger cash conversion versus prior years reduces near-term refinancing risk and underpins strategic investments even if sales recover slowly.
Read all positive factors

Kohl's (KSS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Kohl's Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description
Kohl's Corporation operates as a retail company in the United States. It offers branded apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, and home products through its stores and website. The company provides its products primarily under the brand names of ...
How the Company Makes Money
Kohl’s primarily makes money by selling merchandise to consumers through its stores and e-commerce channels, recognizing revenue at the point of sale (in-store) or upon shipment/fulfillment (online), net of returns and discounts. Its core revenue ...

Kohl's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Breaks down revenue across different business areas, highlighting which segments are driving growth and which may need strategic adjustments.
Chart InsightsKohl's is experiencing a notable decline in revenue across key segments, particularly in footwear and children's categories, reflecting broader challenges in discretionary spending. Despite these declines, the company is making strategic strides with proprietary brands and digital sales, which are showing positive momentum. Leadership changes and improved inventory management are also positioning Kohl's for potential recovery. The cautious optimism from the earnings call suggests that while challenges persist, strategic initiatives could stabilize performance in the coming quarters.
Data provided by:The Fly

Kohl's Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 10, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 27, 2026
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.
Positive Updates
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.
Negative Updates
Top-Line Weakness and Comparable Sales Declines
Net sales down 3.9% in Q4 and down 4% for the year; comparable sales declined 2.8% in Q4 and 3.1% for the year; store sales declined mid-single-digits driven by lower transactions—primary top-line drag.
Read all updates
Q4-2025 Updates
Negative
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.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Kohl’s 2026 guidance calls for full‑year net sales and comparable sales down 2% to flat versus 2025, operating (EBIT) margin of 2.8%–3.4%, and EPS of $1.00–$1.60; Other Revenue is expected down 4%–6%, gross margin flat to slightly down, SG&A dollars down 0.5%–1.5%, depreciation & amortization about $700M, interest expense about $285M, and a tax rate of ~22%; inventory is expected down low‑ to mid‑single digits, capital expenditures $350M–$400M, with Q1 comps down low single digits and management expecting sales to build through the year.

Kohl's Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials point to a recovery that is not yet stable: revenue continues to decline and margins remain thin, but profitability improved versus FY2025 and cash generation strengthened materially in TTM (operating cash flow ~$1.38B; free cash flow ~$1.16B). Balance sheet leverage remains meaningful (elevated debt-to-equity), increasing risk if sales pressure persists.
Income Statement
46
Neutral
Balance Sheet
54
Neutral
Cash Flow
62
Positive
BreakdownJan 2026Jan 2025Jan 2024Jan 2023Jan 2022
Income Statement
Total Revenue15.53B16.22B17.48B18.10B19.43B
Gross Profit5.60B5.82B6.23B5.83B7.16B
EBITDA1.21B1.18B1.47B1.05B2.32B
Net Income272.00M109.00M317.00M-19.00M938.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets13.36B13.56B14.01B14.35B15.05B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments674.00M134.00M183.00M153.00M1.59B
Total Debt6.63B7.16B7.38B7.57B6.79B
Total Liabilities9.31B9.76B10.12B10.58B10.39B
Stockholders Equity4.05B3.80B3.89B3.76B4.66B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.10B182.00M591.00M-544.00M1.67B
Operating Cash Flow1.48B648.00M1.17B282.00M2.27B
Investing Cash Flow-333.00M-467.00M-562.00M-783.00M-570.00M
Financing Cash Flow-603.00M-230.00M-576.00M-933.00M-2.38B

Kohl's Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price12.46
Price Trends
50DMA
16.18
Negative
100DMA
18.16
Negative
200DMA
15.60
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.20
Negative
RSI
34.62
Neutral
STOCH
43.15
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KSS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 12.46 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 13.57, below the 50-day MA of 16.18, and below the 200-day MA of 15.60, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.20 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 34.62 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 43.15 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for KSS.

Kohl's Risk Analysis

Kohl's disclosed 20 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Kohl's reported the most risks in the "Ability to Sell" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Kohl's Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
65
Neutral
$8.67B16.6130.03%3.99%-1.07%-5.22%
62
Neutral
$4.77B8.4414.20%3.23%-2.83%184.32%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
56
Neutral
$2.41B66.085.21%1.97%6.26%-66.51%
54
Neutral
$3.42B28.2722.70%2.97%9.85%
50
Neutral
$1.40B7.196.91%2.33%-6.13%-22.57%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KSS
Kohl's
12.46
4.57
57.94%
DDS
Dillard's
555.01
212.01
61.81%
M
Macy's
17.94
5.93
49.43%
SHOO
Steven Madden
33.11
7.15
27.56%
VSCO
Victoria's Secret
42.47
23.89
128.58%

Kohl's Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Kohl’s Reports 2025 Results and Sets 2026 Outlook
Neutral
Mar 10, 2026
On March 10, 2026, Kohl’s reported fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2025 results for the period ended January 31, 2026, showing net sales declines of 3.9% in the quarter and 4.0% for the year, with comparable sales down 2.8% and 3.1%, res...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Kohl’s Elevates Mari Steinmetz to Top People Role
Positive
Mar 4, 2026
Effective February 27, 2026, Kohl’s Corporation promoted Mari Steinmetz to Senior Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, and designated her as an executive officer, elevating her role from the Executive Vice President, Chief People ...
Dividends
Kohl’s Declares Regular Quarterly Cash Dividend to Shareholders
Positive
Feb 25, 2026
On February 25, 2026, Kohl’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share on its common stock, reinforcing a pattern of returning capital to shareholders. The dividend will be paid on April 1, 2026, to sh...
Executive/Board Changes
Kohl’s Announces Planned Retirement of Senior Executive Leader
Neutral
Jan 28, 2026
On January 28, 2026, Kohl’s Corporation announced that Fred Hand will retire from his role as Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Stores, effective April 3, 2026, marking a planned leadership change in oversight of the company&#8...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 10, 2026