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Kohl's Corporation (KSS)
:KSS
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Kohl's (KSS) AI Stock Analysis

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KSS

Kohl's

(NYSE:KSS)

Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:
$17.50
▲(5.61% Upside)
Kohl's overall stock score reflects a combination of strong technical momentum and attractive valuation, offset by financial performance challenges and mixed earnings call sentiment. The company's strategic initiatives and corporate events provide a positive outlook, but macroeconomic pressures and sales declines remain significant risks.
Positive Factors
Earnings
Management raised the FY25 EPS outlook based on an improved financial performance compared to previous guidance.
Strategic Initiatives
Management is encouraged by early reads on initiatives such as private brands, impulse lines, and bringing back petites/jewelry.
Negative Factors
Market Share
The core Apparel, Footwear, and Legacy Home categories are experiencing revenue declines, suggesting market share erosion.
Profitability Risks
The retail business relies on credit card-related income to achieve profitability, and with expected credit card revenue declines in FY25, profitability risks remain.
Same-Store Sales
Same-store sales continue to decline, indicating ongoing challenges in maintaining customer traffic and sales growth.

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

Kohl's Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKohl's Corporation is a leading American department store retail chain, primarily operating in the United States. Established in 1962, Kohl's offers a wide range of products, including apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty products, and home goods. The company caters to a diverse customer base, providing quality merchandise at competitive prices through its extensive network of physical stores and a robust e-commerce platform. Kohl's is known for its commitment to customer service, community involvement, and various loyalty programs, which enhance customer engagement and retention.
How the Company Makes MoneyKohl's generates revenue primarily through the sale of merchandise in its department stores and online. The company's revenue model is centered around three main streams: product sales, private label brands, and loyalty programs. Product sales encompass a vast array of categories, including clothing, home goods, and beauty products, with a focus on offering value and discounts to attract price-sensitive consumers. Kohl's also benefits from its private label brands, which typically yield higher margins compared to national brands. Additionally, the company has developed loyalty programs, such as Kohl's Cash, which incentivizes repeat purchases and enhances customer loyalty. Partnerships with brands and seasonal promotions further contribute to sales, while the integration of online and in-store shopping experiences helps to drive traffic and conversion rates across both channels.

Kohl's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Store Count
Store Count
Indicates the total number of retail locations, reflecting the company's physical presence and potential reach to customers, which can impact sales and brand visibility.
Chart InsightsKohl's store count saw a notable decline in early 2025, dropping to 1,153 stores, which aligns with strategic shifts mentioned in the earnings call. Despite a challenging retail environment, the company is focusing on optimizing store layouts and enhancing in-store experiences, particularly with the expansion of Sephora. While net sales are declining, the emphasis on proprietary brands and Sephora's success suggests a strategic pivot towards leveraging physical locations to drive growth, even as digital channels underperform. This could indicate a recalibration towards in-store customer engagement amid macroeconomic pressures.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Kohl's Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 27, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 25, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Kohl's demonstrated some positive momentum, particularly with proprietary brands and inventory management. However, significant challenges remain, including sales declines, pressure on core customers, and uncertainties related to global trade policy.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Positive End to Q2
July comp sales were flat compared to last year, showing improvement from earlier in the quarter.
Proprietary Brand Growth
Proprietary brands saw sales up 500 basis points from the first quarter, with July seeing low single-digit growth.
Gross Margin Improvement
Gross margin increased by 30 basis points in the quarter, driven by category mix benefits and strong inventory management.
SG&A Expense Reduction
SG&A expenses decreased by 4.1%, reflecting disciplined cost management.
Inventory Management
Inventory levels were reduced by 5% compared to the previous year.
Impulse and Sephora Expansion
Impulse sales increased by 30% in Q2, and Sephora at Kohl's grew 3% year-over-year.
Successful Refinancing
Kohl's completed the refinance of July 2025 maturities, issuing $360 million of 10% senior secured notes due in 2030.
Negative Updates
Sales Decline
Net sales declined 5.1% in Q2, with comparable sales down 4.2%.
Pressure on Core Customers
Lower to middle-income customers remain the most challenged, impacting overall sales performance.
Kohl's Card Customer Decline
Kohl's Card customer segment continued to underperform with sales down in the low teens for the quarter.
Men’s and Kids Categories Lagging
Men's and kids were the softest performing categories in the quarter.
Tariffs and Trade Policy Uncertainty
Global trade policy remains uncertain, impacting cost structures and requiring flexibility in pricing strategies.
Company Guidance
During the Kohl's Corporation Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided several key financial metrics and updates on strategic initiatives. Kohl's reported a comparable sales decrease of 4.2% and adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.56, both exceeding expectations. Gross margin expanded by approximately 30 basis points, while inventory and SG&A expenses were reduced by 5% and 4%, respectively. The company highlighted the improved performance of its digital business and proprietary brand sales, which were particularly strong in July. Kohl's also emphasized its strategic focus on offering value through proprietary brands and enhancing promotional strategies by making more brands coupon-eligible, which led to an 800 basis point increase in coupon penetration. Looking forward, Kohl's revised its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting net sales to decline by 5% to 6% and gross margin expansion of approximately 30 basis points, with adjusted diluted earnings per share projected to be between $0.50 and $0.80. The company acknowledged the ongoing macroeconomic challenges and the pressured consumer environment but expressed confidence in its strategic initiatives to drive long-term growth.

Kohl's Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Kohl's financial performance is mixed. While revenue and gross profit margins have declined, the company has improved its leverage position and demonstrated strong cash flow growth. The modest return on equity and positive net profit margin indicate some profitability, but the company faces challenges in revenue growth and margin pressures.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Kohl's has shown a decline in revenue over the past few years, with a negative revenue growth rate of -1.16% in the TTM period. The gross profit margin has decreased significantly from 41.15% in 2022 to 10.36% in the TTM period, indicating pressure on profitability. However, the company has managed to maintain a positive net profit margin of 1.31% in the TTM period, showing some resilience in net income generation.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The debt-to-equity ratio has improved significantly to 0.19 in the TTM period from 1.88 in 2025, indicating a reduction in leverage. The return on equity is modest at 2.31% in the TTM period, reflecting moderate profitability. The equity ratio stands at 100%, suggesting a strong equity base relative to total assets.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Kohl's has demonstrated strong free cash flow growth of 501.77% in the TTM period, indicating improved cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.36, showing a healthy conversion of net income to cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.75 suggests efficient cash management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue15.89B16.22B17.48B18.10B19.43B15.96B
Gross Profit4.54B6.56B6.23B6.64B8.00B5.59B
EBITDA1.28B1.18B1.47B1.05B2.32B612.00M
Net Income208.00M109.00M317.00M-19.00M938.00M-163.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets13.39B13.56B14.01B14.35B15.05B15.34B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments174.00M134.00M183.00M153.00M1.59B2.27B
Total Debt6.86B7.16B7.38B7.57B6.79B6.74B
Total Liabilities9.46B9.76B10.12B10.58B10.39B10.14B
Stockholders Equity3.93B3.80B3.89B3.76B4.66B5.20B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow680.00M182.00M591.00M-544.00M1.67B1.00B
Operating Cash Flow907.00M648.00M1.17B282.00M2.27B1.34B
Investing Cash Flow-409.00M-467.00M-562.00M-783.00M-570.00M-137.00M
Financing Cash Flow-555.00M-230.00M-576.00M-933.00M-2.38B347.00M

Kohl's Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price16.57
Price Trends
50DMA
12.14
Positive
100DMA
9.91
Positive
200DMA
10.87
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.27
Negative
RSI
67.00
Neutral
STOCH
89.82
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KSS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 16.57 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 14.51, above the 50-day MA of 12.14, and above the 200-day MA of 10.87, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.27 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 67.00 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 89.82 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive 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
77
Outperform
$1.86B9.045.36%7.53%-7.23%-27.81%
77
Outperform
$9.01B15.9129.76%4.49%-2.44%-10.74%
62
Neutral
$4.71B9.8711.31%4.11%-3.43%169.28%
61
Neutral
$17.92B12.81-2.97%2.98%1.30%-14.28%
60
Neutral
2.20%120.00%
54
Neutral
$1.03B-1.35%3.74%-9.32%-120.00%
49
Neutral
$2.29B194.63-13.84%-3.58%-4.20%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KSS
Kohl's
16.59
-1.62
-8.90%
DDS
Dillard's
578.49
252.18
77.28%
FL
Foot Locker
24.01
-1.13
-4.49%
M
Macy's
17.09
3.31
24.02%
JWN
Nordstrom
24.66
2.93
13.48%
WGO
Winnebago Industries
36.40
-17.74
-32.77%

Kohl's Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Kohl’s Raises Full-Year Outlook Despite Sales Decline
Positive
Aug 27, 2025

Kohl’s Corporation reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, ending on August 2, 2025. Despite a 5.1% decrease in net sales and a 4.2% decline in comparable sales, the company managed to increase its gross margin by 28 basis points. The company also reported a significant gain from a legal settlement and improved its operating income and cash flow compared to the previous year. Kohl’s raised its full-year financial outlook, indicating confidence in its ongoing initiatives and operational discipline, despite the challenging economic environment.

Dividends
Kohl’s Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend Announcement
Positive
Aug 12, 2025

On August 12, 2025, Kohl’s Corporation announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share, payable on September 24, 2025, to shareholders recorded by September 10, 2025. This declaration reflects Kohl’s ongoing commitment to providing shareholder value and could influence investor confidence in the company’s financial health.

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: Aug 29, 2025