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

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KSS

Kohl's

(NYSE:KSS)

Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
$13.00
▼(-4.69% Downside)
Kohl's overall stock score reflects a mix of challenges and opportunities. Financial performance is weak due to declining sales and high leverage, but technical indicators suggest potential for price recovery. Valuation metrics indicate possible undervaluation, and strategic initiatives from the earnings call provide some optimism. However, macroeconomic pressures and digital underperformance remain significant risks.
Positive Factors
Company Guidance
Management unexpectedly reiterated guidance, indicating plans to mitigate the vast majority of the tariff impact.
Earnings
Better than expected comps of -4.3% to -4% drove upside to EPS in prelim results.
Tariff Mitigation
Tariff mitigation strategies are providing flexibility as Kohl’s has diversified its country exposure within the supply chain.
Negative Factors
Leadership Transition
Another management change in the midst of a volatile macro backdrop and already challenging sales rebuild will be a distraction.
Sales Performance
Foot traffic data shows a decline in the first quarter compared to the previous quarter, indicating challenges in attracting customers.
Turnaround Challenges
The recent CEO change is likely to elongate the company's already difficult turnaround.

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

Kohl's Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKohl'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 Apt. 9, Croft & Barrow, Jumping Beans, SO, and Sonoma Goods for Life, as well as Food Network, LC Lauren Conrad, Nine West, and Simply Vera Vera Wang. As of March 21, 2022, it operated approximately 1,100 Kohl's stores and a website www.Kohls.com. Kohl's Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
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:May 29, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 70.71%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 27, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Kohl's first quarter performance was ahead of expectations with positive momentum in key areas like jewelry and Sephora. However, the company faces challenges with net sales decline, digital underperformance, and pressure from tariffs. Efforts are underway to address these issues, but the overall environment remains uncertain.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
First Quarter Performance Ahead of Expectations
Kohl's first quarter results came in ahead of expectations, with actions beginning to resonate with customers and building momentum in key areas.
Jewelry Sales Rebound
Jewelry sales were up 10% in the first quarter, mainly driven by Kohl's card customers, after reintroducing jewelry and rolling out 200 fine jewelry shops.
Sephora at Kohl's Expansion
Sephora at Kohl's has expanded to all stores, contributing to nearly a $2 billion beauty business with Q1 net sales up 6% and comparable sales up 1%.
SG&A Cost Reduction
SG&A expenses decreased by 5.2% in the first quarter, leveraging approximately 32 basis points versus last year, driven by lower spending in stores and marketing.
Proprietary Brands Showing Improvement
Proprietary brands showed sequential improvement, with Q1 approximately 400 basis points better than Q4, driven by strong performance in brands like Tek Gear and Lauren Conrad.
Negative Updates
Net Sales Decline
Net sales declined 4.1% and comparable sales decreased 3.9% in the first quarter.
Digital Business Underperformance
Digital sales declined 7.7% in the quarter, with underperformance in the home category and core credit customer.
Core Kohl's Credit Customer Lag
Sales to core Kohl's card customers continue to lag, attributed to downsizing in jewelry, exiting the Petite business, and increased coupon exclusions.
Tariff-Related Challenges
Ongoing tariffs remain a fluid situation, affecting pricing and inventory strategies, although efforts are being made to mitigate impacts.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $76 million in Q1, despite a decrease of $7 million from last year.
Company Guidance
During the First Quarter 2025 Kohl's Corporation Earnings Conference Call, the company provided guidance focusing on several key metrics and strategic initiatives. Kohl's reported a net sales decline of 4.1% and a comparable sales decrease of 3.9% for the quarter, with stores outperforming digital channels. Gross margin increased by 37 basis points to 39.9%, driven by category mix and inventory management, while SG&A expenses decreased by 5.2%, leveraging approximately 32 basis points. The company maintained its guidance for fiscal 2025, projecting comparable sales down 4% to 6%, operating margin of 2.2% to 2.6%, and diluted EPS of $0.10 to $0.60. Key strategic areas include offering a more balanced product assortment, enhancing value and quality, and delivering a frictionless shopping experience. Kohl's also emphasized the importance of proprietary brands, which saw quarter-over-quarter performance improve by approximately 400 basis points. The company is focusing on leveraging its 1,100 stores, 60 million customers, and initiatives like the expansion of Sephora at Kohl's, which contributed to a $2 billion beauty business. Despite the macroeconomic uncertainties, including tariff impacts, Kohl's aims to achieve its financial goals by continuing to optimize store layouts, refine promotions, and enhance inventory management.

Kohl's Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Kohl's faces declining revenue and profitability, high leverage, and negative growth in free cash flow. The company has moderate operational efficiency but struggles to convert revenue into profit. High debt levels pose financial risks, while cash flow stability provides some reassurance.
Income Statement
60
Neutral
Kohl's has experienced a decline in both total revenue and profitability in recent years. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) gross profit margin stands at 27.5%, showing moderate efficiency in controlling production costs. However, net profit margin is low at 0.75%, indicating challenges in translating revenue into profit. Revenue has decreased significantly over the years, with a noticeable drop from $19.43 billion in 2022 to $16.07 billion in TTM 2025, indicating a negative growth trend. The EBIT and EBITDA margins for TTM are 2.8% and 7.3%, respectively, reflecting operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95, which suggests significant leverage and potential financial risk. The return on equity (ROE) for the TTM period is 3.2%, indicating low efficiency in generating profit from shareholders' equity. The equity ratio stands at 27.7%, reflecting moderate reliance on equity financing. Overall, the balance sheet highlights potential risks due to high leverage.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
Kohl's cash flow shows signs of stability, with an operating cash flow to net income ratio of 4.65, indicating strong cash generation relative to net income. Free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.93, showing improved efficiency in converting income to cash flow. However, free cash flow has declined from $1.67 billion in 2022 to $113 million in TTM 2025, reflecting a negative growth trajectory. Despite this, cash flow management appears relatively stable.
BreakdownTTMMar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue16.07B16.22B17.48B18.10B19.43B15.96B
Gross Profit4.42B37.20M6.23B6.64B8.00B5.59B
EBITDA1.18B1.18B1.47B1.05B2.32B612.00M
Net Income121.00M109.00M317.00M-19.00M938.00M-163.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets13.64B13.56B14.01B14.35B15.05B15.34B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments153.00M134.00M183.00M153.00M1.59B2.27B
Total Debt7.37B7.16B7.38B7.57B6.79B6.74B
Total Liabilities9.86B9.76B10.12B10.58B10.39B10.14B
Stockholders Equity3.78B3.80B3.89B3.76B4.66B5.20B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow113.00M182.00M591.00M-544.00M1.67B1.00B
Operating Cash Flow563.00M648.00M1.17B282.00M2.27B1.34B
Investing Cash Flow-449.00M-467.00M-562.00M-783.00M-570.00M-137.00M
Financing Cash Flow-189.00M-230.00M-576.00M-933.00M-2.38B347.00M

Kohl's Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price13.64
Price Trends
50DMA
10.34
Positive
100DMA
8.86
Positive
200DMA
11.02
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.94
Negative
RSI
62.49
Neutral
STOCH
84.92
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 13.64 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 12.42, above the 50-day MA of 10.34, and above the 200-day MA of 11.02, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.94 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 62.49 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 84.92 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 (67)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$8.05B14.2229.76%5.04%-2.44%-10.73%
77
Outperform
$3.48B6.4812.92%5.37%-3.77%4607.98%
67
Neutral
¥279.70B15.096.81%2.49%5.05%-21.29%
67
Neutral
$1.54B12.763.19%9.16%-7.03%-56.59%
60
Neutral
$4.12B14.1729.58%3.08%2.20%120.00%
54
Neutral
$961.45M-1.35%3.97%-9.32%-120.00%
50
Neutral
$2.46B194.63-12.85%-2.62%0.93%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KSS
Kohl's
13.64
-4.66
-25.46%
DDS
Dillard's
523.58
194.63
59.17%
FL
Foot Locker
25.68
-6.80
-20.94%
M
Macy's
13.27
-3.65
-21.57%
JWN
Nordstrom
24.66
2.82
12.91%
WGO
Winnebago Industries
34.22
-21.81
-38.93%

Kohl's Corporate Events

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.

The most recent analyst rating on (KSS) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kohl’s stock, see the KSS Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and Financing
Kohl’s Completes $360M Senior Secured Notes Offering
Neutral
May 30, 2025

On May 30, 2025, Kohl’s Corporation completed a private offering of $360 million in senior secured notes due 2030, bearing an interest rate of 10%. The proceeds were used to repay borrowings under the company’s revolving credit facility, with plans to use the facility to repay notes due in 2025. The notes are secured by equity interests and distribution centers, with guarantees from subsidiaries, and governed by an indenture that includes covenants limiting additional indebtedness and asset dispositions.

The most recent analyst rating on (KSS) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kohl’s stock, see the KSS Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
Kohl’s Reports Q1 2025 Financial Results
Neutral
May 29, 2025

On May 29, 2025, Kohl’s Corporation reported its first-quarter fiscal 2025 financial results, highlighting a 4.1% decrease in net sales and a 3.9% drop in comparable sales compared to the previous year. Despite these declines, the company saw a 37 basis point increase in gross margin and reduced its SG&A expenses by 5.2%. Operating income rose to $60 million, and the net loss was reduced to $15 million from $27 million the prior year. Interim CEO Michael Bender expressed optimism about the company’s progress and future potential, affirming the full-year 2025 financial outlook.

The most recent analyst rating on (KSS) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kohl’s stock, see the KSS Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and Financing
Kohl’s Announces $360M Senior Secured Notes Offering
Neutral
May 16, 2025

On May 15, 2025, Kohl’s Corporation announced the pricing of a $360 million private offering of 10.000% senior secured notes due 2030, guaranteed by its subsidiaries and secured by 11 distribution centers and e-commerce facilities. The proceeds will be used to repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility, with plans to repay its 4.25% notes due 2025 at maturity, potentially impacting its financial structure and stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (KSS) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kohl’s stock, see the KSS Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsDividends
Kohl’s Shareholders Meeting and Dividend Announcement
Neutral
May 14, 2025

On May 14, 2025, Kohl’s Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders where several key proposals were voted on. The shareholders elected eight directors for a one-year term, approved the executive compensation for fiscal 2024, and ratified Ernst & Young LLP as the independent accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026. However, a proposal for a shareholder vote on executive severance payments was not approved. Additionally, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share, payable on June 25, 2025, to shareholders of record as of June 11, 2025.

The most recent analyst rating on (KSS) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kohl’s stock, see the KSS Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and Financing
Kohl’s Announces $360 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering
Neutral
May 13, 2025

On May 9, 2025, Kohl’s Corporation amended its Revolving Credit Facility with Wells Fargo Bank to facilitate the issuance of senior secured notes. On May 13, 2025, Kohl’s announced a private offering of approximately $360 million in senior secured notes due 2030, secured by 11 distribution centers and e-commerce facilities. The proceeds will be used to repay borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, including the 4.25% notes due in 2025.

The most recent analyst rating on (KSS) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kohl’s stock, see the KSS Stock Forecast page.

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 13, 2025