Kohl's stock weighs a Q2 profit beat against softer sales

Published on 10/04/2026 at 14:19 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Kohl's stock closed at USD 18.81 on October 2 after a 0.58 percent decline. Adjusted Q2 EPS reached USD 1.28, while revenue fell 0.9 percent year over year.

KSS, US5002551043, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Kohl's (ISIN US5002551043) closed at USD 18.81 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026, down 0.58 percent for the session. The central signal is the second-quarter fiscal 2026 profit beat, but softer sales keep the recovery thesis conditional.

Profit beat meets sales pressure

According to Nasdaq, Kohl's reported adjusted EPS of USD 1.28 for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, up 128.6 percent from USD 0.56 in the prior-year quarter and above the USD 0.55 consensus estimate. The figure benefited from USD 150 million in tariff refunds, while gross margin expanded 305 basis points to 43 percent.

The revenue picture was less supportive. Total revenue fell 0.9 percent year over year to USD 3.515 billion, net sales reached USD 3.318 billion, and comparable sales also declined 0.9 percent, according to Nasdaq.

Guidance improves, demand stays mixed

Kohl's raised its fiscal 2026 outlook for net sales and comparable sales to a range from flat to down 1.5 percent, compared with a prior forecast of a decline of up to 2 percent. Adjusted operating margin guidance moved to 3.5-4 percent from 2.8-3.4 percent, while adjusted EPS guidance rose to USD 1.80-2.40 from USD 1.00-1.60, as reported by Nasdaq. The comparison matters because the higher profit outlook rests against revenue that is still contracting.

Analyst targets split around USD 18.81

The consensus on Investing.com is Neutral across 14 analysts, with an average 12-month target of USD 18.73, a low target of USD 9.00 and a high target of USD 41.50. That spread shows why the earnings beat has not settled the debate: margin improvement is visible, while customer demand and the durability of tariff-related support remain the key counterweights.

Next results arrive in November

Kohl's stock ended the October 2 session at USD 18.81, with a 52-week range of USD 11.38 to USD 25.22. Its market capitalization was USD 2.1 billion and trading volume was 3,424,379 shares on the NYSE.