Kohl's raises fiscal 2026 outlook: what it means for Kohl's stock

Published on 10/06/2026 at 03:38 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Adjusted earnings reached USD 1.28 per share, up 128.60 percent year over year. The USD 2.2 billion market value belonged to Kohl's stock on October 5, 2026.

KSS, US5002551043, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Kohl's Corporation (ISIN US5002551043) raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings outlook to USD 1.80-2.40 per share, according to Zacks on September 25, 2026. The new range compares with the earlier USD 1.00-1.60 outlook and gives Kohl's stock a results-driven headline rather than a price-only story.

Outlook moves above prior range

The company also expects fiscal 2026 net sales and comparable sales to range from flat to down 1.50 percent, compared with its earlier outlook for a decline of up to 2.00 percent. Adjusted operating margin is projected at 3.50-4.00 percent, up from the previous 2.80-3.40 percent range, according to Zacks in the same September 25 report.

The latest quarterly figures show why the outlook changed. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, adjusted earnings reached USD 1.28 per share, up 128.60 percent from USD 0.56 in the year-earlier quarter, while total revenue fell 0.90 percent year over year to USD 3.515 billion. The revenue result narrowly missed the USD 3.516 billion consensus estimate, according to Zacks.

Analysts keep a cautious view

Profitability improved, but operating income declined to USD 261 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 from USD 279 million a year earlier. Operating margin was 7.40 percent, down from the prior-year level, while gross margin expanded 305 basis points to 43.00 percent.

That mixed profile is reflected in analyst coverage. Markets Insider reported on September 29, 2026, that Telsey Advisory maintained a Hold rating and an USD 18.00 price target. MarketBeat reported an average Reduce rating across 15 brokerages and an average target of USD 16.17 on October 2, 2026.

Market value and prior close

Kohl's was valued at USD 2.2 billion on October 5, 2026, while its primary listing was NYSE. The same market snapshot showed a 52-week range of USD 11.38 to USD 25.22, placing the valuation between a substantially lower yearly low and a higher yearly peak.

At Lang & Schwarz, the prior close was EUR 17.51 on October 2, 2026. The company therefore enters the next trading session with a higher earnings outlook, stronger quarterly adjusted earnings and a revenue trend that still requires attention.