Kohl’s (KSS) Stock Plunges Despite Strong Q2 Earnings Beat and Raised Guidance

Key Takeaways

• Kohl’s reported Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.28, significantly exceeding analyst expectations of 58 cents per share
• Revenue declined 0.9% year-over-year to $3.3 billion, with comparable store sales mirroring the decrease
• Full-year adjusted EPS forecast upgraded to $1.80-$2.40 range from previous $1.00-$1.60 estimate
• Approximately $150 million in tariff refunds boosted Q2 results; company to resume buybacks up to $100 million
• Despite positive earnings surprise, KSS shares tumbled more than 6% during pre-market hours

Despite posting earnings that substantially exceeded expectations, Kohl’s faced a harsh market response on Tuesday. Shares plummeted over 6% in pre-market sessions following the department store chain’s disclosure that revenue and comparable store sales each contracted 0.9% from the prior year, reaching $3.3 billion in the quarter that concluded on August 1.

Kohl’s Corporation, KSS

On the profitability front, adjusted earnings per share reached $1.28, substantially surpassing the Wall Street consensus of 58 cents—more than doubling expectations. Net income registered $151 million, marginally below the $153 million recorded in the comparable period last year.

The revenue contraction extends a persistent multi-year pattern that CEO Michael Bender has been attempting to reverse since assuming leadership in May 2025. While Bender acknowledged “critical work ahead,” he emphasized what he characterized as continuing improvement in comparable sales performance.

A significant contributor to the quarter’s performance was approximately $150 million in tariff refunds the company received during the period. This unexpected benefit provided the financial flexibility to enhance full-year projections.

The company now anticipates full-year net and comparable sales ranging from flat to down 1.5%, an improvement from the previous forecast of flat to down 2%. The adjusted EPS outlook was elevated to $1.80-$2.40 from $1.00-$1.60 previously. The analyst consensus stood at $1.45.

Resumption of Stock Repurchases

Kohl’s revealed plans to reinitiate its share buyback initiative, allocating up to $100 million under an existing $3 billion authorization that had been suspended since May 2020.

Over the preceding six months, the company repurchased $113 million of its unsecured debt instruments at a $15 million discount, supplementing the $87 million in debt buybacks executed the previous year.

Analyst Community Remained Pessimistic

Wall Street sentiment prior to the earnings release skewed decidedly negative. JP Morgan analyst Matthew Boss maintained his Underweight stance with a $17 price objective. Both Morgan Stanley and Bank of America similarly held unfavorable ratings on the retailer.

Options market positioning the day preceding the announcement revealed put contracts outnumbering calls approximately four-to-one, with substantial concentration in short-dated strikes significantly below the prevailing stock price. Market participants had clearly anticipated a disappointing response.

Compounding investor uncertainty, Kohl’s unveiled a newly created Chief Customer Officer position concurrent with the departure of its Chief Marketing Officer, prompting concerns regarding executive stability amid a crucial transformation effort.

Broader equity markets provided no cushion. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all traded essentially unchanged on the day, indicating that selling pressure on KSS stemmed purely from company-specific considerations.

Kohl’s primary customer demographic of middle- and lower-income consumers continues confronting constraints from limited discretionary spending capacity. With shares now trading nearer to the 52-week low of $11.38 than the 52-week high of $25.22, market participants remain doubtful that the turnaround strategy is achieving meaningful momentum.