Core Insights - Kohl's reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the fourth quarter, but the stock plummeted due to significantly worse guidance for the upcoming year [1][2] Financial Performance - Fourth-quarter net sales were $5.18 billion, down from $5.71 billion in the same period of 2023 [5] - Full-year 2024 sales totaled $15.39 billion, a decrease from $16.59 billion in 2023 [5] - Quarterly comparable sales fell 6.7% year over year, slightly better than the expected 6.8% decrease [5] - Net income for the fourth quarter was $48 million, or 43 cents per share, compared to $186 million, or $1.67 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2023 [6] - Adjusted earnings per share were 95 cents, exceeding the expected 73 cents [7] Future Guidance - For 2025, Kohl's expects revenue to decline by 5% to 7%, compared to Wall Street's estimate of a 1.6% decrease [2] - The company projects comparable sales to fall by 4% to 6%, while analysts anticipated a 0.9% decrease [2] - Earnings per share guidance is set between 10 cents and 60 cents, missing the midpoint Wall Street estimate of $1.23 [2] Management Changes and Challenges - Kohl's appointed Ashley Buchanan as the new CEO, replacing Tom Kingsbury, who led the company for two years [3] - The company has cut nearly 10% of its corporate workforce and plans to close 27 underperforming stores by April [3] - The stock has fallen over 50% in the past year, reflecting broader concerns about consumer confidence and economic conditions [4]

Financial Performance - Fourth quarter net sales decreased 9.4% year-over-year to $5.2 billion, while fiscal year 2024 net sales decreased 7.2% to $15.4 billion[4] - Comparable sales decreased 6.7% for the fourth quarter and 6.5% for the fiscal year 2024[5] - Fourth quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.43, with adjusted diluted EPS of $0.95; fiscal year 2024 diluted EPS was $0.98, with adjusted diluted EPS of $1.50[4] - Operating income for the fourth quarter was $126 million, a decrease from $299 million in the prior year, representing 2.3% of total revenue[5] - Net income for the fourth quarter was $48 million, compared to $186 million in the prior year, while fiscal year net income was $109 million, down from $317 million[5] Inventory and Cash Flow - Inventory increased by 2% year-over-year to $2.9 billion[5] - Net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $648 million from $1,168 million, reflecting a decline of 44.6% year-over-year[17] - Merchandise inventories saw a significant change, decreasing by $60 million compared to an increase of $315 million in the previous year[17] - Net cash used in investing activities was $467 million, down from $562 million, indicating a reduction of 16.9%[17] - Net cash used in financing activities decreased to $230 million from $576 million, a decline of 60%[17] - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period were $134 million, down from $183 million at the beginning of the period[17] Future Projections - The company expects net sales to decrease between 5% to 7% and comparable sales to decrease between 4% to 6% for fiscal year 2025[10] - Capital expenditures are projected to be in the range of $400 million to $425 million for fiscal year 2025[10] Dividends and Shareholder Returns - Kohl's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share, payable on April 2, 2025[10] - Dividends paid increased slightly to $222 million from $220 million, reflecting a marginal increase of 0.9%[17] Expenses and Borrowing - Depreciation and amortization expenses were $743 million, slightly down from $749 million in the previous year[17] - Share-based compensation decreased to $30 million from $42 million, a reduction of 28.6%[17] - The company reported a net borrowing of $198 million under the revolving credit facility, compared to only $7 million in the previous year[17]

Core Viewpoint - Kohl's Corp is expected to report significant declines in quarterly profits and revenue due to ongoing consumer spending challenges [1] Financial Performance Expectations - Analysts anticipate Kohl's to announce quarterly profits of 72 cents per share on revenue of $5.35 billion, both reflecting substantial declines from the previous year [1] Historical Stock Performance - Kohl's stock has a history of poor post-earnings reactions, including a 17% drop after its November report, with five out of the last eight earnings reports resulting in next-day losses averaging an 8.7% swing [2] - The stock is currently down 0.8% to $11.27, marking a 19.6% decline year-to-date and a 58.4% loss over the last 12 months [3] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts remain largely bearish, with all 12 covering brokerages rating Kohl's as a "hold" or worse [4] - Short interest has increased by 8.4% to 46.96 million shares sold short, representing 43.3% of the stock's float [4] Options Market Activity - Options traders are leaning bullish, with a 50-day call/put volume ratio of 2.83, indicating some investors may be betting on an earnings-driven rebound despite recent struggles [5]

FRANKFORT, IL — At its Monday meeting, the Frankfort Village Board approved a final development plan for phase 2 of Cedarhurst of Frankfort.Trustee Maura Rigoni said Dover Development is proposing the development of 16 independent living buildings on the property of the existing Cedarhurst Assisted Living facility, at 21507 S. Wolf Road. Rigoni said the plan commission unanimously recommended approving the final development plan "subject to conditions which have since been addressed related to the landscape ...

Wall Street analysts expect Kohl's (KSS) to post quarterly earnings of $0.72 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year decline of 56.9%. Revenues are expected to be $5.35 billion, down 10.2% from the year-ago quarter.Over the last 30 days, there has been a downward revision of 52.2% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, leading to its current level. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe. ...

Kohl's Corporation (KSS) is likely to register declines in the top and bottom lines when it reports fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 earnings on March 11. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly earnings has moved down a couple of cents in the past 30 days to 73 cents per share, indicating a decrease of 56.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. The consensus mark for fiscal 2024 earnings is pegged at $1.30 per share, reflecting a decline of 54.4% from the prior-year reported figure. KSS has a trailing ...

The market expects Kohl's (KSS) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended January 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on Mar ...

Group 1 - Kohl's has faced challenges in recent quarters, with a notable acceleration in the decline of comparable store sales [2] - Changes made to attract new customers have inadvertently alienated some existing customers [2] - The company is under scrutiny as it navigates these customer dynamics and sales performance issues [2] Group 2 - The article mentions the author's long position in Kohl's shares, indicating a personal investment interest [2] - The author has a background in analytical experience and has co-founded a mobile gaming company, showcasing a diverse skill set [2]

Kohl’s shoppers are reportedly hoping the chain’s new CEO can bring back some old favorites.The retailer appointed in November Michaels Companies CEO Ashley Buchanan to succeed CEO Tom Kingsbury, who stepped down last week.Now, customers are hoping Buchanan can reverse some of the moves by his predecessor that upset Kohl’s longtime shoppers and sent sales plummeting, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday (Jan. 20).Kohl’s has scaled back its private-label brands, petite clothing sizes and fine jewelry offe ...

Kohl's plans to close 27 underperforming stores by April.The retailer operates more than 1,150 locations across the US.Here's the full list of locations that will shutter in the coming months.Kohl's has announced the closure of more than two dozen stores it deemed underperforming. The Wisconsin-based retailer has struggled in recent quarters with "frankly disappointing" sales, in the words of then-CEO Tom Kingsbury last quarter. Kingsbury stepped down from the job on January 15.The 27 locations spread acros ...