Telsey reiterates Market Perform rating on Kohl’s stock amid earnings beat

Published 21/08/2025, 12:36
Telsey reiterates Market Perform rating on Kohl’s stock amid earnings beat

Investing.com - Telsey Advisory Group has reiterated its Market Perform rating and $9.00 price target on Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) following the retailer’s earnings beat against previously announced results. According to InvestingPro data, the stock currently trades at an attractive Price/Book ratio of 0.4x, suggesting potential value despite recent challenges.

The department store chain delivered better-than-expected results, benefiting from strong sales and improved expense control, though gross margins were softer than anticipated. With a current gross profit margin of 40.4% and revenue of $16.1 billion in the last twelve months, comparable sales improved sequentially for the second consecutive quarter, slightly exceeding expectations, although Kohl’s has not posted positive comparable sales since 2021.

Kohl’s reaffirmed its annual guidance, which Telsey views as an encouraging sign in the current retail environment. Despite a recent leadership change with interim CEO Michael Bender replacing Ashley Buchanan, Telsey believes the company’s strategic direction is unlikely to shift meaningfully in the near term. InvestingPro analysis reveals 8 additional key insights about Kohl’s financial health and market position, available to subscribers.

The research firm expects Bender to follow the previously outlined roadmap focused on a more curated product mix, stronger value messaging, and seamless omnichannel experience while working to stabilize the business after several years of volatile performance.

Telsey’s $9 price target assumes a 14.5x multiple on its two-year forward EPS estimate of $0.62, in line with the one-year average next-twelve-months multiple of 14.4x, as Kohl’s continues to rely on its Sephora partnership and store optimization efforts to improve performance.

In other recent news, Kohl’s Corporation reported its first-quarter earnings for 2025, surpassing expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.13, significantly better than the projected -$0.47. This improvement was attributed to effective cost management and strategic initiatives, despite a decline in net sales. Meanwhile, UBS has reiterated its Sell rating on Kohl’s stock, maintaining a price target of $4.00, due to concerns over the retailer’s competitive position and earnings outlook. UBS highlighted that Kohl’s is losing market share to off-price retailers, which could adversely affect earnings. The investment firm also forecasts further downward adjustments to consensus EPS predictions, driven by tariff-related expenses and intensified competition. In addition, Kohl’s has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share, payable on September 24, 2025, to shareholders of record as of September 10, 2025. UBS does not expect significant progress in Kohl’s turnaround strategy until at least fiscal year 2026.

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