Investors Buy Large Volume of Kohl’s Put Options (NYSE:KSS)

Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS) was the target of some unusual options trading on Thursday. Traders acquired 21,793 put options on the stock. This is an increase of 40% compared to the average daily volume of 15,618 put options.

Kohl’s Trading Down 3.0%

Shares of Kohl’s stock traded down $0.42 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $13.38. 6,019,792 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,337,760. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $18.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.67 and a beta of 1.42. Kohl’s has a twelve month low of $6.04 and a twelve month high of $25.22.

Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 10th. The company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.21. Kohl’s had a return on equity of 4.72% and a net margin of 1.75%.The company had revenue of $5.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.08 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.95 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Kohl’s has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.000-1.600 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Kohl’s will post 1.3 EPS for the current year.

Kohl’s Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 18th will be given a dividend of $0.125 per share. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 18th. Kohl’s’s payout ratio is 29.07%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Kohl’s in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Kohl’s from $23.00 to $17.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Telsey Advisory Group lowered their price objective on Kohl’s from $23.00 to $17.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. BTIG Research reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Kohl’s in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Gordon Haskett raised Kohl’s from an “accumulate” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and six have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Kohl’s currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $14.83.

More Kohl’s News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kohl’s this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat consensus ($1.07 EPS vs. $0.86) and management provided a 2026 EPS outlook, showing margin improvement despite revenue weakness. This explains the underlying fundamental reason the stock had strength after results. Zacks: Q4 Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Kohl’s published its 2025 results and set its 2026 outlook (EPS range and strategic focus on proprietary brands/value), which supports management’s path to profitability even as comps soften. Press Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Kohl’s stock saw unusually high trading volume after the earnings release, indicating heavy repositioning by investors (mix of buyers and sellers). That volume can increase short‑term volatility. AmericanBankingNews: High Volume
• Neutral Sentiment: Corporate update: Mari Steinmetz was promoted to a top people role — operational/HR move unlikely to move the stock materially near term. Globe and Mail: Promotion
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple sell/underweight calls and price‑target cuts from major banks (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Jefferies and others) after the report—these reduce investor conviction and can drive further selling. Benzinga: Analyst Cuts
• Negative Sentiment: Unusual options activity: a notable surge in put buying (21,793 puts, ~40% above typical volume) signals that some traders are hedging or speculating on downside, adding downward pressure. (3/12 trade report)
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst commentary and research pieces highlight eroding sales trends and competitive pressures (e.g., Seeking Alpha, Evercore warnings), reinforcing concerns that the EPS beat may not translate into durable top‑line recovery. Seeking Alpha: Shaky Sales

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kohl’s

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of KSS. Baird Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Kohl’s in the first quarter worth $96,000. Caxton Associates LLP acquired a new position in Kohl’s during the 1st quarter worth $166,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its position in shares of Kohl’s by 14.2% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 489,708 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,006,000 after purchasing an additional 60,769 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Kohl’s in the 2nd quarter worth about $120,000. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in shares of Kohl’s by 14.3% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 25,110 shares of the company’s stock valued at $213,000 after purchasing an additional 3,136 shares in the last quarter. 98.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Kohl’s

Kohl’s Corporation, founded in 1962 by Maxwell Kohl and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is a leading American department store retailer. The company operates approximately 1,100 stores across 49 states, offering a combination of value-oriented pricing, private-label brands and national labels. Since its initial public offering in 1992, Kohl’s has focused on broadening its product assortment and enhancing the in-store and online shopping experience.

The retailer’s merchandise portfolio spans apparel, footwear, accessories, and beauty products for women, men and children, as well as home goods, kitchenware and seasonal décor.