Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) Sees Large Volume Increase Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS) saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. 9,938,855 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 150% from the previous session’s volume of 3,979,290 shares.The stock last traded at $16.0030 and had previously closed at $14.80.

The company reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.21. Kohl’s had a net margin of 1.23% and a return on equity of 4.30%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.95 EPS. Kohl’s has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.000-1.600 EPS.

Kohl’s Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 18th will be issued a $0.125 dividend. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 18th. Kohl’s’s dividend payout ratio is 29.07%.

Kohl’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat — Kohl’s reported $1.07 EPS, topping consensus and showing improved profit versus a year ago; this supports the view that cost actions / margin work are helping near-term profitability. Kohl’s (KSS) Surpasses Q4 Earnings Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Bullish commentary from some market voices highlights a potential turnaround if management execution continues, which could support upside if comps stabilize. Jim Cramer on Kohl’s Corporation
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst previews and coverage note elevated short interest and volatile upside/downside potential — watch print reaction and any management commentary on traffic and inventory. Kohl’s Q4 Preview: Get Ready For Make‑Or‑Break Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Full-year guidance came in light — FY2026 EPS guidance of $1.00–$1.60 is below the consensus (~$1.82), and revenue guidance was soft enough to disappoint investors, a primary driver of the selloff. Kohl’s forecasts annual sales below estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Comparable sales and overall revenue trends disappointed — Q4 revenue declined ~3.9% YoY and comps missed expectations, which offsets the EPS beat and raises durability concerns for margin recovery. Kohl’s falls as weak sales outlook overshadows earnings beat
• Negative Sentiment: Major outlets report that sales missed despite turnaround efforts, reinforcing the narrative that top-line recovery is uncertain and pressuring the stock. Kohl’s Sales Slip Despite Turnaround Efforts

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on KSS shares. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Kohl’s in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. They set a “hold” rating and a $22.00 target price for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Kohl’s in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Evercore raised their target price on Kohl’s from $13.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Wall Street Zen lowered Kohl’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. Finally, BTIG Research reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Kohl’s in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and six have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $15.27.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Kohl’s news, CFO Jill Timm sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.00, for a total value of $240,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 325,561 shares in the company, valued at $7,813,464. The trade was a 2.98% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 1.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Kohl’s

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Kohl’s during the fourth quarter worth $49,796,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Kohl’s by 3,123.1% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,011,182 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,912,000 after acquiring an additional 1,948,783 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its stake in Kohl’s by 118.0% in the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 211,640 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,320,000 after buying an additional 1,388,707 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kohl’s during the 4th quarter worth about $26,343,000. Finally, Hancock Whitney Corp acquired a new position in Kohl’s in the third quarter valued at approximately $17,125,000. 98.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kohl’s Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.78 billion, a PE ratio of 9.27 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 0.12. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $18.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.12.

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.