Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) AI Stock Analysis
ACI AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchAlbertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) is a major U.S. food and drug retailer operating banners such as Safeway, Vons, and Jewel-Osco. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $83.21B in revenue but recorded an operating margin of 1.5% and diluted EPS of -$0.02. The company maintains an enterprise value of $21.09B and pays an annual forward dividend of $0.68 per share, yielding 5.19%.
- Market cap
- $6.35B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $83.21B
- P/E
- — fwd 6.1x
- 1Y return
- -29.0% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $14.06 7.4% vs last close
Bull case
- The stock offers a 5.19% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 34.5%.
- Valuation multiples are discounted relative to the US-listed Consumer Defensive peer median, including a forward P/E of 6.1x versus 14.3x.
- Free cash flow remained positive at $527.3M in FY2026 while 5-year share count declined 15.0%.
Bear case
- The balance sheet carries $15.92B in total debt against $282.0M in cash, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.11.
- Net income dropped from $1.62B in FY2022 to $217.4M in FY2026, contributing to a trailing twelve-month profit margin of -0.1%.
- In the latest quarter ended August 31, 2026, quarterly earnings fell 64.6% year-over-year.
What Albertsons does
Albertsons Companies, Inc., and its subsidiaries are prominent operators of food and drug stores across the United States. These retail outlets offer groceries, general merchandise, health and beauty items, pharmaceuticals, and fuel services. Additionally, the company manufactures and processes food products sold in its stores. Albertsons operates under banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Acme, Balducci's Food Lovers Market, and Kings Food Markets. It serves customers through pharmacies, in-store coffee shops, fuel centers, and digital platforms. Founded in 1860, the company is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.
Growth and profitability
Revenue increased from $71.89B in FY2022 to $83.17B in FY2026, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 3.6%. Despite top-line gains, profitability contracted significantly over this period. Net income declined from $1.62B in FY2022 to $217.4M in FY2026, with net margin decreasing from 2.3% to 0.3%. Operating margin dropped from 3.4% in FY2022 to 0.9% in FY2026. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $83.21B with a profit margin of -0.1%. In the latest quarter ended August 31, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 0.1% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 64.6%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of August 31, 2026, Albertsons held $282.0M in cash and short-term investments compared to total debt of $15.92B, resulting in net debt of $15.63B. Shareholders' equity was $1.43B, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.11, while the current ratio stood at 0.82. In FY2026, the company generated operating cash flow of $2.37B and free cash flow of $527.3M. Cash allocation in FY2026 included $1.84B in capital expenditures, $1.48B in share buybacks, and $322.7M in dividends paid.
Valuation and performance
Albertsons trades at a forward P/E of 6.1x, below the 14.3x median of its US-listed Consumer Defensive peers. Its enterprise value to EBITDA multiple is 6.5x compared to the peer median of 11.7x, and its price-to-sales ratio is 0.1x versus the peer median of 0.7x. The company carries a market cap of $6.35B and an enterprise value of $21.09B. Over the past year, the stock fell 29.0%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, the stock returned -30.3% compared to an 83.0% gain for the benchmark index.
ACI dividend
Albertsons provides an annual forward dividend of $0.68 per share, which equates to a dividend yield of 5.19%. The company pays dividends on a quarterly frequency and has paid them for 7 consecutive years. The dividend payout ratio stands at 34.5%, supported by a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 43.1%. The last ex-dividend date was October 23, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 3 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, 12 Hold, 2 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $14.06, representing a 7.4% upside from the last close of $13.09. For the fiscal year ending February 28, 2027, analysts estimate EPS of $1.75 on revenue of $81.84B. For the subsequent fiscal year, 16 analysts project EPS of $1.70. Albertsons has exceeded EPS expectations in 3 of the last 4 quarters.
Key risks and what to watch
- Short interest represents 18.1% of the company's float.
- The current ratio sits at 0.82, indicating short-term obligations exceed current assets.
- Operating margin compressed from 3.4% in FY2022 to 0.9% in FY2026, remaining low at 1.5% over the trailing twelve months.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this ACI AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: ACI income statement, ACI balance sheet, ACI key metrics, ACI analyst forecast, ACI chart. See the ACI stock overview for the latest quote and news.
ACI AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Albertsons' dividend yield and payout schedule?
Albertsons pays a quarterly dividend totaling an annual forward payout of $0.68 per share, representing a 5.19% dividend yield. The payout ratio is 34.5%, and dividends have been paid for 7 consecutive years.
What is the consensus analyst target for ACI?
The mean price target for ACI is $14.06, which represents a 7.4% upside from its last close of $13.09. A total of 16 analysts provide estimates for the next fiscal year.
How leveraged is Albertsons' balance sheet?
As of August 31, 2026, Albertsons holds total debt of $15.92B and cash and short-term investments of $282.0M, resulting in net debt of $15.63B. This produces a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.11.
How has ACI stock performed relative to the market?
Over the past 1-year period, ACI declined 29.0% while the S&P 500 gained 16.8%. Over 5 years, ACI returned -30.3% compared to an 83.0% increase for the S&P 500.