Kohl's Corporation (KSS) AI Stock Analysis
KSS AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchKohl's Corporation is a US retail department store chain with a market capitalization of $2.45B. The company generated $1.10B in free cash flow in FY2026 despite multi-year revenue contractions. Its balance sheet carries $6.42B in total debt against $821.0M in cash and short-term investments.
- Market cap
- $2.45B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $15.43B
- P/E
- 9.6x fwd 8.5x
- 1Y return
- 41.0% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $18.88 -12.5% vs last close
Bull case
- Kohl's trades at a discounted valuation with a forward P/E of 8.5x and an EV-to-EBITDA of 6.0x relative to peer medians of 14.1x and 11.1x.
- Free cash flow reached $1.10B in FY2026, supporting capital expenditures of $372.0M and shareholder distributions.
- The company exceeded consensus EPS expectations in all 4 of its most recent quarters and analysts project 28.4% EPS growth for the current fiscal year.
Bear case
- Annual revenue has declined steadily from $19.43B in FY2022 to $15.53B in FY2026, with quarterly revenue falling 0.9% in the latest quarter.
- Total debt remains elevated at $6.42B against $821.0M in cash, contributing to a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54.
- Wall Street analysts hold a cautious stance with 5 Sell or Strong Sell ratings and an average price target implying 12.5% downside.
What Kohl's does
Kohl's Corporation functions as a retail enterprise operating across the United States. Specializing in branded merchandise, the company offers apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty products, and home essentials across physical stores and its website, www.Kohls.com. Its product portfolio features brands such as Apt. 9, Croft & Barrow, Jumping Beans, SO, Sonoma Goods for Life, Food Network, LC Lauren Conrad, Nine West, and Simply Vera Vera Wang. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Kohl's focuses on brand diversity and accessible merchandise for nationwide retail consumers.
Growth and profitability
Kohl's top line has decreased over recent fiscal years, falling from $19.43B in FY2022 to $15.53B in FY2026, marking a 5-year revenue CAGR of -0.5%. Annual revenue growth was -4.3% in FY2026, though gross margin remained stable at 40.6% and operating margin reached 3.3%. Net income rebounded to $272.0M with diluted EPS of $1.60 in FY2026, up from $109.0M in FY2025. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue totaled $15.43B with an operating margin of 4.6% and EPS of $2.24. In the latest quarter ended July 31, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 0.9% year-over-year while quarterly earnings declined 5.2%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of July 31, 2026, Kohl's held $821.0M in cash and short-term investments against $6.42B in total debt, creating net debt of $5.60B. Shareholders' equity stood at $4.17B, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54 and a current ratio of 1.49. In FY2026, the business produced $1.48B in operating cash flow and funded $372.0M in capital expenditures. Cash returns to shareholders included $56.0M in dividends paid and $5.0M in share buybacks.
Valuation and performance
Kohl's trades at a trailing P/E of 9.6x and a forward P/E of 8.5x, well below the median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers of 18.0x and 14.1x, respectively. The stock carries an enterprise value of $7.67B, representing an EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 6.0x compared to the peer median of 11.1x. Its price-to-sales ratio stands at 0.2x versus the peer median of 0.7x. Over the past year, KSS delivered a return of 41.0%, outpacing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, but its 5-year return of -36.3% lagged the index return of 83.0%.
KSS dividend
Kohl's pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward payout of $0.50 per share, offering a dividend yield of 2.32%. The company has paid dividends for 16 consecutive years and maintains a payout ratio of 21.6%. However, its annualized 5-year dividend growth rate is -6.6%. The most recent ex-dividend date was September 9, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analysts covering Kohl's present 3 Strong Buy, 0 Buy, 6 Hold, 2 Sell, and 3 Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $18.88, which is 12.5% below the October 16, 2026 closing price of $21.59. Consensus estimates project current fiscal year revenue of $14.93B and EPS of $2.08, representing 28.4% EPS growth. The company has beaten EPS expectations in each of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings report scheduled for November 24, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Short interest represents 32.4% of the float, pointing to substantial market skepticism.
- Net debt of $5.60B creates leverage risk if operating cash flow decreases from FY2026 levels of $1.48B.
- Analyst consensus expects next fiscal year EPS to fall 24.9% to $1.56 alongside zero revenue growth.
- Five-year annualized dividend growth stands at -6.6%, reflecting past reductions in shareholder cash distributions.
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 KSS AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Kohl's Corporation (KSS). 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: KSS income statement, KSS balance sheet, KSS key metrics, KSS analyst forecast, KSS chart. See the KSS stock overview for the latest quote and news.
KSS AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Kohl's dividend yield and payout schedule?
Kohl's pays a quarterly dividend totaling $0.50 annually, which represents a dividend yield of 2.32%. The company maintains a payout ratio of 21.6% and has distributed dividends for 16 consecutive years.
How much debt does Kohl's have on its balance sheet?
As of July 31, 2026, Kohl's carried $6.42B in total debt and $821.0M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $5.60B. Its debt-to-equity ratio is 1.54.
When is Kohl's reporting its next quarterly earnings?
Kohl's is scheduled to report its next earnings on November 24, 2026. The company beat EPS estimates in each of the past 4 quarters.
What are analysts forecasting for Kohl's stock price?
The mean analyst price target is $18.88, which sits 12.5% below the last close of $21.59. The analyst pool includes 3 Strong Buy, 6 Hold, 2 Sell, and 3 Strong Sell ratings.