Kohl’s eyes strong 2022 profits, turns to failsafe brands
Reuters
U.S. department store chain Kohl’sCalvin KleinTommy Hilfiger
The results, as well as positive earnings from rival Macy’s
Shares of Kohl’s rose 4% in pre-market trading as it also unveiled a $3 billion share buyback and doubled its dividend after surpassing holiday-quarter profit expectations.
The apparel, jewelry and fragrances retailer, which has over 1,100 stores across the U.S., has offered lower promotions and limited some of its weaker private label brands to shield profits from soaring freight expenses.
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It has launched SephoraCole Haan
The moves expanded its gross margin to 33.2% in the quarter from 32% a year earlier.
It expects net sales to increase 2% to 3% in fiscal 2022, while analysts on average expected a rise of 2.2%, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
The company forecast earnings per share in the range of $7.00 to $7.50 excluding items, compared with analysts’ expectations of $6.55 per share.
But it missed expectations for holiday quarter sales due to product shortages, a resurgence in coronavirus cases and early discounts that encouraged customers to pull forward their Christmas shopping.
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Kohl’s has also been under growing activist investor pressure to spin off its e-commerce business or consider putting itself up for sale.
