How will the 5.1% net sales decline and 4.2% comparable sales decline affect Kohlâs FY2025 revenue forecasts?
KohlâsâŻQ2âŻ2025 numbersâ a 5.1% drop in net sales and a 4.2% slide in comparableâstore sales â signal a material softening in topâline momentum that will almost certainly force the company to trim its FYâŻ2025 revenue outlook. Even though gross margin improved by 28âŻbps, the sales contraction erodes the benefit of the margin lift, leaving fullâyear EBITDA and EPS under pressure. Managementâs âraises fullâyear outlookâ comment likely refers to a modest revision to operating expense leverage rather than a salesâgrowth reversal; analysts will therefore expect the FYâŻ2025 revenue forecast to be revised down by roughly the same magnitude as the yearâtoâdate decline (â4â5%). The downgrade will tighten the consensus EPS estimate and could widen the discount to its historical average EV/EBITDA multiple, keeping the stock vulnerable to further downside.
On the technical side, KSS is trading below its 50âday moving average and has broken a descendingâchannel trendline that has held since Q4âŻ2023, suggesting shortâterm bearish bias. Key support sits near $38.00 (the low of the prior threeâmonth range) while resistance at $44.00 aligns with the recent 200âday MA and the prior peak. Given the sales weakness and probable revenueâforecast cut, a shortâterm trading strategy targeting a move toward the $38â$40 zone is reasonable, especially if the companyâs FYâŻ2025 guidance is revised lower in the upcoming earnings call. Conversely, traders should watch for any unexpected âturnâaroundâ commentary or accelerated cost reductions that could cushion earnings; a bounce back above the 50âday MA would open the door for a shortâcover rally. In short, expect a downward revision to FYâŻ2025 revenue, heightened earnings volatility, and a bias toward bearish positioning on KSS until new guidance or a clear operational improvement emerges.