Kohl’s Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:KSS)

Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Stock investors bought 21,793 put options on the company. This represents an increase of 40% compared to the average volume of 15,618 put options.

Key Kohl’s News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Kohl’s plans above-target employee bonuses, signaling management confidence in the early turnaround and improving margins; this supports the message that the restructuring and merchandising changes are gaining traction. Kohl’s Plans Above-Target Employee Bonuses as Turnaround Shows Early Progress
• Positive Sentiment: Kohl’s reported quarterly and fiscal results that beat expectations on EPS and revenue and set FY26 EPS guidance (1.00–1.60), supporting the case for earnings recovery and cash generation. Kohl’s (KSS) releases results for quarter and year to January 31, 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Management reiterated the 2026 outlook and highlighted progress in execution (assortment rationalization, private-label focus) that could drive better gross margins and traffic if sustained. Kohl’s Reports 2025 Results and Sets 2026 Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Strategic shift — fewer SKUs, more exclusive/proprietary brands and lower-price entry points (items under $10) — aims to simplify operations and win back budget-conscious shoppers; this could support traffic and margin expansion over time. More ‘Fun,’ Fewer Choices, and Stuff Under $10: How Kohl’s Is Trying to Win Back Shoppers
• Neutral Sentiment: Kohl’s elevated Mari Steinmetz to a top people role, which may help execution on store and workforce initiatives but is unlikely to move the stock materially by itself. Kohl’s Elevates Mari Steinmetz to Top People Role
• Neutral Sentiment: Kohl’s inclusion/expansion within Russell 1000 index sector coverage is a structural detail for passive flows but is not an immediate catalyst. Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) Expands Retail Reach In Russell 1000 Index Sector
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple sell-side firms have cut expectations and price targets (Bank of America lowered its PT to $15 with an underperform call; reports note downgrades/negative views from Baird, TD Cowen, Jefferies, Telsey and JPMorgan), increasing selling pressure and signaling skepticism about the durability of the turnaround. Bank of America price target cut / sell coverage Robert W. Baird Issues Pessimistic Forecast TD Cowen Lowers Expectations Jefferies Lowers Expectations
• Negative Sentiment: Unusually large put option activity (noted recent spike vs. average) and high post-earnings trading volume indicate elevated bearish positioning and short-term volatility risk. Kohl’s Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume Following Earnings Beat

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Kohl’s by 233.9% during the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,666 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 1,167 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Kohl’s during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of Kohl’s by 3,777.6% in the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,851 shares in the last quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Kohl’s in the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its position in Kohl’s by 164.7% during the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 2,102 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 1,308 shares in the last quarter. 98.04% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research cut shares of Kohl’s from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Kohl’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Kohl’s from $15.00 to $13.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on Kohl’s from $24.00 to $20.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reduced their price target on Kohl’s from $23.00 to $17.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and six have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Kohl’s has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $14.83.

Kohl’s Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:KSS traded down $0.09 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $13.19. 4,478,519 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,348,306. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.48 billion, a PE ratio of 5.59 and a beta of 1.42. The business’s 50 day moving average is $17.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $18.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. Kohl’s has a one year low of $6.04 and a one year high of $25.22.

Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, March 10th. 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 return on equity of 4.72% and a net margin of 1.75%.The company had revenue of $5.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.08 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.95 earnings per share. Kohl’s’s quarterly revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Kohl’s has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.000-1.600 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Kohl’s will post 1.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Kohl’s Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 18th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.8%. Kohl’s’s payout ratio is 21.19%.

Kohl’s Company Profile

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.