Financial Performance - Net sales for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, were $19,123.7 million, an increase of 1.9% compared to $18,774.5 million for the same period in 2024[9] - Operating income for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $489.7 million, a decrease of 5.5% from $518.5 million in the same period of 2024[9] - Net income for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $698.2 million, down 11.2% from $786.8 million in 2024[11] - Retail segment sales for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, were $18,926.9 million, an increase from $18,595.0 million for the same period in 2024, representing a growth of 1.8%[84] - Net income for the quarter ending September 7, 2024, was reported at $400.6 million, reflecting a strong performance[15] - The company reported a net income of $293.3 million for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, compared to $400.6 million for the same period in 2024, a decline of 26.7%[88] Assets and Liabilities - Total current assets increased to $7,096.8 million as of November 29, 2025, compared to $6,559.0 million as of February 22, 2025, reflecting a growth of 8.2%[8] - Total liabilities rose to $24,591.5 million as of November 29, 2025, up from $23,369.5 million as of February 22, 2025, representing an increase of 5.2%[8] - Long-term debt and finance lease obligations increased to $8,417.0 million as of November 29, 2025, from $7,762.5 million as of February 22, 2025, an increase of 8.4%[8] - As of November 29, 2025, total stockholders' equity is $2,501.8 million, with a net income of $293.3 million for the period[13] Cash Flow and Investments - The company reported a net cash provided by operating activities of $1,649.6 million for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, compared to $1,922.1 million in 2024, a decrease of 14.1%[11] - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $195.1 million as of November 29, 2025, from $293.6 million as of February 22, 2025, a decline of 33.6%[8] - The company issued long-term debt amounting to $2,585.0 million during the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, compared to $50.0 million in the previous year, indicating a significant increase in financing activities[11] Shareholder Activities - The company declared cash dividends of $0.15 per common share, totaling $77.1 million in the latest quarter[13] - The Company repurchased a total of 64.1 million shares of common stock for $1,211.6 million during the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, including $600.0 million under an accelerated share repurchase agreement[23] - The total number of Class A Common Stock shares increased to 600,523,680, up from 594,445,268 shares as of February 24, 2024[15] Tax and Expenses - The effective tax rate for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was 22.3%, up from 3.5% for the same period in 2024, primarily due to state income taxes and the absence of discrete state income tax benefits recognized in the prior year[24] - Employee costs for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, totaled $9,166.4 million, an increase from $8,956.2 million in the prior year, reflecting a rise of 2.3%[84] - Merchandise costs, including advertising, distribution, and freight, for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, were $44,500.9 million, compared to $43,379.7 million in 2024, an increase of 2.6%[84] Legal and Regulatory Issues - The Company is facing allegations of overcharging federal government healthcare programs, with claims exceeding $100 million before trebling and excluding penalties[63] - The U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion adverse to the Company on June 1, 2023, reversing lower court rulings in the Proctor and Schutte cases[60] - The District Court set a pretrial conference for the Schutte case on March 4, 2024, with a trial date of April 29, 2024[61] - The Company recorded a liability of $21.5 million for settlements related to opioid litigation in New Mexico and Nevada, which was paid by insurers in Q4 of fiscal 2022[68] - The Company is vigorously defending claims in approximately 81 lawsuits related to the opioid epidemic, with ongoing discovery in some cases[67] Inventory and Cost Management - The Company recorded a LIFO expense of $13.2 million for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2024, indicating a significant increase in inventory costs[20] - The Company’s inventories consist primarily of finished goods, with LIFO inventory costs based on management's estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and inflation rates[20] Comprehensive Income - Total comprehensive income for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was impacted by a current-period other comprehensive loss of $15.8 million, compared to a gain of $2.9 million in the prior year[79] - The ending accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) balance as of November 29, 2025, was $78.9 million, down from $90.9 million at the end of the same period in 2024[79]

Core Insights - Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) is a major player in the U.S. grocery industry, competing with large retailers like Kroger and Walmart, and offers a wide range of products including groceries, pharmacy services, and digital sales [1] Financial Performance - ACI reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.72, exceeding expectations of $0.67, indicating effective cost management [2][6] - The company's revenue was $19.12 billion, which fell short of the forecasted $20.56 billion, highlighting challenges in achieving sales targets [2][6] - The third-quarter performance was bolstered by growth in the pharmacy and digital business sectors, which are strategic areas for revenue generation [3][6] Market Valuation - ACI has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.20, suggesting a relatively low market valuation compared to competitors [4] - The price-to-sales ratio is 0.11 and the enterprise value to sales ratio is 0.29, indicating modest market valuation in relation to revenue and sales [4] Financial Health - The earnings yield stands at 10.87%, reflecting a strong return on investment for shareholders [5] - ACI has a high debt-to-equity ratio of 4.97, indicating significant reliance on debt financing [5] - The current ratio of 0.81 suggests potential challenges in covering short-term liabilities, pointing to areas for improvement in liquidity management [5]

Core Insights - Albertsons Companies is integrating data and artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations, which is expected to be central to its transformation efforts [1][3] - The company reported a year-over-year growth of 2.4% in identical sales and 21% in digital sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 [2] AI Integration and Customer Experience - AI is not viewed as a short-term tool but is being embedded into merchandising, labor, and supply chain to create a sustainable competitive advantage [3] - The implementation of AI has led to increases in basket size, repeat customer visits, and overall loyalty [3] - The "Ask AI" feature has resulted in a 10% increase in basket size for users, indicating significant potential as adoption grows [4] Autonomous Shopping Assistants - Albertsons has introduced autonomous shopping assistants that help customers with meal planning, cart building, and completing grocery tasks [5] - These AI tools are designed to provide a seamless and personalized shopping experience, enhancing the omnichannel customer journey [6] Merchandising and Labor Optimization - AI is being utilized to transform category management and improve margins through enhanced merchandising intelligence [6] - Generative AI is being deployed for labor forecasting and scheduling, which enhances productivity and customer service by ensuring optimal staffing [7] Supply Chain Improvements - AI demand forecasting has become crucial for the supply chain, improving forecasting accuracy, fulfillment, quality, and on-shelf availability [8] - The company's tech and AI initiatives are aimed at being scalable and enterprise-wide, delivering measurable impacts and laying the groundwork for future growth [9]

Labor Market - The U.S. job market is expected to show slow expansion, with an addition of 73,000 jobs in December and a decrease in the unemployment rate to 4.5% from 4.6% in the previous month [2] - Job growth in December is slightly higher than the 64,000 jobs added in November, which had the highest unemployment rate since 2021 [2] - Over the past months, tariffs have negatively impacted hiring, with an average addition of only 17,000 jobs per month from May to November, compared to 147,000 jobs per month in the year leading up to April 2025 [3] - Some experts believe the Bureau of Labor Statistics may be overestimating job growth, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggesting an average loss of 20,000 jobs per month since April [4] Albertsons - Albertsons Cos. reported weaker-than-expected Q3 net sales of $19.12 billion, slightly below the $19.16 billion consensus, leading to a 6% drop in shares [5][6] - Identical sales growth for Q3 was 2.4%, missing estimates due to delayed SNAP funding, which impacted sales by 10 to 20 basis points [6] - The company has lowered its full-year identical sales growth forecast to a range of 2.2% to 2.5%, down from 2.2% to 2.75%, citing impacts from the Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program [6] Apogee Enterprises - Apogee Enterprises has cut its fiscal 2026 outlook again, resulting in an 11% drop in stock price after lowering its full-year net sales and profit forecasts for the second consecutive quarter [16][17] - The company now expects fiscal 2026 net sales of $1.39 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $3.40 to $3.50, down from previous guidance of $1.39 billion to $1.42 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.60 to $3.90 [17] - CFO Matthew Osberg has resigned, and Mark Augdahl has been named interim CFO, following a recent change in CEO [18]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Identical sales grew by 2.4%, while digital sales increased by 21% [5][22] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 was $1.039 billion, with adjusted EPS at $0.72 per diluted share [25] - Gross margin was reported at 27.4%, a decline of 55 basis points year-over-year, but improved sequentially from Q2 [24] - Selling and administrative expense rate decreased to 24.9%, down 33 basis points year-over-year [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pharmacy and health sales increased by 18%, driven by strong execution in immunizations and core prescriptions [13][23] - Loyalty membership grew by 12% to over 49 million members, enhancing customer engagement [14][15] - The media collective saw double-digit growth year-over-year, contributing to high-margin growth [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital penetration reached 9.5%, with over half of orders delivered in three hours or less [12] - The company continues to gain market share in e-commerce, with sales up 21% this quarter [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging technology and AI to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency [8][9] - Strategic priorities include modernizing capabilities, scaling digital engagement, and monetizing the media collective [8][12] - The company aims to grow its own brands penetration from 25% to 30% [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The operating environment remains mixed, with pressure across income segments, leading to cautious consumer spending [20] - The company is confident in its ability to deliver long-term profitable growth through strategic investments and productivity initiatives [29][30] - The outlook for fiscal 2025 has been updated, with identical sales expected to range from 2.2% to 2.5% [30] Other Important Information - The company is committed to a $1.5 billion productivity plan over the next three fiscal years [18] - Capital expenditures for Q3 were $462 million, focusing on store upgrades and digital technology [25] - The company refinanced $1.5 billion of existing indebtedness, demonstrating balance sheet strength [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the overall pricing environment lined up relative to your initial expectations? - The company is taking a surgical and targeted approach to price investments, seeing positive results in categories where investments were made [39][40] Question: How are you progressing with getting new pharmacy shoppers to purchase more grocery items? - The company is pleased with pharmacy growth, noting that many customers are already shopping in grocery, leading to deeper engagement [47] Question: Can you comment on the potential headwinds for FY26? - The company remains confident in its strategy, with a focus on pharmacy and digital growth, despite potential headwinds from the Inflation Reduction Act [54][56] Question: What are the key drivers for the lower guide on ID sales? - The guidance reflects the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, with potential upside from pharmacy growth depending on various factors [58][59] Question: How are you tracking against the cost savings plan? - The company is executing well against its $1.5 billion productivity plan, with ongoing process redesign and technology integration [68]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Identical sales grew by 2.4% and digital sales increased by 21% in Q3 2025, with adjusted EBITDA reported at $1.039 billion [5][22][25] - Gross margin was 27.4%, a decline of 55 basis points year-over-year, but improved sequentially from Q2 [24] - Selling and administrative expense rate decreased to 24.9%, down 33 basis points year-over-year, indicating disciplined cost management [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pharmacy and health sales increased by 18%, driven by strong execution in immunizations and core prescriptions [12][23] - Loyalty membership grew by 12% to over 49 million members, enhancing customer engagement [14][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital penetration reached 9.5%, with over half of orders delivered in three hours or less, showcasing the efficiency of the store-based fulfillment model [12][13] - The company continues to gain market share in the digital and e-commerce space, with sales up 21% [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging technology and AI to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency, with significant investments in digital transformation [8][9][12] - Strategic priorities include modernizing capabilities, scaling digital engagement, and monetizing the Media Collective [8][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management noted a mixed consumer environment, with lower-income shoppers prioritizing essentials and middle-income households showing increased price sensitivity [20][21] - The company remains confident in its ability to deliver long-term profitable growth through strategic investments and productivity initiatives [29][30] Other Important Information - The company is targeting $1.5 billion in productivity gains over the next three fiscal years, which will support innovation and profitability [18] - Capital expenditures in Q3 amounted to $462 million, focusing on store upgrades and digital technology [25][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the overall pricing environment lined up relative to your initial expectations? - Management indicated a surgical and targeted approach to price investments, with positive results in categories where investments were made [39][40] Question: How are you progressing with getting new pharmacy shoppers to purchase more grocery items? - Management noted that most pharmacy customers are already grocery shoppers, and deeper engagement is expected as they adopt digital platforms and loyalty programs [47] Question: Can you comment on the potential headwinds for FY 2026? - Management expressed confidence in their strategy, highlighting growth opportunities in pharmacy and digital, despite potential headwinds from the Inflation Reduction Act [54][56] Question: What are the key drivers for the lower guide on ID sales? - Management identified the Inflation Reduction Act's impact on drug pricing as a significant factor, while also noting opportunities for growth in pharmacy [58][59] Question: How is the company tracking against the $1.5 billion productivity plan? - Management confirmed strong execution against the productivity plan, with ongoing process redesign and technology integration contributing to results [69][70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Identical sales grew by 2.4% in Q3 2025, while digital sales increased by 21% [4][20] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $1.039 billion, with adjusted EPS at $0.72 per diluted share [23] - Gross margin was reported at 27.4%, a decline of 55 basis points year-over-year, but improved sequentially from Q2 [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pharmacy and health sales increased by 18%, driven by strong execution in immunizations and core prescriptions [21][12] - Loyalty membership grew by 12% to over 49 million members, enhancing customer engagement [12][14] - The media collective saw double-digit growth year-over-year, contributing to higher ROI for partners [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital penetration reached 9.5%, with over half of orders delivered in three hours or less [10] - The company noted a mixed consumer environment, with low-income shoppers prioritizing essentials and middle-income households showing increased price sensitivity [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging technology and AI to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency [6][10] - Strategic priorities include modernizing capabilities, scaling digital engagement, and monetizing the media collective [6][10] - The company aims to grow its own brands from 25% to 30% penetration [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate a challenging environment and emphasized the importance of personalized promotions and loyalty enhancements [18][19] - The outlook for fiscal 2025 was updated, with identical sales expected to range between 2.2% and 2.5% [28] Other Important Information - The company is targeting $1.5 billion in productivity gains over the next three fiscal years [17] - Capital expenditures for Q3 were $462 million, focusing on store upgrades and digital technology [23] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: How is the overall pricing environment lined up relative to your initial expectations? - The company is taking a surgical and targeted data-driven approach to price investments, seeing positive results in categories where investments were made [34][35] Question: How are you progressing with getting new pharmacy shoppers to purchase more grocery items? - The company noted that most pharmacy customers are already shopping in grocery, and deeper engagement is expected as they convert to pharmacy [37] Question: Can you comment on the potential headwinds for FY26? - Management expressed confidence in their strategy, highlighting growth opportunities in pharmacy and digital customer engagement despite potential headwinds from disinflation and lower Medicare drug prices [39][40] Question: What are the key drivers for the lower guide on ID sales? - The guidance reflects a significant impact from the Inflation Reduction Act, with additional opportunities in pharmacy expected to offset some of the pressures [43][44] Question: How are you tracking against your productivity plan? - The company is executing well against its $1.5 billion productivity plan, with ongoing improvements in SG&A and operational efficiencies [48]

Core Insights - Albertsons reported higher third-quarter sales driven by growth in its pharmacy and digital businesses [1] Group 1 - The increase in sales reflects a positive trend in the company's performance [1] - The growth in the pharmacy segment indicates strong demand for healthcare-related products and services [1] - Digital business expansion suggests a successful adaptation to changing consumer behaviors [1]

Core Viewpoint - Albertsons has lowered its forecast for annual identical sales and adjusted net income due to increased competition from larger rivals offering significant holiday discounts, which has negatively impacted demand at the supermarket chain [1] Group 1: Financial Forecast - The company has revised its annual identical sales forecast downward, indicating a less optimistic outlook for sales performance [1] - Adjusted net income expectations have also been lowered, reflecting the impact of competitive pressures on profitability [1] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Stiff competition from larger rivals is a primary factor influencing Albertsons' performance, as these competitors are providing heavier holiday discounts [1] - The competitive environment is affecting demand at Albertsons, suggesting challenges in maintaining market share [1]

Financial Performance - Net sales and other revenue increased by 1.9% to $19,123.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, driven by a 2.4% increase in identical sales and a 21% increase in digital sales[6]. - Net income was $293.3 million, or $0.55 per share, compared to $400.6 million, or $0.69 per share, in the same quarter last year[12]. - Adjusted net income was $390.3 million, or $0.72 per share, compared to $420.3 million, or $0.71 per share, in the prior year[13]. - Operating income for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $1,234.3 million, a decrease from $1,270.1 million in the previous year, reflecting a decline of 2.8%[31]. - Net income for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $698.2 million, down from $786.8 million in the same period last year, a decrease of 11.2%[31]. - Adjusted net income for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $957.6 million, down from $1,112.9 million in 2024, reflecting a decline of approximately 13.9%[39]. - Adjusted EBITDA for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $1,038.7 million, compared to $1,065.1 million in 2024, indicating a decrease of about 2.3%[37]. Cost and Expenses - Gross margin rate decreased to 27.4% from 27.9% in the same quarter last year, primarily due to increased delivery and handling costs associated with digital sales growth[7]. - Selling and administrative expenses decreased to 24.9% of net sales, down from 25.1% in the prior year, reflecting improved sales leveraging and lower merger-related costs[8]. - Gross margin for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $17,093.7 million, slightly down from $17,106.6 million in the prior year, indicating a margin of 27.2% compared to 27.8%[31]. - Depreciation and amortization expenses for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, totaled $1,439.6 million, up from $1,396.9 million in 2024[43]. - The company incurred merger-related costs of $23.1 million for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, significantly lower than $61.1 million in 2024[37]. Capital and Investments - Capital expenditures for the first 40 weeks of fiscal 2025 were $1,412.8 million, including the completion of 74 remodels and the opening of five new stores[14]. - The company announced a share repurchase program increase from $2.0 billion to $2.75 billion, including a $750 million accelerated share repurchase agreement[15]. Outlook and Projections - The updated fiscal 2025 outlook includes adjusted EBITDA in the range of $3.825 billion to $3.875 billion and an effective income tax rate of 23% to 24%[21]. - Identical sales growth is projected to be between 2.2% and 2.5% for fiscal 2025[21]. - The company estimates a 16 to 18 basis point impact on pharmacy sales due to the Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program starting January 1, 2026[17]. Assets and Liabilities - Total current assets increased to $7,096.8 million as of November 29, 2025, from $6,559.0 million as of February 22, 2025, reflecting a growth of 8.2%[33]. - Total liabilities increased to $24,591.5 million as of November 29, 2025, compared to $23,369.7 million as of February 22, 2025, an increase of 5.2%[33]. - Total debt, including finance leases, increased to $9,012.7 million as of November 29, 2025, from $7,838.4 million in 2024[45]. - The total net debt ratio rose to 2.29 for the 12 months ended November 29, 2025, compared to 1.88 in the previous year[45]. Shareholder Information - Basic net income per Class A common share for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $1.25, compared to $1.36 in the prior year, a decline of 8.1%[31]. - Adjusted net income per Class A common share for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was $1.69, down from $1.88 in 2024[39]. - The weighted average diluted Class A common shares outstanding for the 12 weeks ended November 29, 2025, was 534.7 million, compared to 584.1 million in 2024[39]. Store Operations - The number of stores at the end of the quarter was 2,243, down from 2,273 in the previous year, indicating a reduction of 1.3%[31]. - Net cash provided by operating activities of $1,649.6 million for the 40 weeks ended November 29, 2025, compared to $1,922.1 million in the prior year, a decrease of 14.1%[35]. - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period were $200.9 million, a decrease from $206.5 million at the end of the same period last year[35].