Albertsons Shares Soar 14% After Grocer Raises Sales And Profit Outlook

Core Insights - Albertsons' stock surged 14.4% to $19.41 following the release of its second quarter earnings, marking its highest level since early September [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance from $2.03 to $2.16 per share, now projecting between $2.06 and $2.19 per share [2]. - Albertsons increased the lower end of its sales guidance, now expecting growth between 2.2% and 2.75%, up from the previous range of 2.0% to 2.75%, driven by strong pharmacy sales [2]. - Digital sales experienced a significant increase of 23%, contributing to net sales of $18.9 billion, compared to $18.5 billion year-over-year [2]. Stock Buyback Program - Albertsons announced an accelerated share buyback program with JPMorgan Chase Bank, committing to purchase $750 million of its shares, raising the total repurchase program from $2 billion to $2.75 billion [5]. Market Context - Despite the recent surge, Albertsons' shares are down 3.8% year-to-date and faced a decline over the summer, attributed to increased competition in the grocery sector, particularly from Amazon and Walmart [7]. - Food prices have been rising, with a 3.2% increase noted in August, outpacing overall inflation of 2.9% [7].