Kohl’s raises FY25 financial forecast, names Michael Bender as CEO

Core Insights - The company has improved its fiscal year net sales forecast, now expecting a decrease of 3.5% to 4%, compared to the previous estimate of 5% to 6% [1] - Comparable sales are projected to decline by 2.5% to 3%, a narrower drop than the earlier forecast of 4% to 5% [1] Q3 FY25 Performance - For the quarter ending 1 November 2025, the company reported net sales of $3.4 billion, a year-over-year decrease of 2.8%, with comparable sales falling by 1.7% [2] - Gross margin increased by 51 basis points to 39.6% of net sales [2] - Operating income for the quarter was $73 million, down from $98 million in the prior year [2] Net Income and Expenses - Net income for Q3 FY25 was $8 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to $22 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the same period last year [3] - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased by 2.1% to $1.3 billion compared to the prior year [3] Nine Months Performance - Over the nine months to 1 November 2025, net sales totaled $9.8 billion, a decline of 4% from the previous year, with comparable sales dropping by 3.2% [4] - Operating income for this period increased to $412 million from $307 million in the prior year [4] - Net income for the nine months was $147 million, up from $61 million in the previous year [4] Leadership Changes - The board appointed Michael J. Bender as CEO effective 24 November 2024, after serving as interim CEO since May [5] - The company plans to accelerate its focus on reducing debt and strengthening its financial position [5] Management Commentary - The CEO expressed satisfaction with the third quarter results, highlighting a third consecutive quarter of performance exceeding expectations [6] - The company aims to build on its momentum while delivering quality products and a seamless customer experience amid a challenging macroeconomic environment [7]