Albertsons Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the food and drug retail industry in the United States. The company's food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, vaccines, fuel, and other items and services. It also operates stores under various banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Jewel-Osco, ACME, Shaw's, Star Market, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Haggen, Kings Food Markets, and Balducci's Food Lovers Market; and in-store pharmacies and branded coffee shops, fuel centers, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities, as well as various digital platforms. Albertsons Companies, Inc. was founded in 1860 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.
Costco reported fiscal second quarter revenue of $70.53 billion, up 11.6% year over year and beating analyst estimates by 1.5%, making it the fastest-growing among the four non-discretionary retail stocks tracked. Grocery Outlet posted revenue of $1.19 billion, up 1.1% and exceeding expectations by 2.1%, with its stock rising 6.9% since the report. Albertsons reported revenue of $24.94 billion, flat year over year and missing full-year EBITDA guidance, sending shares down 14.4%. Sprouts Farmers Market reported revenue of $2.33 billion, up 4.7% and in line with estimates, but issued weaker-than-expected EPS guidance for the next quarter and full year.
Safeway shutters more stores as Albertsons continues strategic closures
Safeway has closed additional locations, including a 30-year-old store in Newport, Oregon, and a 40-year-old store in Washington, D.C., as parent company Albertsons continues to trim its store footprint. The closures are part of a broader trend, with 30 Albertsons locations closed in 2025 and another 12 planned for 2026 so far. CEO Susan Morris stated during the first-quarter earnings call that the company is making difficult decisions to exit underperforming stores, though the number remains a small portion of the overall fleet. The move follows similar actions by other grocers, including Kroger's plan to shutter 60 locations over 18 months and Grocery Outlet's closure of 36 stores. While affected employees have been transferred to nearby locations under union agreements, the closures reduce full-service grocery options in neighborhoods that have relied on these stores for decades.
Albertsons approved its ACI Edge restructuring, consolidating 11 divisions into four regions and centralizing center-store merchandising, while raising its fiscal 2026 dividend rate by 13% to $0.68 per share. The company returned about $1.8 billion to shareholders in fiscal 2025 through dividends and share repurchases. For fiscal 2026, Albertsons expects identical-sales growth of negative 0.5% to negative 1.5%, adjusted EBITDA of $3.55 billion to $3.625 billion, and adjusted EPS of $1.75 to $1.85. CFO and President Sharon McCollam plans to retire once a successor is appointed. The company ended fiscal 2025 with $83.2 billion in sales and $3.9 billion in adjusted EBITDA.
Albertsons CEO Susan Morris buys $450,000 of company stock on the open market
Albertsons Companies CEO Susan Morris purchased 39,409 shares of Class A common stock for approximately $450,000 on July 28, 2026, according to an SEC filing. The transaction, executed at $11.42 per share, increased her direct holdings by 4% to roughly 1.1 million shares, valued at $12.7 million based on that day's close. The purchase occurred as the stock had fallen 41% over the prior year, with the company reporting trailing twelve-month revenue of $83.2 billion and net income of $65.7 million. Analysts note that insider buying often signals confidence in the stock's future appreciation, and fiscal-year net income is projected to more than double to over $500 million.
Albertsons Stock Trades at Deep Discount After Earnings Reset and Guidance Cut
Albertsons Companies shares have fallen sharply in 2026, pushing the stock to 5.33 times forward earnings, well below its one-year median of 8.35 times and the Zacks sub-industry average of 18.93 times. The sell-off followed first-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of 42 cents per share, a negative 23.6% earnings surprise, and an 8.8% decline in adjusted EBITDA to $1.01 billion. Management cut full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $1.75 to $1.85 per share from $2.22 to $2.32, citing softer industry unit trends, a more cautious consumer, and a 150-basis-point identical-sales drag from the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The board raised the quarterly dividend 13% to 17 cents per share and expanded the share repurchase authorization to $2 billion, buying back 13.4 million shares for $226.5 million in the quarter. Identical sales declined 0.8% in the first quarter, and the fiscal 2026 outlook calls for a 1.5% to 0.5% decline, while digital fulfillment costs, higher rent, and business transformation investments may keep margins under pressure.
Jewel Osco President Tom Lofland Retires After 35-Year Career
Tom Lofland, president of Jewel Osco, has retired after a career spanning more than 35 years. Lofland took over the president's role in August and held several leadership positions since 1995, when he served as a store director for Albertsons. Jewel Osco said in a LinkedIn post that Lofland led with vision, integrity and an unwavering commitment to people, leaving a lasting legacy on the company. His retirement comes as parent company Albertsons Companies Inc. is overhauling operations through a new initiative called ACI Edge, consolidating 11 divisions into four regions amid a disappointing first quarter that saw identical sales fall 0.8%.
Citi downgrades Albertsons to Hold, slashes price target to $11
Citi Research downgraded Albertsons Companies to Hold from Buy and cut its price target by 35% to $11, citing a meaningfully lowered full-year outlook and little visible progress on fixes after the failed Kroger merger. Analyst Paul Lejuez reduced the target from $17 based on updated estimates and a higher required rate of return, reflecting increased risk of market share loss in the grocery segment. The downgrade follows Albertsons’ fiscal first-quarter results and a 21% cut to its fiscal 2026 EPS guidance midpoint, now $1.75 to $1.85, with management warning that gross margin pressure will persist through the year. Citi also lowered its own fiscal 2026 EPS estimate to $1.81 from $2.12 on a comparable sales outlook of negative 0.7%.
Albertson's cuts annual profit outlook amid cautious consumer and competitive pressure
Albertson's cut its annual profit guidance, citing a more cautious consumer and softness in industry unit trends. CEO Susan Morris said the company is accelerating investments in operational changes, while Bloomberg analysts noted the grocer has historically been less competitive on price and now needs to ramp up investment. The stock fell about 20% in a single day, its biggest intraday decline since 2022, and is down roughly 35% year to date. Albertson's faces mounting competition from Walmart and Amazon, along with affordability pressure from supplier cost increases and ongoing strain on low-income consumers.
Kohl's Shares Fall 5% After Weak Retail Reports Signal Consumer Spending Slowdown
Kohl's shares fell 5% in afternoon trading after several major retailers reported disappointing results and outlooks, signaling widespread weakness in consumer spending. Grocery chain Albertsons cut its annual sales and profit forecasts, citing pressure from softer industry trends and a more cautious consumer, which sent its shares down and dragged on rival Kroger. Tractor Supply Company also reported a 1.5% decrease in comparable store sales and updated its financial outlook. The collection of weak results from different corners of the retail industry created concerns that consumer spending is slowing, impacting investor confidence in companies like Kohl's.
Albertsons shares plunge 23.7% after earnings miss and guidance cut
Albertsons shares fell 23.7% after the grocery retailer reported disappointing second-quarter results and lowered its full-year financial forecast. Revenue of $24.94 billion was roughly flat year-on-year and narrowly beat analyst expectations, but adjusted earnings per share of $0.42 missed the consensus estimate of $0.54. Management cut its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a midpoint of $1.80, a 20.7% decrease, and reduced its full-year adjusted EBITDA forecast to $3.59 billion, below Wall Street's expectation of $3.89 billion. The significant earnings miss and bleak outlook signaled that profitability is under pressure, leading to a sharp sell-off in the stock.
Kroger Offers the Cheapest Store-Brand Grocery Basket Among Four Major Chains, Study Finds
The Kroger Co. offered the lowest-priced basket of store-brand grocery staples among four major U.S. grocery chains, according to a Restaurant Furniture Plus study reported by Southern Living. Kroger ranked first with a total basket cost of $30 and had the lowest prices on 10 of the 15 products analyzed. Walmart finished second with a basket total of $30.95, followed by Aldi at $33.15 and Albertsons at $35.58. The comparison excluded Costco, Trader Joe's, H-E-B and Piggly Wiggly due to product availability and bulk-sales models. The findings come as grocery prices have climbed 32% over the past five years, pressuring household budgets.
Albertsons Stock Under Pressure After 16% Drop, Analysts Remain Cautious
Albertsons shares have fallen 16.2% over the past six months to $14.56, underperforming the S&P 500's 8.2% gain, prompting analysts to question whether the stock is a buy. The company operated 2,243 stores in the latest quarter and has kept its store count flat over the last two years, a potential headwind for revenue growth. Its gross margin averaged 27.5% over the same period, signaling weak pricing power in a competitive market, while operating margin remained at a low 2%. Despite trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 6.7, analysts warn that shaky fundamentals could lead to further downside.
Albertsons declares $0.17 per share quarterly cash dividend
Albertsons Companies announced its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 of $0.17 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on August 7, 2026, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 24, 2026. Albertsons operates 2,244 retail stores with 1,713 in-store pharmacies across 35 states and the District of Columbia under banners including Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons.
Longleaf Partners Fund says Albertsons was a detractor in Q2 2026
Longleaf Partners Fund stated that supermarket operator Albertsons Companies was a detractor in the second quarter of 2026. The fund noted that while Albertsons' comparable store sales are about a percentage point below potential, the company still has levers to improve free cash flow per share. The market focused on peer Kroger's mildly disappointing results and intense competition from Walmart and Aldi. After the quarter ended, Kroger bought Giant Eagle in a deal that affirmed Longleaf's appraisal of Albertsons. Albertsons shares lost 33.30% over the past 52 weeks and closed at $14.76 on July 10, 2026, with a market capitalization of $7.23 billion.
StockStory: Three Reasons to Sell Albertsons and One Stock to Buy Instead
StockStory analysts recommend selling Albertsons shares, citing three key concerns. The company's store count has remained flat at 2,243 locations over the past two years, limiting revenue growth potential. Its gross margin averaged just 27.5% over the same period, indicating weak pricing power and intense competition. Additionally, Albertsons' operating margin has stagnated at around 2%, reflecting a suboptimal cost structure. The stock has fallen 17% in six months to $14.30, trading at a forward P/E of 6.3, but the analysts see better opportunities elsewhere and suggest a stock favored by Charlie Munger as an alternative.
Albertsons expands Criteo AI search and proposes governance rule changes
Albertsons Companies has expanded its Albertsons Media Collective through a new integration with Criteo, adding AI-powered conversational search and sponsored product discovery for brands. The company has also put forward governance amendments for a shareholder vote at its upcoming annual meeting, including changes to stockholder action thresholds and officer liability protection. Albertsons stock trades at $14.13, with a gain of 4.0% over the past week but declines of 13.6% over the past month and 18.4% year to date. Over longer periods, the stock is down 33.3% over the past year and 29.8% over three years, while up 5.2% over five years. The Criteo integration and governance proposals could influence how Albertsons positions its retail media operations and internal decision-making framework.
Albertsons Companies stock has fallen about 33.3% over the past year but still does not screen as a clear bargain on most valuation checks. The company trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.1 times, well above the consumer retailing industry average of about 18.9 times and a peer group average near 18.8 times. A Simply Wall St blended fair P/E of 30.2 times suggests the stock is only slightly richer than what its fundamentals imply, leaving it roughly fairly valued. Broader valuation checks remain weak, and the key swing factor will be whether Albertsons can sustain and expand margins in areas like retail media and AI-supported advertising while managing ongoing pharmacy-related headwinds.
Kroger agrees to acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion
Kroger has agreed to acquire family-owned grocery chain Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion in cash and assumed debt. The deal includes $1.25 billion in cash and about $400 million in assumed liabilities, adding 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across five states. It marks the first acquisition under CEO Greg Foran and requires federal antitrust clearance, with closing expected in 2027. Kroger shares fell about 1% on the news, reflecting investor fatigue after the blocked Albertsons merger, though the deal is seen as a low-risk geographic fit with limited overlap.
NX3 Commercial Group Closes $19 Million United Supermarkets Net Lease Deal in Lovington
A brokerage team led by Evan Whelan, Josh Symonette, and Matt Wister has closed the sale of a newly constructed United Supermarkets store in Lovington, New Mexico, for $19 million at a 5.9% cap rate. The deal places the single-tenant grocery asset into a buyer's larger $33 million 1031 exchange, accounting for roughly half of the total exchange requirement. The 48,997-square-foot store was built in 2026 and operates under a new 20-year absolute NNN lease corporately guaranteed by Albertsons, which carries an S&P credit rating of BB+ and generates more than $80 billion in annual revenue. The lease includes 5% rent increases every five years and eight five-year option periods, with the tenant covering all taxes, insurance, and maintenance. The property is located at the intersection of State Highway 82 and North Main Street, a busy commercial corridor in Lovington.
Zacks Highlights Albertsons, B&G Foods, and Nomad Foods as Undervalued Consumer Staples Buys
Zacks Investment Research identifies Albertsons, B&G Foods, and Nomad Foods as undervalued consumer staples stocks offering dividend yields above 3% and defensive safety amid market volatility. Albertsons trades at $13 a share and roughly 6 times forward earnings with a 5% dividend yield, while B&G Foods stands at $4 a share and 7 times forward earnings with an 18% yield. Nomad Foods is priced around $11 a share and 6 times forward earnings, providing a 6% yield. All three carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and are seen as attractively valued plays for income-focused investors seeking portfolio stability.
Grocery store stocks report mixed Q4 with Albertsons lagging and Grocery Outlet leading
Grocery store stocks delivered mixed fourth-quarter results, with aggregate revenues beating analyst consensus estimates by 0.7%. Albertsons reported revenues of $19.12 billion, up 1.9% year on year and in line with expectations, but its stock fell 17.4% since reporting. Grocery Outlet posted the best performance, with revenues of $1.17 billion exceeding estimates by 1.4% and its stock rising 22.3%. Kroger's revenues of $46.12 billion beat estimates by 1.4%, yet its stock declined 11% after a gross margin miss. Sprouts Farmers Market recorded the fastest revenue growth among peers at 4.1% to $2.33 billion, and its stock gained 18.7% despite full-year EPS guidance missing expectations.
Albertsons integrates Criteo sponsored placements into its AI-powered conversational search
Albertsons Media Collective, the retail media arm of Albertsons Companies, announced an integration with Criteo that brings sponsored product placements into Albertsons' AI-powered conversational search, allowing brands to appear within product carousels as shoppers plan meals, discover items and build baskets. The move extends Albertsons' retail media capabilities deeper into its digital shopping experience, giving advertisers closer access to purchase decisions while aiming to keep the search experience relevant and natural for customers. The Criteo-sponsored placements build on Albertsons Media Collective's push into higher quality retail media, including its recent move to onsite incrementality measurement that quantified lift for brands like Sargento. Albertsons Companies' narrative projects $85.0 billion revenue and $1.0 billion earnings by 2029, implying relatively flat yearly revenue growth and a roughly $782.6 million increase in earnings from $217.4 million today. Some of the lowest analysts saw flat revenue near $84.6 billion and earnings under $900 million by 2029, highlighting differing views on the impact of AI and retail media moves.
BP, Marathon, 7-Eleven, Walmart sued over alleged AI-driven gas price fixing in California
Gas station operators including BP, Circle K, Marathon Petroleum, 7-Eleven, Walmart and Albertsons were sued on Monday by California drivers who accused them of using artificial intelligence to boost prices at the pump. The proposed class action, filed in Sacramento federal court, alleges the defendants violated California's Cartwright Act and a new state law, Assembly Bill 325, by using an AI-based tool from Kalibrate that coordinates high prices using data from competing stations. Drivers claim gas prices have risen as much as 30 cents a gallon in areas where many stations use the tool, costing California drivers an extra $134 million per year for each penny increase and pushing prices to levels sometimes reaching $7 a gallon. The defendants operate more than 1,700 gas stations in California, and Kalibrate is also named as a defendant. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for drivers who overpaid for gasoline.
Abercrombie and Fitch, Albertsons, and MarineMax Stocks Fall After Fed Holds Rates
Shares of Abercrombie and Fitch, Albertsons, and MarineMax declined in afternoon trading after the Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.5%–3.75% and revised its dot plot to show a higher median year-end rate estimate of 3.8%, up from 3.4%. The move signals that rate cuts delivered in late 2025 may be partially reversed, disappointing retailers that had counted on lower rates to boost consumer confidence and ease household budgets. The FOMC noted that inflation at 4.2% remains too high to justify relief, while rising rate expectations increase debt refinancing costs for leveraged retailers. Abercrombie and Fitch fell 3.2%, Albertsons dropped 3.3%, and MarineMax also lost 3.3%.
Albertsons Media Collective unveils industry-first branded entertainment model co-developed with Procter & Gamble
Albertsons Media Collective has launched an industry-first episodic, scripted branded entertainment model co-developed with Procter & Gamble, with the Minivela drama Rico's Tacos set to premiere June 23. The model allows brands to co-create content using Albertsons Companies' shopper insights and P&G's consumer knowledge from the outset, rather than applying data after creative is complete. The series, filmed in Albertsons stores with real associates, will be distributed across the retailer's YouTube, social, and in-store platforms, with new episodes weekly through August. Albertsons Media Collective plans to scale similar campaigns across additional series, formats, and brand collaborations, positioning retail media as a place where branded entertainment is built on shopper truth and brought to life inside the aisles.