Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI – Free Report) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have $11.00 price objective on the stock, down from their previous price objective of $18.00.
Several other brokerages also recently commented on ACI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Albertsons Companies from $22.00 to $20.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Weiss Ratings cut Albertsons Companies from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Albertsons Companies from $22.00 to $17.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 29th. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies from $23.00 to $20.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $21.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Monday, April 6th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $19.67.
Albertsons Companies Price Performance
Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.54 by ($0.12). Albertsons Companies had a net margin of 0.26% and a return on equity of 42.75%. The company had revenue of $24.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $24.84 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.55 earnings per share. Albertsons Companies’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. Albertsons Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.750-1.850 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Albertsons Companies will post 2.11 EPS for the current year.
Albertsons Companies Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.0%. Albertsons Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 212.50%.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Albertsons Companies
A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Albertsons Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $388,089,000. Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of Albertsons Companies by 101.0% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,687,694 shares of the company’s stock worth $200,678,000 after purchasing an additional 5,873,759 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Albertsons Companies by 62.4% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 13,429,784 shares of the company’s stock worth $230,595,000 after purchasing an additional 5,159,905 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Albertsons Companies by 14.9% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 39,330,507 shares of the company’s stock valued at $675,305,000 after purchasing an additional 5,110,777 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in Albertsons Companies by 113.0% in the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,749,331 shares of the company’s stock valued at $81,546,000 after purchasing an additional 2,519,432 shares in the last quarter. 71.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Albertsons Companies News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Albertsons Companies this week:
- Negative Sentiment: ACI missed earnings expectations, posting adjusted EPS of $0.42 versus the $0.55 consensus, even though revenue came in slightly above estimates. Albertsons® Companies, Inc. Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results
- Negative Sentiment: Management lowered fiscal 2026 guidance, now expecting EPS of $1.75 to $1.85, below prior expectations and below Wall Street estimates, signaling softer profitability ahead. Albertsons® Companies, Inc. Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results
- Negative Sentiment: Albertsons also cut its sales forecast, saying lower-income and budget-conscious shoppers are pulling back on grocery spending, which points to continued pressure on core supermarket demand. Albertsons stock plunges as it says weaker grocery spending will cut into sales and earnings
- Negative Sentiment: The company said gross margins are under pressure and identical-store sales are declining, suggesting the business is struggling to translate revenue into profit growth. Albertsons Companies Has Finally Gotten Me To Pull The Trigger
- Neutral Sentiment: Albertsons announced the retirement of President and CFO Sharon McCollam and unveiled a new regional operating model under its “ACI Edge” initiative, aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency over time. Albertsons® Companies Advances the ACI Edge with New Regional Operating Model and Merch United
- Neutral Sentiment: Some analysts note the stock is now very inexpensive and that Albertsons still generates strong cash flow, which may help limit downside if management can stabilize margins and demand. Albertsons Companies Has Finally Gotten Me To Pull The Trigger
Albertsons Companies Company Profile
Albertsons Companies, Inc (NYSE: ACI) is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, operating a diversified portfolio of grocery store banners. Founded in 1939 by Joe Albertson in Boise, Idaho, the company has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Its core business activities encompass the sale of fresh produce, meat, bakery items, deli offerings, pharmacy services, and general merchandise. The company’s retail operations are complemented by an in-house private-label program, featuring brands such as O Organics, Open Nature, and Lucerne, which cater to a range of customer preferences and price points.
Throughout its history, Albertsons Companies has pursued growth via mergers and partnerships.
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