Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI) Sets New 1-Year Low After Earnings Miss

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday following a weaker than expected earnings announcement. The company traded as low as $11.68 and last traded at $11.6860, with a volume of 3511678 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $14.60.

The company reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.54 by ($0.12). Albertsons Companies had a net margin of 0.26% and a return on equity of 42.75%. The business had revenue of $24.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $24.84 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.55 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. Albertsons Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.750-1.850 EPS.

Albertsons Companies Announces Dividend

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 $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.0%. Albertsons Companies’s payout ratio is 212.50%.

Key Stories Impacting Albertsons Companies

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $11.00 price target (down from $18.00) on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Thursday. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $21.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Monday, April 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Albertsons Companies from $22.00 to $20.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Weiss Ratings lowered Albertsons Companies from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Albertsons Companies from $22.00 to $17.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 29th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Albertsons Companies currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $19.67.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Albertsons Companies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB increased its position in shares of Albertsons Companies by 14.0% during the second quarter. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB now owns 2,321,294 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,407,000 after purchasing an additional 285,280 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Albertsons Companies by 58.3% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,233 shares of the company’s stock worth $138,000 after buying an additional 3,768 shares during the last quarter. Value Investment Professionals LLC grew its stake in Albertsons Companies by 21.8% during the 2nd quarter. Value Investment Professionals LLC now owns 66,006 shares of the company’s stock worth $893,000 after buying an additional 11,816 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in Albertsons Companies by 2,406.4% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 5,113 shares of the company’s stock valued at $69,000 after buying an additional 4,909 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in Albertsons Companies by 121.9% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 42,274 shares of the company’s stock valued at $720,000 after buying an additional 23,227 shares in the last quarter. 71.35% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Albertsons Companies Stock Performance

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $14.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.39. The company has a quick ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.58. The company has a market capitalization of $5.59 billion, a PE ratio of 35.64, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.42.

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.