Kohl's Corporation

Is Kohl's publicly traded?
Yes, Kohl's Corporation is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KSS. The company went public in 1992 and is widely held by institutional investors, index funds, and retail shareholders. It is a component of the S&P 400 mid-cap index.

Who founded Kohl's?
Maxwell Kohl, a Polish immigrant, founded Kohl's in 1962 in Brookfield, Wisconsin. He had previously operated a grocery store chain in the Milwaukee area starting in 1946. The first Kohl's store combined supermarket and department store merchandise, an innovative format at the time.

How many stores does Kohl's have?
Kohl's operates more than 1,100 stores across 49 states. The company closed approximately 30 underperforming stores in 2025. CEO Michael Bender has stated that well over 90% of remaining stores are profitable. Kohl's stores are primarily located in suburban strip centers rather than enclosed malls.

Who is the CEO of Kohl's?
Michael J. Bender has served as Kohl's CEO since January 2025. He replaced Tom Kingsbury, who had been CEO since January 2023. Bender's strategy has focused on resetting the company's foundation, improving operational execution, and modernizing processes. The company showed signs of stabilization in Q1 fiscal 2026 with its best comparable sales performance in over four years.

What is Kohl's revenue?
Kohl's reported net sales of $14.8 billion for fiscal year 2025, the year ended January 31, 2026. This was a 4.0% decrease from the prior year. Total revenue, including other revenue from credit card partnerships and shipping fees, was $15.5 billion. The company generated $1 billion in free cash flow.

Does Kohl's own its brands?
Kohl's is a retailer rather than a brand owner. The company sells national brands like Nike, Adidas, and Levi's through wholesale agreements. Its private label brands, including Croft & Barrow and Sonoma Goods for Life, are produced by third-party manufacturers. Kohl's has exclusive arrangements with some designers, including LC Lauren Conrad and Simply Vera Vera Wang.

Is Kohl's profitable?
Yes, Kohl's reported net income of $272 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, for fiscal year 2025. This was an increase from $109 million in the prior year. The improvement was driven by gross margin expansion and SG&A cost reductions. The company's 2026 outlook projects adjusted diluted EPS of $1.00 to $1.60.

Maxwell Kohl, a Polish immigrant, opened the first Kohl's store in 1962 in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. The store was a supermarket-style department store that combined grocery and department store merchandise. Kohl had previously operated a grocery store chain in the Milwaukee area starting in 1946.

The company expanded through the 1970s, opening stores across Wisconsin and neighboring states. In 1978, British-American Tobacco Company (BATUS) acquired a controlling stake in Kohl's through its retail subsidiary. BATUS provided capital for expansion but eventually decided to exit the retail sector.

In 1986, a group of investors led by senior management and the leveraged buyout firm of William Simon and Cy Cooperman acquired Kohl's from BATUS. The management-led buyout restructured the company and positioned it for national expansion. The company focused exclusively on department store retail, dropping the grocery business.

Kohl's went public in 1992 with an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. The IPO raised capital for a major expansion push. Through the 1990s and 2000s, Kohl's expanded aggressively, opening stores across the Midwest, East Coast, and eventually nationwide. The company's formula of suburban locations, national brands at value prices, and a clean, easy-to-shop store layout resonated with middle-class consumers.

By the 2010s, Kohl's had grown to over 1,100 stores and was one of the largest department store chains in the United States. The company launched its e-commerce platform and invested in omnichannel capabilities, including buy-online-pickup-in-store and ship-from-store. In 2011, Kohl's began accepting Amazon returns at its stores, a partnership that drove traffic but also raised questions about whether it was giving competitors an advantage.

In 2021, Kohl's announced a partnership with Sephora to open beauty shop-in-shops inside Kohl's stores, replacing the previous partnership with Ulta Beauty. The Sephora rollout was a major capital investment, with plans for 1,000-plus locations. The partnership has been one of the few bright spots in Kohl's recent performance, attracting younger customers and increasing beauty sales.

The company has faced significant headwinds in recent years. Comparable sales have declined for multiple consecutive years. The board rejected a takeover offer from The Franchise Group in 2022 at $60 per share, a decision that drew criticism from activist investors as the stock price subsequently declined. CEO Michelle Gass left for Levi Strauss in late 2022. Tom Kingsbury served as CEO from January 2023 until Michael Bender replaced him in January 2025.

In Q1 fiscal 2026, Kohl's showed signs of stabilization. Comparable sales declined 1.1%, the best performance in over four years. Gross margin held at 39.9%. The company affirmed its full year 2026 outlook of net sales flat to down 2%, adjusted operating margin of 2.8% to 3.4%, and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.00 to $1.60.

Kohl's has published sustainability commitments focused on waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible sourcing. The company has installed solar panels at numerous store locations and has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Kohl's has also implemented recycling programs for plastic bags and hangers.

The company has faced criticism over labor practices, including wages for retail workers and scheduling practices. Like most large retailers, Kohl's employs a mix of full-time and part-time associates. The company has not been subject to major labor disputes or unionization efforts.

Kohl's has a corporate giving program focused on family health and wellness, with partnerships including Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The company reports its environmental, social, and governance metrics in its annual ESG report.

Kohl's has faced several controversies in recent years. The 2022 rejection of a $60 per share takeover offer from The Franchise Group drew significant criticism from shareholders. The stock subsequently declined, and activist investors including Macellum Advisors and Ancora Holdings pushed for board changes and strategic alternatives. The board ultimately settled with activists by adding new directors.

The company has faced data security incidents. In 2023, Kohl's disclosed a security issue related to its website that potentially exposed customer information. The company has also been subject to class action lawsuits related to promotional pricing practices, with plaintiffs alleging that the company's reference prices were misleading.

Kohl's has been affected by the broader decline of department store retail. The company closed approximately 30 stores in 2025 and has committed to annual reviews of store performance. Store closures have drawn criticism from affected communities and employees.