Should I Buy KSS? KSS 2026 Analysis

Should You Buy Kohls Corp (KSS) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Conclusion

Hold

Latest Price

17.150

1 Day change

-0.41%

52 Week Range

25.220

Analysis Updated At

2026/01/26

Kohl's Corp (KSS) is not a strong buy at the moment for a beginner investor with a long-term strategy. While there are some positive catalysts such as hedge fund interest and improving gross margins, the company's declining revenue, net income, and EPS, coupled with mixed analyst ratings and weak technical indicators, suggest that the stock lacks a compelling entry point right now. A hold position is recommended until clearer signs of sustained growth and stabilization emerge.

Technical Analysis

The MACD is below zero and negatively contracting, indicating bearish momentum. RSI is at 21.829, which is neutral but leaning towards oversold territory. Moving averages are converging, showing no clear trend. The stock is trading near its key support level (S1: 17.814), with resistance levels at R1: 21.405 and R2: 22.514.

Options Data

Neutral

Open Interest Put-Call Ratio

Bullish

Option Volume Put-Call Ratio

Technical Summary

Sell

Buy

Positive Catalysts

Hedge funds are significantly increasing their buying activity, with a 1300% increase over the last quarter. Gross margin has slightly improved YoY. Analysts have raised price targets, reflecting some optimism about the company's turnaround initiatives.

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Revenue, net income, and EPS have all declined significantly YoY in the latest quarter. Analysts remain cautious, with many maintaining Neutral or Sell ratings. The stock lacks recent news or event-driven catalysts. Technical indicators do not signal a strong buying opportunity.

Financial Performance

In Q3 2026, revenue dropped by 3.64% YoY to $3.575 billion. Net income fell 63.64% YoY to $8 million, and EPS declined 65% YoY to $0.07. Gross margin slightly improved by 0.11% YoY to 37.48%. Overall, the financial performance shows declining profitability and revenue.

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

Analyst ratings are mixed. While some firms have raised price targets (e.g., Baird to $24, Jefferies to $24), others remain cautious with Neutral or Sell ratings. Goldman Sachs and UBS maintain Sell ratings, citing challenges in profitability and market share. The consensus reflects skepticism about the company's ability to sustain a turnaround in the near term.

13 Analyst Rating

Wall Street analysts forecast KSS stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for KSS is 19.75 USD with a low forecast of 7 USD and a high forecast of 25 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

1 Buy

7 Hold

5 Sell

Moderate Sell

Current: 17.220

Low

Averages

19.75

High

Current: 17.220

Low

Averages

19.75

High

Baird

Neutral

maintain

$22 -> $24

AI Analysis

2025-12-17

Reason

Baird

Price Target

$22 -> $24

AI Analysis

2025-12-17

maintain

Neutral

Reason

Baird raised the firm's price target on Kohl's to $24 from $22 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm sees an improving backdrop into 2026 as consumer stimulus including lower taxes, wealth effects, and tariff mitigation set the stage for stronger revenue and earnings growth especially after tariffs are cycled in the first half.

Jefferies

Hold

maintain

$20 -> $24

2025-12-12

Reason

Jefferies

Price Target

$20 -> $24

2025-12-12

maintain

Hold

Reason

Jefferies raised the firm's price target on Kohl's to $24 from $20 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares. The firm, which adjusted targets among its fashion brands coverage, would prioritize momentum-led upside to estimates versus turnarounds at this point. The firm, which believes across the fashion space that the market is expecting a more resilient consumer and constructive tariff backdrop at least for the near-term, has a 2026 base case that assumes stable consumer spend, although still pressured at the low-end, the analyst tells investors.

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KSS Should I Buy

KSS Should I Buy

Should You Buy Kohls Corp (KSS) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Technical Analysis

Options Data

Technical Summary

Positive Catalysts

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Financial Performance

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

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