Albertsons Q4 EPS Tops Estimates While Revenue Misses; Dividend Up 13%
Albertsons posted Q4 adjusted EPS of $0.48 versus the $0.43 estimate, with revenue of $20.3 billion falling short of the $20.49 billion consensus. The grocer raised its quarterly dividend by 13% to $0.17, authorized $2 billion in buybacks, and guided fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.22–$2.32.
1. Q4 Financial Performance
Albertsons delivered adjusted EPS of $0.48, beating the $0.43 estimate, while revenue reached $20.3 billion, below the $20.49 billion consensus. Identical sales rose 0.7%, digital sales climbed 16%, and loyalty membership grew 12% to 51.2 million members.
2. Net Loss and Adjusted EBITDA
The company reported a net loss of $480.8 million, driven by a $599.8 million after-tax opioid settlement charge, with adjusted net income at $251.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $903.4 million from $855.1 million in the prior-year quarter, aided by an extra week contributing approximately $68 million.
3. Dividend, Buybacks, and Fiscal 2026 Outlook
Albertsons raised its quarterly dividend by 13% to $0.17 per share and expanded its share repurchase authorization to $2.0 billion. For fiscal 2026, the company expects identical sales growth of 0.0%–1.0%, adjusted EPS of $2.22–$2.32, and adjusted EBITDA between $3.85 billion and $3.925 billion.