Tough Times at Kohl’s
The leadership upheaval is just the latest challenge for Kohl’s, which has been navigating a turbulent retail environment and internal restructuring. Earlier this year, the company announced layoffs and plans to close 27 stores across 15 states by April.
Kohl’s also suffered a disappointing fourth quarter. The company:
- Reported a 9.4% drop in net sales
- Cut its dividend
- Adjusted its 2025 outlook to a 5–7% sales decline
- Posted earnings per share of just $0.43, far below Wall Street’s $1 forecast
The company will report its first-quarter results on May 29.
Kingsbury Missteps
Kohl’s previous CEO, Tom Kingsbury, also faced criticism for strategic missteps, including reducing inventory and shrinking the fine-jewelry segment. Kingsbury admitted in a December 2024 earnings call:
“We thought, ‘We can do more with a lot less,’” Kingsbury said. “And that didn’t work out for us.”
As Kohl’s searches for stability and leadership to regain investor confidence, the fallout from Buchanan’s short and scandalous tenure continues to cast a long shadow.
