Zacks Research cut shares of Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI – Free Report) from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report published on Tuesday morning,Zacks.com reports.
A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Albertsons Companies from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Barclays cut their target price on Albertsons Companies from $17.00 to $12.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $13.00 price target (down from $22.00) on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research report on Friday, July 24th. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $12.00 price objective (down from $20.00) on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered Albertsons Companies from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $18.00 to $11.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $15.31.
Read Our Latest Report on Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies Stock Performance
Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.54 by ($0.12). Albertsons Companies had a net margin of 0.08% and a return on equity of 45.59%. The company had revenue of $24.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $24.84 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.55 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. Albertsons Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.750-1.850 EPS. Analysts expect that Albertsons Companies will post 1.64 earnings per share for the current year.
Albertsons Companies Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th will be given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. Albertsons Companies’s payout ratio is presently 850.00%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Albertsons Companies
In other news, EVP Thomas M. Moriarty bought 170,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 27th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $11.51 per share, with a total value of $1,962,455.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 308,946 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,555,968.46. The trade was a 123.15% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.18% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Albertsons Companies
Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. CWM LLC raised its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 103.5% in the fourth quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,435 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 730 shares in the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 91.2% during the 4th quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 1,855 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 885 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 172.8% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,062 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 1,306 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its position in shares of Albertsons Companies by 2,406.4% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 5,113 shares of the company’s stock worth $69,000 after buying an additional 4,909 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp grew its position in shares of Albertsons Companies by 44.2% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 4,412 shares of the company’s stock worth $76,000 after buying an additional 1,353 shares during the period. 71.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Albertsons Companies News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Albertsons Companies this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Insider buying provided a confidence signal. Executive Vice President Thomas Moriarty purchased 170,500 shares for approximately $2.0 million at an average price of $11.51, more than doubling his direct stake. Thomas Moriarty buys Albertsons shares
- Positive Sentiment: Cost-saving and digital initiatives offer potential upside. ACI Edge is expected to generate about $200 million in savings, while Albertsons is using artificial intelligence, digital sales and its 51.2 million-member loyalty program to improve personalization and efficiency. Execution will determine whether these investments translate into stronger earnings. Albertsons ACI Edge savings Albertsons AI digital and loyalty strategy
- Neutral Sentiment: Valuation is attracting deep-value interest. ACI trades near multi-year valuation lows after a steep 2026 sell-off, but investors remain divided over whether the discount adequately reflects weaker profitability and execution risks. Albertsons deep-value analysis
- Negative Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains cautious. UBS downgraded Albertsons to Hold and cut its price target to $12 from $20, while Citigroup reaffirmed Neutral. The analyst actions reflect uncertainty about the company’s recovery and leave limited near-term upside.
- Negative Sentiment: The earnings reset remains the primary overhang. Albertsons reported quarterly EPS of $0.42 versus the $0.54 consensus estimate and reduced fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $1.75–$1.85 from $2.22–$2.32. Margin pressure, weak grocery trends, high leverage and a 0.08% net margin further complicate the turnaround. Albertsons fiscal 2026 reset
- Negative Sentiment: Investor investigations add legal risk. Law firms, including Levi & Korsinsky, announced investigations into whether investors were misled about sales and earnings guidance. The notices do not establish wrongdoing but may increase reputational and litigation concerns. Albertsons investor investigation alert
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.
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