The grocer lowered its earnings, EBITDA and identical-sales outlook after a weak quarter underscored pressure on core grocery demand, even as digital and pharmacy sales continued to grow.
Albertsons cut its fiscal 2026 outlook after reporting weaker core grocery demand and a more cautious consumer, sending its shares down nearly 15% on Thursday. The company now expects full-year net income of $1.75 to $1.85 per share, down from its prior forecast of $2.22 to $2.32, adjusted EBITDA of $3.55 billion to $3.625 billion versus an earlier $3.85 billion to $3.925 billion, and identical sales declining 0.5% to 1.5% compared with its previous outlook for flat to up 1%. In the first fiscal quarter, identical sales fell 0.8%, while net income dropped to $84.7 million, or 17 cents per share, from $236.4 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier. CEO Susan Morris said digital and pharmacy continued to post strong growth, but core grocery faced increasing pressure from softer industry unit trends and cautious consumers. Albertsons said it is moving decisively to invest in the customer experience in an effort to improve traffic, units, loyalty and its longer-term growth trajectory.