Focus: U.S. Stock Market Q2 Fiscal 2026 Earnings Reports

Key Points

Grocery chain Albertsons Companies, Inc. disclosed a downturn in its core business and slashed its full-year guidance, sending shares sharply lower on Thursday.

The company stated that consumers are becoming more cautious and tightening their spending, which will pressure near-term profitability.

Full-year earnings per share guidance for the current fiscal year has been cut to a range of $1.75 to $1.85, well below the previous forecast of $2.22 to $2.32.

On November 24, 2025, in Redmond, Washington, shoppers were seen buying groceries at an Albertsons Companies, Inc. store ahead of Thanksgiving. The image shows the store's exterior.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. lowered its fiscal 2026 outlook, citing cooling market demand and a more conservative consumer mindset. The company's shares fell 24% on Thursday.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. said it is decisively increasing investments in the customer experience, hoping to reverse the growth trend.

CEO Susan Morris stated in the announcement, "In the first quarter of this fiscal year, our online business and pharmacy segment continued to show strong growth. However, pressure on our core fresh grocery business has intensified, as overall industry product volumes weakened and consumers became more cautious."

There are signs that U.S. shoppers are reducing their trips to grocery stores, prompting Albertsons Companies, Inc. to lower its expectations simultaneously. Factors such as food inflation and high fuel prices tightening household budgets are curbing consumer food spending.

Full-Year Guidance Significantly Lowered

Earnings Per Share: New forecast of $1.75 to $1.85; previous forecast was $2.22 to $2.32, representing a substantial reduction.

Adjusted EBITDA: New range of $3.55 billion to $3.625 billion; previous range was $3.85 billion to $3.925 billion.

Same-Store Sales: New forecast for a decline of 0.5% to 1.5% year-over-year; previous forecast was flat to a 1% increase.

Actual First-Quarter Financial Data

For the first quarter of this fiscal year, the company's same-store sales fell 0.8% year-over-year.

Net income for the period was $84.7 million, or $0.17 per share; in the same period last year, net income was $236.4 million, or $0.41 per share.

Morris stated during the analyst conference call that while consumer-side pressures are indeed dragging on short-term earnings, the company's long-term goal is to increase store traffic, product sales, and customer loyalty to steadily improve the overall business trajectory.