New York, July 23, 2026, 13:24 EDT — Albertsons NYSE:ACI stock slid 22% as the company reported earnings per share that missed expectations, prompting a sharp selloff.
- Shares of Albertsons dropped 22.2% to $11.36. The company reported an adjusted EPS that fell short by 22.2%.
- The midpoint for annual EPS declined by 20.7%. Early estimates put the market-value drop at roughly $1.74 billion.
- SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust NYSEARCA:SPY declined by 1.3%. Shares in International Flavors & Fragrances NYSE:IFF dropped 6.3%, whereas Richardson Electronics (NASDAQ:RELL) advanced 23.0%.
Albertsons stock fell 22.2% to $11.36 on Thursday. The drop mirrored its 22.2% adjusted earnings shortfall to one decimal point. The move also closely followed a 20.7% reduction in the full-year EPS midpoint.
The nearly one-to-one movement is the strongest indication from investors on Thursday. Market participants are regarding the quarter as a reduced earnings baseline, rather than a temporary decline in sales.
U.S. cash markets stayed open. SPY lost 1.3% after oil passed $100 and technology earnings pressured stocks. Albertsons dropped even more sharply.
| Albertsons metric | Previous or estimate | Latest or reported | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-quarter adjusted earnings per share | $0.54 | $0.42 | -22.2% |
| Fiscal 2026 earnings per share midpoint | $2.27 | $1.80 | -20.7% |
| Stock price | $14.60 | $11.36 | -22.2% |
Most recent quoted trade. Prices and calculations during the session are initial figures.
Albertsons reported adjusted earnings of 42 cents per share, missing analyst forecasts of 54 cents. The retailer’s revenue was $24.94 billion, coming in roughly 0.4% higher than the consensus estimate.
Same-store sales declined by 0.8%. Digital sales increased 13%, while gross margin decreased by 23 basis points. The SG&A rate climbed 42 basis points, not including fuel.
Chief Executive Susan Morris stated, “Core grocery faced increasing pressure from softer industry unit trends and a more cautious consumer.” Reuters
Albertsons has revised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to a range of $1.75 to $1.85, down from the previous guidance of $2.22 to $2.32. The company also reduced its adjusted EBITDA forecast by $300 million at both ends of the range.
The ACI Edge strategy merges 11 business units into four regions and integrates center-store merchandising. The company expects yearly benefits of around $200 million, primarily beginning in fiscal 2027.
Expenses today. Future savings.
An initial estimate shows Thursday’s drop in equity value at about $1.74 billion, which is 7.7 times more than the $226.5 million in buybacks reported last quarter.
Kroger NYSE:KR declined 3.5% and Sprouts Farmers Market NASDAQ:SFM slipped 1.8%. Evercore ISI analyst Michael Montani noted the report pointed to tough sector trends and heightened competition.
The updated ChartMill filters highlighted the broader gap activity. Shares of IFF dropped 6.3%, while Richardson advanced 23.0%. On the downside, Albertsons continued to show the most pronounced earnings-driven shift.
Richardson posted a 27.6% rise in fourth-quarter sales, reaching $66.2 million. Non-GAAP EPS came in at 21 cents, surpassing the consensus of seven cents. The stock climbed on accelerating earnings, contrasting Albertsons’ reset.
The divergence was evident the previous week as well. Shares of Abbott Laboratories NYSE:ABT climbed 10.7% on Thursday, while SanDisk NASDAQ:SNDK dropped 12.6%. The S&P 500 was down 0.5%.
Risks: The intraday alignment between price and EPS may not persist until the market close. Quicker-than-expected ACI Edge cost reductions might offset some of the loss. Additional price reductions or higher fuel expenses could widen it.
At present, investors are largely assessing the reduced profit base in a mechanical way, giving minimal recognition to advantages expected mainly in the following year.
