Kohl’s stock slides 5% as Jefferies trims target to $22, tariff ruling keeps retailers on edge

Kohl's Corporation shares dropped 5.3% to $19.40 in afternoon trading, following an earlier range between $18.92 and $20.60.

New York, Jan 14, 2026, 15:55 EST — Regular session

  • Kohl’s shares dropped roughly 5% late Wednesday, underperforming the wider retail sector.
  • Jefferies cut its price target to $22 but maintained a “hold” rating, per published analyst-tracking data.
  • Investors remain focused on a U.S. Supreme Court case over tariffs, which continues to fuel uncertainty around import costs.

Kohl’s Corporation shares dropped 5.3% to $19.40 in afternoon trading, following an earlier range between $18.92 and $20.60.

The decline came after Tuesday’s 3.75% jump, which pushed the stock to close at $20.48.

Jefferies analyst Blake Anderson cut his price target for Kohl’s to $22 from $24 but maintained a “hold” rating, GuruFocus reports. The price target reflects where the analyst expects the stock to trade over time. GuruFocus

The note hit as the stock was already off its recent peaks, following a strong rally late last year that had investors ready to offload at the first sign of a weaker outlook.

Kohl’s drop outpaced the broader retail sector. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF dipped 0.8%. Macy’s slid 3.2%, and off-price retailer TJX gave up 2.1%. Target bucked the trend, rising 0.7%.

Tariff uncertainty continues to weigh on consumer stocks. The U.S. Supreme Court handed down three rulings Wednesday but left unresolved the legality of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs, offering no timeline for revisiting the case.

Kohl’s last shook up sentiment back in November, forecasting a smaller annual sales decline and a boost in profit. That news pushed shares up as much as 36% that day. “It seems like the business is stabilizing,” Morningstar analyst David Swartz said then, though he cautioned it was still early in the holiday season. Reuters

Michael J. Bender, who had been interim CEO since May, was named permanent chief executive last November, according to a filing.

The downside risk remains. Kohl’s must prove it can maintain margins amid heavy promotions and keep customer traffic steady as shoppers juggle tighter budgets and changing prices in apparel and home goods.

Traders are turning their attention to Kohl’s upcoming quarterly report, expected on March 10 according to Zacks. They’ll also watch for any new Supreme Court schedule updates on the tariffs case that’s left retailers uncertain about their cost outlook.

Shan Ahmed Khan

Shan Ahmed Khan is a senior markets reporter at TS2.tech. His coverage ranges from stocks and technology to economic developments across global markets. He worked in investment research and market analysis before becoming a financial journalist and is a graduate of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

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