Kohl's Corp. reported a slight decline in second-quarter earnings as same-store sales fell 4.2 percent. Results still topped expectations on improved gross margins and the department store operator lifted guidance for the year.

Michael Bender, Kohl's interim chief executive officer, said "Kohl's second quarter performance is a testament to the progress we are making against our 2025 initiatives. This resulted in sales performance that came in ahead of our expectations. While it is clear that these initiatives are beginning to resonate with our customers, our team remains focused on delivering progressive improvement throughout the remainder of the year against a challenging economic backdrop."

"In addition to our top line progress, we managed the business with great discipline in the quarter. We were able to expand our gross margins, reduce our inventory, and lower our expenses, leading to solid second quarter earnings. I continue to be impressed with our entire team at Kohl's and am thankful for all their hard work," Bender continued.

Second Quarter 2025 Results

Comparisons refer to the 13-week period ended August 2, 2025 versus the 13-week period ended August 3, 2024

Six Months Fiscal Year 2025 Results

Comparisons refer to the 26-week period ended August 2, 2025 versus the 26-week period ended August 3, 2024

2025 Financial and Capital Allocation Outlook

For the full year 2025, the company currently expects the following, excluding the impact of items not representative of our core operating performance: