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6 stories mentioning ACI

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Research

Research Alert: CFRA Keeps Buy Opinion On Shares Of Albertsons Companies, Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We keep our 12-month target at $21, based on 8.8x our FY 27 (Feb.) EPS of $2.38 (raised from $2.36; FY 28 initiated at $2.64). This multiple is near its long-term mean of 9.1x but remains a discount to its closest publicly-traded peer Kroger (~13x). Pharmacy headwinds from the Inflation Reduction Act are weighing on identical sales this fiscal year, though they are benefiting margins through a mix shift toward higher-margin generics. Margins should also improve with better digital profitability, easing GLP-1 pressure, and ongoing productivity initiatives. We expect identical sales growth to remain pressured in May-Q due to egg deflation, with both growth and profitability improving in subsequent quarters. We also believe ACI's investments in value, including lower prices and targeted promotions, should begin to drive an improvement in core grocery trends as the year progresses. Our Buy view reflects double-digit total shareholder return potential, including share repurchases and a ~4% dividend yield.

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Wire

Albertsons Making Progress on Margins, But Top-line Outlook Muted, RBC Capital Markets Says

Albertsons (ACI) is making tangible progress on margins, but its top-line outlook remains muted, RBC Capital Markets said in a note Tuesday.Analysts said management's soft guidance is primarily related to the pharmacy business since grocery trends have largely remained stable. The brokerage subsequently lowered its fiscal Q1 and fiscal 2026 ID sales estimates.RBC said a key positive from the company's fiscal Q4 earnings report was an increase in its productivity savings target to $2 billion over the next three years from $1.5 billion.Analysts said Albertsons' customer lifetime value will likely increase over time as it converts pharmacy customers to grocery customers.The brokerage added that sales could deteriorate if inflation eases and retailers don't see an equal lift in volumes.RBC Capital Markets retained an outperform rating on the stock, but lowered its price target to $20 from $21.Price: $16.60, Change: $+0.25, Percent Change: +1.56%

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Wire

UBS Cuts Albertsons Price Target to $20 From $23, Maintains Buy Rating

Albertsons (ACI) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $20.94, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://www..com/contact-us)Price: $16.41, Change: $+0.06, Percent Change: +0.37%

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Research

Research Alert: Aci: Eps Beat But Identical Sales From Pharmacy Headwinds Disappoint

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:ACI delivered mixed Q4 results with adj-EPS of $0.48 (+4% Y/Y) beating consensus by $0.04, though identical sales of 0.7% significantly missed the 1.7% estimate. The company reported a GAAP net loss of $(481)M or $(0.94) per share due to a $600M opioid settlement charge. The identical sales miss was driven by greater-than-expected impact from the Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which pressured pharmacy sales, a key growth driver that has helped offset core grocery weakness. For FY 27, management guided to 0%-1% identical sales growth (vs. 1.5% consensus), incorporating an estimated 150 bps IRA headwind, with adj-EBITDA of $3.85B-$3.925B (vs. $3.9B consensus). Digital sales growth decelerated to 16% from the prior quarters' low-20% pace, while gross margins fell 25 bps Y/Y on increased delivery and handling costs. ACI raised its dividend 13% to $0.17 per share and expanded share buyback authorization to $2.0B, demonstrating management's commitment to returning capital.

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Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed Pre-Bell Tuesday

Consumer stocks were mixed pre-bell Tuesday, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) down 0.3% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) 0.8% higher.CarMax (KMX) shares were down more than 4% after the company posted lower fiscal Q4 adjusted earnings and net sales.Albertsons (ACI) reported higher fiscal Q4 adjusted net income and net sales, and agreed to a settlement framework to resolve opioid-related claims for about $774 million. Albertsons stock was down nearly 3% pre-bell.BetMGM, a joint venture between MGM Resorts International (MGM) and Entain, updated its full-year 2026 net revenue outlook to between $2.9 billion and $3.1 billion, from $3.1 billion to $3.2 billion previously. MGM Resorts International shares were down more than 1% premarket.

$ACI$KMX$MGM$XLP$XLY
US Markets

Stocks Rise Pre-Bell Amid Hopes of Renewed US-Iran Peace Talks; Big Bank Earnings, PPI Data on Deck

US equity futures were trending higher on Tuesday amid media reports that the US and Iran may revive their peace talks, while investors await the latest financial results of some of Wall Street's largest banks and data on wholesale prices.The S&P 500 rose 0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1% and the Nasdaq added 0.4% in premarket activity. The indexes finished the previous trading session higher, with the Nasdaq recording gains for the ninth consecutive day.The US and Iran are considering holding another round of negotiations before their current two-week ceasefire expires next week, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.President Donald Trump reportedly said Monday that "the right people" have reached out to Washington "and they want to work a deal." Delegations from the US and Iran were unable to reach a deal during negotiations in Pakistan over the weekend.In an interview with Fox News, Vice President JD Vance said it was up to Iran to make the next move on peace talks with the US, according to CNBC. "Whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court, because we put a lot on the table," Vance reportedly said.The US navy on Monday started a blockade of Iranian ports in the crucial Strait of Hormuz.West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 2.6% to $96.53 a barrel before the opening bell, while Brent decreased 1.2% to $91.88.The International Energy Agency said Tuesday it expects oil demand to fall by 80,000 barrels per day this year as the Middle East war "upends" its global outlook. "Demand destruction will spread as scarcity and higher prices persist," the IEA said.On Monday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries lowered its second-quarter oil demand forecast due to the Middle East conflict, but maintained its full-year estimates amid expectations for a rebound in the second half.JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC) and Citigroup (C) are some of the banking giants scheduled to report their latest quarterly earnings before the bell, along with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), BlackRock (BLK) and Albertsons (ACI).Goldman Sachs (GS) posted first-quarter results above market estimates on Monday, while Chief Executive David Solomon said a protracted Middle East conflict could pose upside risks to inflation. Bank of America (BAC) and Morgan Stanley (MS) post their results on Wednesday.Last month's producer price index, a measure of wholesale prices, is slated to be released at 8:30 am ET. Last week, government data showed that consumer inflation accelerated to its highest monthly reading in nearly four years in March as the Middle East conflict sent energy prices sharply higher.Treasury yields were down in premarket action, with the two-year rate retreating 1.9 basis points to 3.76% and the 10-year rate off 1.6 basis points to 4.28%.Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr is set to speak at 12:45 pm, while Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee speaks earlier at 12:15 pm.Shares of Oracle (ORCL) added 4.2% pre-bell after closing the previous trading session up 13% as the company said it introduced artificial intelligence-focused updates to its utilities software suite. Avanos Medical (AVNS) surged 68% after the firm agreed to be acquired by American Industrial Partners affiliates in a deal worth $1.27 billion.Gold inclined 0.8% to $4,804 per troy ounce pre-bell, while bitcoin advanced 2% to $74,609.

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