Albertsons has revised its fiscal 2026 projections downward, now expecting net income between $1.75 and $1.85 per share, a notable decrease from the previous estimate of $2.22 to $2.32 per share. The company also lowered its adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $3.55 billion to $3.625 billion, down from $3.85 billion to $3.925 billion.
This outlook adjustment reflects a broader trend of reduced grocery shopping among U.S. consumers, influenced by food inflation and tighter budgets due to high gas prices. In the first fiscal quarter, identical sales fell by 0.8%, and the company anticipates a further decline of 0.5% to 1.5% for the full year, compared to earlier expectations of flat to a 1% increase.
CEO Susan Morris noted that while the current consumer pressures are impacting short-term earnings, the company is committed to enhancing customer experience and improving business metrics over time