Albertsons expects profit pressures as it invests in value

The news: Albertsons delivered a weaker-than-expected profit forecast for fiscal 2025, despite solid momentum in Q4 from its efforts to deliver more value to shoppers.

• The grocer expects same-store sales growth of 1.5% to 2.5% this fiscal year, roughly in line with FactSet’s expectation for a 1.8% rise.
• But it guided to adjusted per-share earnings of $2.03 to $2.16, considerably short of the $2.28 consensus estimate.

The environment: While Albertsons made strides with value-seeking shoppers in the last quarter, it’s also under “pressure from mass and club stores, value players,” incoming CEO Susan Morris said during the grocer’s earnings call.