KOHLS Corp: directors' dealings · United States · SEC (Form 4)

About KOHLS Corp

Kohl’s Corporation (ticker: KSS) is a U.S.-listed omnichannel retailer trading on the NYSE in the United States. The company occupies a middle ground between a traditional department store and a value-oriented specialty retailer, with a long operating history that dates back to the first Kohl’s department store opened in 1962 in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Kohl’s was organized in 1988 as a Wisconsin corporation, and its corporate headquarters remain in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. What began as a regional Midwest chain has evolved into a national retail footprint supported by stores and its e-commerce platform, Kohls.com. Kohl’s business model is centered on moderately priced merchandise aimed at families and value-conscious shoppers. Its core categories are apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, and home products. The company sells a mix of national brands and proprietary labels, with private brands playing an important role in differentiation and margin management. Examples of established private brands include Apt. 9, Croft & Barrow, Jumping Beans, SO, Sonoma Goods for Life, and Tek Gear. Kohl’s also works with nationally recognized names through exclusive or licensed partnerships, and its stores feature Sephora at Kohl’s shop-in-shops, which have become an important traffic and merchandising initiative. From a competitive standpoint, Kohl’s operates in one of the most contested segments of U.S. retail. It competes with department stores, big-box chains, apparel specialists, off-price retailers, and online platforms. Its value proposition is built around convenience, promotions, broad assortment, and a family-oriented customer base. That said, the company continues to face structural pressure from changing consumer behavior, intense price competition, and the migration of discretionary spending online. In its latest annual report, Kohl’s described itself as a leading omnichannel retailer operating as a single reportable segment. Recent developments show a business in transition. For fiscal 2025, Kohl’s reported net sales of $14.8 billion, down 4.0% year over year, with comparable sales down 3.1%, while gross margin improved modestly. Management has framed 2025 as a “foundational reset” aimed at stabilizing the business and strengthening execution for the next phase of the turnaround. Another notable governance change came in late 2025, when Michael Bender was appointed permanent CEO after serving in an interim capacity, underscoring the company’s focus on operational discipline and strategic continuity. For equity investors, KSS remains a turnaround-oriented U.S. retail name on the NYSE, with the key debate centered on whether the company can rebuild traffic, sharpen its value proposition, and translate omnichannel investments into sustained earnings power.