Q3 26 EPS
$0.72
BEAT +5.60%
Est. $0.68
Q3 26 Revenue
$19.12B
MISS 0.23%
Est. $19.17B
vs S&P Since Q3 26
-17.8%
TRAILING MARKET
ACI -11.4% vs S&P +6.3%
Market Reaction
Did ACI Beat Earnings? Q3 2026 Results
Albertsons delivered a mixed but largely solid third quarter for fiscal 2025, beating on earnings while falling just shy of revenue expectations in a period defined by strong pharmacy momentum and aggressive capital returns. Adjusted EPS of $0.72 cle… Read more Albertsons delivered a mixed but largely solid third quarter for fiscal 2025, beating on earnings while falling just shy of revenue expectations in a period defined by strong pharmacy momentum and aggressive capital returns. Adjusted EPS of $0.72 cleared the $0.68 consensus by 5.60%, while net sales of $19.12 billion rose 1.9% year over year, coming in 0.23% below estimates as a temporary government shutdown and delayed SNAP funding shaved an estimated 10 to 20 basis points from identical sales growth. The quarter's clearest driver was pharmacy, which powered a 2.4% identical sales increase alongside a 21% surge in digital sales and loyalty membership expanding 12% to 49.8 million members. Gross margin compressed to 27.4% from 27.9%, reflecting the inherently lower margin profile of pharmacy and higher digital fulfillment costs. Albertsons also executed a $750 million accelerated share repurchase with JPMorgan during the period. Looking ahead, the company narrowed its fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.08 to $2.16 and flagged Medicare drug price negotiations as a 65 to 70 basis point headwind to fourth-quarter identical sales, a concern that at least one analyst noted could make 2026 a "mixed year" for food retailers.
Key Takeaways
- • Identical sales increased 2.4% driven primarily by strong pharmacy sales growth
- • Digital sales increased 21%
- • Loyalty members grew 12% to 49.8 million
- • Selling and administrative expenses improved as a percentage of revenue due to sales leverage on employee costs and lower merger-related costs
- • Productivity initiatives partially offset increasing wage rates and inflationary pressures
ACI YoY Financials
Q3 2026 vs Q3 2025, source: SEC Filings
“In the third quarter, we delivered solid results and continued to advance our strategic priorities. Our investments in technology and AI are fundamentally reshaping how we operate and serve our customers; driving smarter decisions, greater efficiency, and more personalized experiences. Growth in our digital and pharmacy channels, combined with disciplined execution and targeted investments, is strengthening our value proposition and positioning us for success.”
— Susan Morris, Q3 2026 Earnings Press Release
ACI Earnings Trends
ACI vs Market 30 Day Price Reactions
30-day stock return vs benchmark after each earnings
ACI EPS Trend
Earnings per share: estimate vs actual
ACI Revenue Trend
Quarterly revenue: estimate vs actual
ACI Quarterly Results
5 quarters of earnings data
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 26 BEAT FY | $0.44 | $0.48 | +9.26% | $20.25B | -0.99% |
| FY Full Year | $2.15 | $2.18 | +1.61% | $83.17B | -0.16% |
| Q3 26 BEAT | $0.68 | $0.72 | +5.60% | $19.12B | -0.23% |
| Q2 26 BEAT | $0.40 | $0.44 | +10.66% | $18.92B | +0.13% |
| Q1 26 BEAT | $0.54 | $0.55 | +2.17% | $24.88B | +0.76% |
| Q4 25 BEAT FY | $0.41 | $0.46 | +11.06% | $18.80B | +0.05% |
| FY Full Year | $2.30 | $2.34 | +1.85% | $80.39B | -0.29% |