Kohl's vs Sea: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Kohl's Corporation (KSS)

Q3 202620 Jul – 12 Sep 2026

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Kohl's Q2 beat driven by tariff refunds, not sales

Q2 earnings beat and raised outlook Kohl's reported Q2 EPS of $1.28, beating expectations, and raised its full-year profit outlook to $1.80–$2.40 while restarting buybacks of up to $100 million. This initially cheered investors.
This is the headline event that drove the stock in August.
Profit boost came from tariff refunds, not sales About 98% of gross margin gains came from roughly $150 million in tariff refunds, not from selling more merchandise. This raises doubts about the sustainability of the profit beat.
It reveals the low quality of earnings, a key reason the stock may not hold gains.
18th straight quarter of falling same-store sales Comparable sales fell 0.9%, the 18th consecutive quarterly decline, with total revenue down 2%—the weakest among general merchandise peers. Low-income shoppers remain stressed, and broader consumer pullback pressures demand.
It shows the core business continues to shrink, a major headwind for the stock.
New growth initiatives, but unproven Kohl's is expanding DoorDash rapid delivery to 1,100+ stores, adding Martha Stewart and Babies"R"Us shop-in-shops, and hiring a new Chief Merchandising Officer from Walmart. These could help, but benefits are unproven and don't yet signal a recovery.
These are the main positive efforts that could drive future performance, though their impact is uncertain.

August 202620 Jul – 12 Sep 2026

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Kohl's Q2 beat driven by tariff refunds, not sales

Q2 earnings beat and raised outlook Kohl's reported Q2 EPS of $1.28, beating expectations, and raised its full-year profit outlook to $1.80–$2.40 while restarting buybacks of up to $100 million. This initially cheered investors.
This is the headline event that drove the stock in August.
Profit boost came from tariff refunds, not sales About 98% of gross margin gains came from roughly $150 million in tariff refunds, not from selling more merchandise. This raises doubts about the sustainability of the profit beat.
It reveals the low quality of earnings, a key reason the stock may not hold gains.
18th straight quarter of falling same-store sales Comparable sales fell 0.9%, the 18th consecutive quarterly decline, with total revenue down 2%—the weakest among general merchandise peers. Low-income shoppers remain stressed, and broader consumer pullback pressures demand.
It shows the core business continues to shrink, a major headwind for the stock.
New growth initiatives, but unproven Kohl's is expanding DoorDash rapid delivery to 1,100+ stores, adding Martha Stewart and Babies"R"Us shop-in-shops, and hiring a new Chief Merchandising Officer from Walmart. These could help, but benefits are unproven and don't yet signal a recovery.
These are the main positive efforts that could drive future performance, though their impact is uncertain.

Latest20 Jul – 12 Sep 2026

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Kohl's: tariff refunds boost profit, but sales still falling

Tariff refunds inflate profit, not sales Kohl's raised its full-year profit outlook and restarted share buybacks after about $150 million in tariff refunds. But roughly 98% of its gross margin gain came from those refunds, and comparable sales fell for an 18th straight quarter. The profit boost is real but not from selling more.
This is the single biggest new force behind KSS's improved earnings picture and explains why the profit gain may not last.
New delivery and merchandise partnerships Kohl's launched DoorDash rapid delivery from over 1,100 stores and expanded its Martha Stewart kitchen line onto Kohls.com. These widen how customers can buy and refresh the product mix, which could help digital sales and customer reach, though the financial benefit is not yet proven.
These are new distribution and merchandising moves that could support future demand, a genuine positive driver.
New merchandising chief and baby-shop expansion Kohl's named a new Chief Merchandising Officer from Walmart and is adding Babies"R"Us shops to 56 more stores. Both aim to fix weak merchandise and win back customers, but comparable sales are still down 0.9% and analysts say 18 straight quarters of declines don't signal a full recovery.
These are the period's main strategic efforts to reverse weak sales, with a clear counterweight that results aren't there yet.
Consumer spending slowdown pressures sales Weak results from Albertsons and Tractor Supply signaled shoppers are pulling back, and Kohl's shares fell 5% in July on those fears. Kohl's also posted a 2% revenue decline, the slowest grower among general merchandise peers, showing demand remains the core problem.
This explains the demand weakness that keeps KSS's sales falling despite profit-boosting one-offs.

26 Aug – 27 Aug 2026

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Kohl's Q2 EPS Beat, Raised Outlook, Buybacks; Sales Still Weak

Q2 earnings beat and raised full-year outlook Kohl's reported Q2 EPS of $1.28, far above the $0.55 consensus, and raised its full-year earnings outlook to $1.80–$2.40 from $1.00–$1.60. This profit surge, partly from tariff refunds, gives investors a reason to bid the stock higher.
The earnings beat and guidance raise are the main new positive catalysts for KSS this period.
Restarted share buybacks up to $100 million Kohl's said it will restart share repurchases of up to $100 million in 2026 under its existing $3 billion authorization. Buybacks reduce the number of shares outstanding, which can lift earnings per share and support the stock price.
Buybacks are a new capital-return action that directly supports the share price.
Comparable sales fell 0.9%, missing expectations Kohl's Q2 comparable sales dropped 0.9%, worse than the 0.6% decline analysts expected, and total revenue slipped to $3.52 billion. The weak top line shows customers are still pulling back, which weighs on the stock and limits how much the profit beat can lift it.
The sales miss is the key negative counterweight to the earnings beat.
Low-income consumer stress threatens future demand Reports highlight that low-income shoppers are under pressure, with diesel prices up over 40% and half of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Since Kohl's depends on these shoppers, continued stress could hurt sales in coming quarters and keep a lid on the stock.
This explains the demand risk that could offset the positive earnings news.

Sea Ltd (SE)

Q3 202622 Jun – 19 Aug 2026

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Sea Ltd Q3 2026: Strong Growth, Amazon Retreat, But Spending and Insider Sales Weigh

Strong Q2 results and growth Sea's Q2 revenue jumped 48% to $7.8B, net income reached $458M, Shopee's gross merchandise value grew 28%, and Monee's loan book expanded 62%, showing broad-based momentum.
This is the core positive fundamental driver for the quarter.
Amazon's ASEAN retreat and Oaktree stake Amazon pulled back from Southeast Asia, strengthening Shopee's dominance, while Oaktree's $60.9M stake signaled value-investor confidence in Sea's prospects.
These events improved Sea's competitive position and investor sentiment.
Heavy spending pressures profits Q2 EPS missed at $0.86 as heavy AI and expansion spending cut Shopee's adjusted EBITDA to $223.2M, raising concerns about profitability.
This is a key negative factor that weighed on the stock.
Insider sales and high valuation Insiders including the CEO, COO, and Garena's president sold shares, mostly pre-planned but still a confidence concern. Analysts cut profit forecasts, and Sea trades near 33x forward earnings, leaving little room for error.
These factors created overhang and valuation risk.

August 202624 Jul – 19 Aug 2026

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Sea's business surges while insiders cash out and a value giant buys in

Amazon retreats, Shopee dominates ASEAN Amazon is pulling back its retail operations in Southeast Asia after its regional e-commerce share fell below 0.3%, while Shopee's gross merchandise value is in the tens of billions of dollars. Less competition from a global giant strengthens Shopee's grip on its home market, supporting Sea's revenue and profit.
Amazon's retreat removes a deep-pocketed rival and confirms Shopee's dominance, a real force behind Sea's value.
Oaktree takes a $60.9 million stake Billionaire Howard Marks' Oaktree Capital disclosed a new roughly $60.9 million position in Sea, a well-known value investor endorsing the stock after it fell about 30% over the past year. That kind of buyer can draw other long-term investors in, lifting demand for the shares.
A prominent value investor buying is a fresh demand signal that can shift sentiment toward Sea.
Insider selling wave, including the CEO The CEO sold about 1.1 million shares for $137.3 million, and the COO, a director and Garena's president also sold. Most were pre-planned under Rule 10b5-1, so they are scheduled sales, not panic — but heavy insider selling can still weigh on investor confidence.
Large insider sales are a visible counterweight to the good operating news and can pressure the stock.
Strong results, but high expectations priced in Second-quarter revenue rose 48% to $7.8 billion, with Shopee, Monee and Garena all growing. Yet analysts cut profit forecasts and flagged a bearish rating before results, and the stock trades near 33 times forward earnings — rich versus peers, so any stumble gets punished.
It captures both the strong underlying growth and the valuation/earnings-expectation risk that can move Sea either way.

Latest24 Jul – 19 Aug 2026

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Sea's business surges while insiders cash out and a value giant buys in

Amazon retreats, Shopee dominates ASEAN Amazon is pulling back its retail operations in Southeast Asia after its regional e-commerce share fell below 0.3%, while Shopee's gross merchandise value is in the tens of billions of dollars. Less competition from a global giant strengthens Shopee's grip on its home market, supporting Sea's revenue and profit.
Amazon's retreat removes a deep-pocketed rival and confirms Shopee's dominance, a real force behind Sea's value.
Oaktree takes a $60.9 million stake Billionaire Howard Marks' Oaktree Capital disclosed a new roughly $60.9 million position in Sea, a well-known value investor endorsing the stock after it fell about 30% over the past year. That kind of buyer can draw other long-term investors in, lifting demand for the shares.
A prominent value investor buying is a fresh demand signal that can shift sentiment toward Sea.
Insider selling wave, including the CEO The CEO sold about 1.1 million shares for $137.3 million, and the COO, a director and Garena's president also sold. Most were pre-planned under Rule 10b5-1, so they are scheduled sales, not panic — but heavy insider selling can still weigh on investor confidence.
Large insider sales are a visible counterweight to the good operating news and can pressure the stock.
Strong results, but high expectations priced in Second-quarter revenue rose 48% to $7.8 billion, with Shopee, Monee and Garena all growing. Yet analysts cut profit forecasts and flagged a bearish rating before results, and the stock trades near 33 times forward earnings — rich versus peers, so any stumble gets punished.
It captures both the strong underlying growth and the valuation/earnings-expectation risk that can move Sea either way.

July 202622 Jun – 11 Aug 2026

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Sea's AI Push and Strong Q2 Revenue Drive Growth, but Spending Weighs on Profit

Q2 revenue surges 48% to $7.8B, net income $458M Sea reported Q2 2026 revenue of $7.8 billion, up 48% year on year, with net income of $458 million. Shopee's gross merchandise value rose 28% to $38.3 billion, and Monee's loan book grew 62%. This strong top-line growth and profitability reassure investors about Sea's expansion.
This is the latest earnings result, a major new event that directly shows Sea's financial health and growth trajectory.
Q2 EPS misses at $0.86 despite revenue beat While revenue beat expectations, earnings per share came in at $0.86, below forecasts. Higher spending, especially on AI and expansion, pressured profitability. This mixed result may cause some investor caution, but the revenue beat and reaffirmed EBITDA target provide support.
This is a key new earnings detail that explains the mixed market reaction and highlights the cost of growth.
Sea partners with OpenAI to integrate AI across Shopee Sea announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to bring AI tools to Shopee, including ChatGPT product discovery and seller tools. This could enhance user engagement and operational efficiency, but also drove higher AI-related spending that reduced Shopee's adjusted EBITDA to $223.2 million from $264.4 million a year earlier.
This is a new major partnership that could shape Sea's competitive position and future growth, while also explaining the profit pressure.
Visa and ShopeePay launch Payment Passkey in Thailand Visa and ShopeePay launched Payment Passkey in Thailand, enabling instant payments via face or fingerprint scan. This enhances security and convenience on Shopee, likely boosting user adoption and transaction volume. It strengthens ShopeePay's ecosystem and could drive more digital financial services growth.
This is a new product launch that expands Sea's fintech offerings and could increase user engagement and transaction volume.

22 Jun – 11 Aug 2026

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Sea's AI Push and Strong Q2 Revenue Drive Growth, but Spending Weighs on Profit

Q2 revenue surges 48% to $7.8B, net income $458M Sea reported Q2 2026 revenue of $7.8 billion, up 48% year on year, with net income of $458 million. Shopee's gross merchandise value rose 28% to $38.3 billion, and Monee's loan book grew 62%. This strong top-line growth and profitability reassure investors about Sea's expansion.
This is the latest earnings result, a major new event that directly shows Sea's financial health and growth trajectory.
Q2 EPS misses at $0.86 despite revenue beat While revenue beat expectations, earnings per share came in at $0.86, below forecasts. Higher spending, especially on AI and expansion, pressured profitability. This mixed result may cause some investor caution, but the revenue beat and reaffirmed EBITDA target provide support.
This is a key new earnings detail that explains the mixed market reaction and highlights the cost of growth.
Sea partners with OpenAI to integrate AI across Shopee Sea announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to bring AI tools to Shopee, including ChatGPT product discovery and seller tools. This could enhance user engagement and operational efficiency, but also drove higher AI-related spending that reduced Shopee's adjusted EBITDA to $223.2 million from $264.4 million a year earlier.
This is a new major partnership that could shape Sea's competitive position and future growth, while also explaining the profit pressure.
Visa and ShopeePay launch Payment Passkey in Thailand Visa and ShopeePay launched Payment Passkey in Thailand, enabling instant payments via face or fingerprint scan. This enhances security and convenience on Shopee, likely boosting user adoption and transaction volume. It strengthens ShopeePay's ecosystem and could drive more digital financial services growth.
This is a new product launch that expands Sea's fintech offerings and could increase user engagement and transaction volume.