Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) is set to unveil its financial performance for the third quarter prior to market opening on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Market projections, based on data accessed through Benzinga Pro, estimate Albertsons will report earnings of 68 cents per share, signifying a decrease from 71 cents per share recorded during the same quarter last year. Revenue is forecasted to increase slightly to approximately $19.17 billion from $18.77 billion a year prior.
This anticipated financial report follows Albertsons’ release of their second quarter results on October 14, where the company delivered earnings that surpassed expectations. Alongside those results, the company announced an upward revision of its full-year 2025 earnings guidance, signaling management’s optimism amid a competitive retail landscape.
Despite these upbeat developments from the prior quarter, Albertsons’ share price experienced a retreat, closing at $17.17 on the preceding Wednesday, a decline of 0.5%. This modest pullback precedes the eagerly awaited quarterly earnings disclosure.
Benzinga provides a platform where investors can track the latest professional analyst ratings, sorting by stock ticker, company name, firm, or recent rating changes through its Analyst Stock Ratings page. Of particular interest are the assessments provided by some of the most accurate analysts covering Albertsons, offering insight into varying expectations for the stock.
Evercore ISI Group’s Michael Montani maintains a cautious stance with an In-Line rating. On December 23, 2025, Montani lowered the price target on ACI shares from $21 to $20, reflecting a moderate outlook despite maintaining the rating. His historical analyst accuracy stands at 53%, indicating a near-even probability of rating outcomes aligning with market results.
In contrast, Tigress Financial’s Ivan Feinseth continues to exhibit strong support for the stock with a Buy rating. On October 20, 2025, Feinseth increased the price target from $28 to $29, signaling bullish expectations. Feinseth’s ratings boast a higher accuracy level of 74%, suggesting a relatively robust track record in market predictions.
UBS analyst Mark Carden is another Buy rating proponent but tempered his price target significantly, cutting it from $27 to $25 on October 15, 2025. Carden’s accuracy rate of 58% points to a cautious yet generally positive view on Albertsons’ potential.
Wells Fargo’s Edward Kelly holds an Overweight rating, reflecting confidence in the stock’s potential to outperform the market, yet he also lowered the target price from $27 to $23 on October 27, 2025. Kelly carries an accuracy rate of 66%, underscoring a moderately reliable track record.
Similarly, RBC Capital’s Steven Shemesh upholds an Outperform rating but decreased the price target from $23 to $21 on October 3, 2025. His accuracy rating stands at 58%, indicating a fairly balanced historical precision in his forecasts.
These divergent analyst perspectives offer investors a comprehensive view of Albertsons’ prospects, demonstrating cautious optimism amid mixed signals on valuation and earnings growth. The spread in price targets ranging from $20 to $29 illustrates varying interpretations of Albertsons’ business fundamentals and future growth trajectory in a competitive grocery market.
The company's share price and the recent analyst commentary reflect the market's careful assessment of upcoming performance results, heightened by the modest expected dip in earnings per share contrasted with revenue expansion projections.
Market participants awaiting the upcoming third-quarter report will be closely monitoring how these forecasted results align with or deviate from the lowered analyst price targets and the revised earnings outlook after Albertsons’ previously strong quarterly showing.
Key Points:
- Albertsons is expected to post third-quarter earnings of 68 cents per share, down from 71 cents in the prior year, signaling a slight decline in profitability on a per-share basis.
- Projected revenues of $19.17 billion reflect a modest increase from the $18.77 billion reported a year earlier, indicating top-line growth.
- Analyst price targets have been broadly lowered ahead of the earnings release, with a range spanning $20 to $29, reflecting cautious yet mixed investor sentiment.
- Ratings from five notable analysts demonstrate a blend of In-Line, Buy, Overweight, and Outperform stances, highlighting nuanced perspectives on Albertsons’ prospects.
Risks and Uncertainties:
- The projected decline in earnings per share raises concerns about potential margin pressure or cost challenges impacting profitability.
- Variations in analyst price targets suggest uncertainty regarding the company’s ability to sustain growth momentum and convert earnings guidance into stock price appreciation.
- Recent share price decline ahead of earnings points to investor caution and the possibility of volatility around the earnings announcement.
- The retailer’s competitive environment and operational execution remain key factors that could influence actual results relative to forecasted figures.