"It's hard to be unique. I think Kohl's is caught right now by death in the middle."
(John Fisher)
From 2013:
Mid-price department store Kohl's has been struggling just to maintain its profitability for more than a year now. On Thursday, it released yet another disappointing earnings report. Like many retailers that cater to working-class and middle-class customers, Kohl's has felt the pinch of a weak economic recovery and higher payroll taxes.
(https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/18/kohls-is-still-floundering.aspx)
....... and from March 2022:
In 2018, Kohl's was a bright spot in the beleaguered department store sector. Sales were growing, Kohl's stock price was booming and new CEO Michelle Gass was earning widespread praise for her creative approach, including partnering with Amazon to offer free Amazon returns at Kohl's stores.
Out of the three largest US department store chains — Kohl's, Macy's and Nordstrom — Kohl's looked to be in the strongest position.
Not anymore. Kohl's is in turmoil today.
The chain's sales are lower than before the pandemic, despite strong consumer spending and as its rivals enjoy big gains.
Activist investors are circling Kohl's and demanding leadership changes. A sale of the company could be on the horizon.