Overview

• The grocer posted adjusted EPS of $0.44 on $18.915 billion in revenue, topping estimates, with identical sales up 2.2% and digital sales up 23%.
• Management raised fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.06–$2.19 and forecast Adjusted EBITDA of $3.8–$3.9 billion, including roughly $65 million from a 53rd week.
• The board approved a $750 million accelerated share repurchase with JPMorgan and lifted total authorization to $2.75 billion, alongside a $0.15 quarterly dividend payable November 7 to holders of record October 24.
• Gross margin rate slipped to 27.0% from 27.6% a year earlier, and Adjusted EBITDA fell to $848.4 million from $900.6 million, reflecting a higher pharmacy mix plus rising delivery and handling costs.
• Shares jumped 11%–14% to about $19.41 in afternoon trading, rebounding from a summer slide that analysts linked to competition from Amazon and Walmart.