Albertsons Companies Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) is refreshing its Soleil sparkling water line with special summer packaging and four new flavors: mango, raspberry lime, tangerine, and watermelon. Starting in May, the new designs will be featured in a promotion with Spotify, where customers can enjoy curated playlists while drinking Soleil. Since its 2016 launch, Soleil has experienced strong market growth, contributing to the billion-dollar Signature family of brands. The new packaging, designed by seven artists globally, aims to reflect the flavorful and cultural essence of the drink.

Albertsons Companies reported a net loss of $144 million or $0.37 per Class A share for Q4 2020, despite achieving a substantial 11.8% growth in identical sales and a remarkable 282% increase in digital sales. Adjusted net income stood at $347 million, or $0.60 per share. For the full year, net income reached $850 million with a 16.9% rise in identical sales. The company reduced its net debt ratio to 1.5x from 2.9x. However, the outlook for fiscal 2021 anticipates a decline in identical sales by 6% to 7.5%, raising concerns among investors.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) has appointed Danielle Crop as the new Senior Vice President and Chief Data Officer, previously serving at American Express. Crop will spearhead a central data strategy aimed at enhancing customer experiences both in-store and online, using advanced data science and machine learning. Chris Rupp, Chief Digital Officer, emphasized the importance of data in predicting customer needs and improving service delivery. Crop's extensive background includes over 15 years at American Express, focusing on data management and analytics.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aiming to establish emissions reduction targets in line with the United Nations’ Paris Agreement. This commitment follows a prioritization assessment of its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, emphasizing energy and emissions. Albertsons will evaluate energy use, refrigerants, and supply chain impacts to set an emissions goal for SBTi approval. The company has undertaken significant emissions reporting and energy efficiency projects, aiming for lower climate impact.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) announced a cash dividend of $0.10 per share for the first quarter of 2021. This dividend aligns with the Company's established policy following its initial public offering and is payable on May 10, 2021 to stockholders on record as of April 26, 2021. Albertsons continues to implement a robust capital allocation strategy focused on leveraging its strong free cash flow to drive growth and enhance shareholder value.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) will announce its fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 financial results on April 26, 2021, before market opening. The results will cover the period ending February 27, 2021. A conference call is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. ET for discussing the results, followed by a Q&A session. Interested parties can access the call through the Events & Presentations link on their investor website. A replay will be available for two weeks post-call.

Albertsons operates over 20 major banners across 34 states and D.C., making it a leading food and drug retailer in the U.S.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) has launched Kalyana sustainable wines, enhancing its sustainable Own Brands offerings. The wines are sourced from certified sustainable vineyards in California’s Central Coast and include a 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 Pinot Noir, and 2019 Chardonnay. The initiative showcases Albertsons’ commitment to eco-friendly practices, employing methods like recycling water for irrigation and using predatory birds for pest control. The wines are available across various Albertsons banners, reinforcing the company's focus on sustainability.

Albertsons Companies and Google have formed a multi-year partnership to enhance the shopping experience for customers across 2,253 neighborhoods. This collaboration will integrate Google technologies, including Search, Maps, and Cloud AI, to streamline shopping processes and provide new features like shoppable maps, conversational commerce, and predictive grocery list building. The partnership aims to facilitate easier online ordering and pickup/delivery options for customers, marking a significant step in Albertsons' modernization efforts in the retail sector.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) announced that President and CEO Vivek Sankaran will speak at Citi's Retail Madness Virtual Conference on March 19, 2021, at 11:20 a.m. ET. The presentation will be available for live streaming here and on the Company’s website. A replay will be accessible for at least two weeks post-event.