kohl’s stock popped thursday morning after the retailer beat fiscal secondquarter estimates raised its fullyear outlook and said it was ramping up share buyback plans kohl’s ticker kss reported a july quarter adjusted profit of 382 million or 248 a share well ahead of the consensus estimate for 126 a share sales of 422 billion beat out expectations of 396 billion comparable sales growth hit 612 also well ahead of estimates for 412 shares of kohl’s were up 76 to 5579 in morning trading while the sp 500 index was flat kohl’s stock has risen 35 in 2021 and 190 in the past 12 months “our performance in the second quarter marked another important step in further establishing kohl’s as the leading destination for the active and casual lifestyle” ceo michelle gass said in the earnings release “we delivered record second quarter earnings with sales and margins materially exceeding expectations as pleased as we are with our ongoing strategic progress much of our opportunity is still ahead of us” gass citing the betterthanexpected results said the company was raising its fullyear outlook the company expects fullyear net sales growth in the low20s percentage range up from a midtohigh teens percentage range jefferies analyst stephanie wissink believes the sales guidance may be conservative because it would be a significant reversal of firsthalf trends kohl’s expects adjusted earnings per share of 580 to 610 up from a range that topped out at 420 the company also plans to accelerate its share repurchase program buying back 500 million to 700 million in shares in 2021 up from 200 million to 300 million gass said the move underscores “our confidence in the business and our commitment to creating shareholder value”