MENOMONEE FALLS, Wisconsin — Kohl's Corp. slumped in early US trading after lowering its annual outlook and reporting first-quarter same-store sales that were way below analysts' estimates. The surprising setback signals that the retailer needs to do more than rely on its partnership with Amazon.com Inc. to draw in more customers.

Comparable store sales, a closely watched metric for retailers, declined 3.4 percent last quarter, while analysts projected a drop of 0.1 percent, according to Consensus Metrix. Earnings will be $5.15 to $5.45 a share this year, excluding some items, the retailer said, down from a range of $5.80 to $6.15 a share expected in March. The shares plummeted 11 percent before the markets opened Tuesday.

Key Insights

Kohl’s results contrasted with those from Macy’s, which reported improvements to its sales last week. “The year has started off slower than we’d like, with our first-quarter sales coming in below our expectation,” Kohl’s Chief Executive Officer Michelle Gass said in a statement. The company is “planning the year more conservatively.”

Kohl’s quarterly earnings missed Wall Street projections for the first time since the fiscal third quarter of 2018, which ended in October 2017.

The outlook for consumer-facing companies in the US has also become more uncertain. Although Kohl’s makes no mention of the trade war with China in its statement, the company, like Macy’s, could suffer as the Trump administration proposes new 25 percent tariffs on about $300 billion of goods from China, including apparel.

There’s one potential bright spot: Kohl’s is ramping up its tie-up with e-commerce giant Amazon, and as of July will accept Amazon returns at all of its stores. The idea is customers will browse and buy something while making their returns.

Market Reaction

The shares were down 11 percent $55.80 in early trading. That level is the lowest for the stock since January 2018.

By Jordyn Holman; editors: Anne Riley Moffat, Lisa Wolfson and Cécile Daurat.