Albertsons Companies (ACI) DIvidends Date & History

Key Takeaways

• ACI pays a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share, or $0.68 annualized, for a yield of roughly 5.5% — well above the consumer staples sector average.
• Albertsons has raised its dividend consistently since initiation in 2020, with the most recent increase taking effect in April 2026.
• Free cash flow (the cash a business generates after operating and capital expenses) covers the dividend comfortably, supporting sustainability.
• The yield is materially higher than grocery peers such as Kroger, Walmart, and Costco.
• The stock is best suited to income-focused and value-oriented investors who are comfortable with a leveraged balance sheet and a grocery industry facing thin margins.

Dividend Overview

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, operating banners such as Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, and Shaw's. The company pays a regular quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share, equal to $0.68 per share on an annualized basis. Based on recent share prices, that translates to a dividend yield of approximately 5.5%, which is notably high for the consumer staples sector.

Albertsons is best characterized as a high-yield dividend stock with a growing payout, rather than a pure dividend-growth compounder. Its next ex-dividend date is October 23, 2026, with payment scheduled for November 6, 2026. The company has maintained an uninterrupted dividend since initiating payments in 2020, blending a steady income stream with periodic, meaningful increases.

Dividend History and Growth

Albertsons initiated its quarterly dividend in 2020 at $0.10 per share and has raised it in stages since. The payout moved to $0.12 per share in 2022, then to $0.15 per share in January 2025 — a 25% increase — and most recently to $0.17 per share in April 2026, a roughly 13% rise. The company also paid a one-time special dividend of $6.85 per share in late 2022, returning capital to shareholders following the termination of its planned merger with Kroger.

This trajectory reflects a deliberate strategy of prioritizing a dependable, modestly growing dividend alongside share repurchases. Albertsons does not yet carry the long multi-decade growth streak of some blue-chip dividend payers, but its recent pattern of annual increases and a four-year no-cut streak signal management's commitment to the payout.

Dividend Sustainability and Payout Ratio

The dividend appears reasonably sustainable when viewed through cash generation. The company's free cash flow dividend payout ratio — the share of free cash flow distributed as dividends — has run at roughly 60% in recent periods, leaving a buffer for debt reduction and store investment. On a forward earnings basis, the payout ratio is approximately 40%.

Reported trailing earnings-based payout ratios can look elevated because of non-recurring charges and litigation-related items, but cash flow coverage is the more meaningful measure for a grocery retailer with significant depreciation and amortization. The primary considerations for dividend safety are Albertsons' substantial debt load and the thin margins inherent to the grocery business. The company has also suspended full-year guidance while it conducts a strategic review, which adds some uncertainty to near-term earnings visibility. Still, the steady dividend declaration alongside that review indicates management's confidence in near-term cash generation.

Dividend Compared to Industry Peers

Albertsons' dividend yield stands well above the consumer staples average of roughly 2% to 3%. Among direct grocery competitors, KR (Kroger) offers a yield in the low-2% range, while WMT (Walmart) yields around 1% and COST (Costco) yields less than 1%. Big-box rival TGT (Target) typically yields in the mid-2% range.

Within this peer set, Albertsons is the clear high-yield outlier. That higher yield reflects not only a larger payout relative to share price but also the market's perception of greater financial risk, given Albertsons' higher leverage and thinner profitability compared with scale leaders like Walmart and Costco. For income-oriented investors, that trade-off means a significantly larger current cash return in exchange for higher balance-sheet risk.

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Is This Stock Attractive for Dividend Investors?

Albertsons is likely to appeal most to income-focused investors seeking a current yield well above both the broader market and the consumer staples sector. With a yield of roughly 5.5% and a quarterly payment schedule, it provides a steady, predictable income stream. Value-oriented investors who believe the company can improve margins and reduce debt may also find the combination of a high yield and modest payout growth compelling.

The stock is less suited to investors seeking rapid dividend growth or a lengthy track record of consecutive annual increases, since Albertsons' dividend history is relatively short and its increases, while consistent, are not aggressive. Conservative investors should weigh the company's elevated leverage, thin grocery margins, and the suspended guidance tied to its ongoing strategic review. Overall, Albertsons offers an attractive current income profile, but its dividend appeal is balanced against balance-sheet risk and sector-level competitive pressure.

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