October is officially here, which brings (slightly) cooler mornings, all things pumpkin spice and — most importantly — Employee Ownership Month.
According to a 2025 Gallup survey, 62% of Americans report owning some form of stock. However, for the remaining 38%, stock ownership can often feel out of reach; something reserved for seasoned investors or those with extra income to put aside. But at Publix, we have a different mindset.
As the largest employee-owned company in the United States, stock ownership is a key part of Publix’s culture. There are 3 paths to ownership: our PROFIT Plan, 401(k) SMART Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Let’s take a closer look at our PROFIT Plan.
What is the PROFIT Plan?
The PROFIT Plan is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This plan is more than just a benefit; it’s a long-term investment in you.
Unlike traditional retirement plans that depend on employee contributions, the PROFIT Plan is funded entirely by Publix, which contributes stock to eligible associates at no cost to them. That means eligible associates can begin building ownership simply by working here, making stock ownership accessible to associates at every stage of their careers.
Learn more about the PROFIT Plan
Associates automatically become enrolled in the PROFIT Plan after reaching 1,000 or more work credit hours in an anniversary year.
Visit the Retirement & Stock page on PASSport to watch a video about our 3 paths to ownership. From there, head to the PROFIT Plan page on PASSport and watch a video about the PROFIT Plan to learn more details about this plan.
