Kroger’s (KR) Outperform Rating Reaffirmed at Telsey Advisory Group

Telsey Advisory Group restated their outperform rating on shares of Kroger (NYSE:KR) in a research report report published on Monday morning,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $80.00 target price on the stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on KR. Barclays reaffirmed a “positive” rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Monday. Evercore set a $77.00 target price on Kroger and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 price target (down previously from $74.00) on shares of Kroger in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Morgan Stanley set a $67.00 price objective on shares of Kroger and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $70.00 target price (down from $78.00) on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $74.07.

Kroger Price Performance

Shares of KR opened at $70.15 on Monday. Kroger has a twelve month low of $58.60 and a twelve month high of $74.90. The company has a market capitalization of $44.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.62. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $63.07 and a 200 day moving average of $66.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.28.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.02. Kroger had a return on equity of 38.06% and a net margin of 0.54%.The business had revenue of $33.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.27 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.98 EPS. The company’s revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.750-4.800 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Kroger will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. Kroger’s payout ratio is currently 129.63%.

Institutional Trading of Kroger

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ares Financial Consulting LLC purchased a new stake in Kroger in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Kroger by 268.1% during the fourth quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 416 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new stake in Kroger during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. purchased a new position in Kroger in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Rossby Financial LCC purchased a new position in Kroger in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. 80.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Kroger

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Board names Greg Foran as CEO — Kroger announced Foran will take over immediately and join the board; markets view his Walmart and large‑scale retail experience as a catalyst for operational improvements and growth. Kroger Appoints Greg Foran as Chief Executive Officer
• Positive Sentiment: Immediate market reaction — Multiple outlets report premarket and intraday jumps after the hire, reflecting investor optimism that Foran can drive share gains and operational fixes. Kroger shares jump on appointment of new CEO Greg Foran
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support — Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an “outperform” rating and a $80 price target, signaling room for upside if management execution improves. Telsey advisory group rating / Benzinga
• Neutral Sentiment: Strategic context — Coverage highlights Foran’s history turning around Walmart’s grocery business, which explains the hiring rationale but does not guarantee Kroger will replicate that outcome. The man who fixed Walmart’s grocery was just appointed CEO of Kroger’s
• Neutral Sentiment: Positive coverage & buy thesis — Recent bullish pieces frame Kroger as a defensive, growth‑oriented retailer (e‑commerce expansion, private labels, AI efficiencies); useful for longer‑term case but dependent on execution. Kroger: Buy This Steady Compounder For A Volatile Market
• Negative Sentiment: Governance and execution risks — Kroger is still recovering from last year’s CEO transition and board probe; the new CEO faces the challenge of proving he can deliver results at scale while operating with high leverage and a rich valuation. Kroger names former Walmart executive as its new CEO

Kroger Company Profile

The Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) is one of the largest supermarket operators in the United States, offering a wide range of retail grocery and related services. Founded in Cincinnati in 1883 by Bernard Kroger, the company operates a portfolio of supermarket and multi-department store banners and provides customers with fresh foods, packaged groceries, deli and bakery items, meat and seafood, produce, and prepared foods. Kroger’s stores commonly include pharmacy services and fuel centers, positioning the company as a broad-based neighborhood retail destination for everyday needs.

In addition to traditional in-store retailing, Kroger manufactures and distributes a variety of private-label brands and operates its own food production and supply-chain facilities.