CWA Asset Management Group LLC Grows Position in The Kroger Co. $KR

CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its position in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 1,336.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 52,423 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 48,773 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC’s holdings in Kroger were worth $3,275,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KR. Hilltop National Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Kroger by 5.4% in the fourth quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 18,155 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,134,000 after acquiring an additional 923 shares during the period. BCGM Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Kroger by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. BCGM Wealth Management LLC now owns 30,229 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,889,000 after acquiring an additional 511 shares during the period. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Kroger by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 31,178 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,948,000 after acquiring an additional 1,618 shares during the period. TrueWealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Kroger by 9.7% in the 4th quarter. TrueWealth Advisors LLC now owns 12,584 shares of the company’s stock valued at $786,000 after purchasing an additional 1,116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Central Pacific Bank Trust Division raised its position in Kroger by 160.7% in the 4th quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 7,097 shares of the company’s stock valued at $443,000 after purchasing an additional 4,375 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KR has been the topic of several research reports. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Kroger from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Morgan Stanley set a $73.00 target price on shares of Kroger and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Kroger from $73.00 to $71.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Kroger from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $75.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $82.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $74.56.

Kroger News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is rolling out Dunkin’ kiosks inside stores (Michigan rollout noted; Houston-area locations also adding kiosks). In-store foodservice tie-ins can boost foot traffic, basket size and convenience positioning. Kroger store in Michigan now has a Dunkin’ kiosk, and more are on the way Houston-area Kroger grocery stores adding Dunkin’ kiosks
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger will carry an exclusive 7Up flavor in 2026—an example of product differentiation and exclusive merchandising that can drive incremental sales and private-label/partner margins. Kroger home to exclusive 7Up flavor in 2026. Here’s what’s coming
• Positive Sentiment: A competitor (longstanding regional chain) is continuing store closures into 2026, which could create market-share opportunities for large, well-capitalized operators like Kroger in affected markets. 111-year-old grocery chain closing more stores in 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Local community and CSR activity: Kroger hosted a Shop to Stop Hunger event in Staunton—positive for brand and community relations but limited direct impact on near-term earnings. Community gathers for Shop to Stop Hunger event at Kroger in Staunton
• Neutral Sentiment: Local planning concerns: a new Kroger opening near a Smyrna school raised traffic/safety complaints—possible short-term PR and permitting noise but unlikely material to corporate financials. ‘An accident waiting to happen’: New Kroger opening next to Smyrna school sparks traffic and safety concerns
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitive pricing context: a consumer comparison piece contrasts Thrive Market prices with Kroger and Whole Foods—useful for positioning but not an immediate earnings driver. Is Thrive Market cheaper? I compared prices to Kroger and Whole Foods
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger issued a nationwide recall update and customer warnings on certain products—recalls can raise short-term costs, shrink margins and hurt customer trust depending on scope. Kroger nationwide recall update: Customers issued warnings over products
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst sentiment cooled: Seeking Alpha summarized a downgrade to Hold citing limited growth drivers—downgrades can pressure the stock and investor expectations. Kroger: Limited Growth Drivers, Downgraded To Hold
• Negative Sentiment: Local personnel controversy: a former manager alleges he was fired after intervening to protect an elderly coworker from shoplifters—potential reputational risk if escalated. Former Kroger manager in DeKalb says he was fired for protecting elderly co-worker from shoplifters

Kroger Stock Performance

Shares of KR opened at $73.25 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $46.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.80. The Kroger Co. has a 1 year low of $58.60 and a 1 year high of $76.58. The company’s fifty day moving average is $67.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.21.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $34.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $35.10 billion. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The business’s revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.14 EPS. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Kroger Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be given a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 91.50%.

About Kroger

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.