Axecap Investments LLC Decreases Position in The Kroger Co. $KR

Axecap Investments LLC lowered its stake in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 70.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,025 shares of the company’s stock after selling 12,004 shares during the period. Axecap Investments LLC’s holdings in Kroger were worth $314,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Viewpoint Investment Partners Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter worth approximately $212,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Kroger by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 73,317 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,581,000 after purchasing an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its stake in shares of Kroger by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 877,859 shares of the company’s stock worth $54,848,000 after purchasing an additional 44,370 shares during the last quarter. Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. increased its stake in shares of Kroger by 71.6% during the 4th quarter. Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. now owns 262,756 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,417,000 after purchasing an additional 109,655 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Kroger by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,169,425 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,821,546,000 after purchasing an additional 868,529 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

Kroger Stock Down 2.7%

Shares of NYSE:KR opened at $67.26 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $70.56 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $66.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The Kroger Co. has a one year low of $58.60 and a one year high of $76.58. The company has a market cap of $41.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.96, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.55.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.08. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The firm had revenue of $34.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.10 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.14 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. Analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 5.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 15th. Kroger’s payout ratio is currently 91.50%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on KR shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Kroger from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $75.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Erste Group Bank began coverage on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, April 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $70.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $82.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Wolfe Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $75.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Kroger currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $74.56.

More Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is boosting customer value with targeted promotions and pricing initiatives (Online Deal Days and other savings) to protect market share amid rising grocery costs. Kroger launches online deal days amid rising food costs
• Positive Sentiment: Retail footprint and store investment: multiple store remodels and a new, large Kroger Marketplace (Mechanicsville) signal continued capital reinvestment to drive sales and compete with big-box rivals. Kroger Completes $2M Store Remodel in Illinois
• Positive Sentiment: Grocery + fuel strategy: reporting and analysis highlight Kroger’s gas pricing competitiveness vs. Costco and Walmart — a differentiated traffic driver that can protect basket spend. Kroger quietly builds a massive gas edge over Costco, Walmart
• Positive Sentiment: New product partnerships and assortment expansion (Beyond Meat nationwide rollout in 2,000+ stores; Rancher’s Premium Smokehouse products hitting Kroger shelves) support incremental sales and fresh inventory buzz. Rancher’s Premium Smokehouse Teams Up with Kroger
• Neutral Sentiment: Workforce and talent initiatives (Pearl Street Academy, Platinum workforce rating, expanded associate education) are long-term positives for retention but increase near-term operating investment. How Kroger’s New Shelf Registration and Workforce Push Could Shape Kroger (KR) Investors’ Outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger filed an omnibus shelf registration (debt, preferred/common, warrants) — provides financing flexibility but raises the possibility of future issuance that investors will watch closely. Shelf registration article
• Neutral Sentiment: Community initiatives (drug take-back events across multiple states) support brand and local engagement but are unlikely to move near-term financials. Kroger hosting drug take back events across metro Atlanta
• Negative Sentiment: Financial/valuation concerns: last quarter Kroger beat EPS modestly but missed revenue estimates, reported thin net margins and carries elevated debt-to-equity — investors may be selling into the company’s continued investment cycle and the risk of margin pressure from inflation and higher associate costs.

Kroger 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.