Kroger (NYSE:KR) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.01 EPS

Kroger (NYSE:KR) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.01), FiscalAI reports. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The business had revenue of $46.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $45.59 billion.

Kroger Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:KR opened at $61.78 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $66.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $66.48. Kroger has a 1-year low of $58.60 and a 1-year high of $76.58. The stock has a market cap of $37.85 billion, a PE ratio of 40.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.42.

Analyst Ratings Changes

KR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Erste Group Bank cut Kroger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, April 27th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Kroger from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $74.67.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kroger

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in KR. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT raised its stake in shares of Kroger by 59.6% during the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 509 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the period. Prosperity Bancshares Inc bought a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its stake in shares of Kroger by 253.9% during the 2nd quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 584 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 419 shares during the period. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger beat revenue expectations, reporting $46.12 billion in sales versus $45.59 billion expected, with identical sales excluding fuel up 1.0% and adjusted eCommerce sales rising 19%, signaling healthy demand and continued digital growth. Kroger Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management maintained full-year 2026 guidance and highlighted progress in key priorities, which can reassure investors that the company still sees its strategy on track. Kroger Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Adjusted EPS came in at $1.58, just below the $1.59 consensus, a small miss that likely reinforced a cautious reaction more than a major fundamental concern. View Press Release
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain worried that Kroger’s price-cutting strategy to defend market share could squeeze margins, especially with ongoing competition and recent commentary flagging shrinking profitability. Reuters: Kroger beats quarterly sales estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Earlier pre-earnings weakness and analyst caution suggest the stock had already been under pressure heading into the report, with concerns centered on modest growth and margin discipline. Why Kroger shares are falling today

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.