Kroger Company (KR)
NYSE:KR
Want to see KR full AI Analyst Report?
Earnings Data
Report Date
Sep 04, 2026Before Open (Confirmed)
Period Ending
2026 (Q2)Consensus EPS Forecast
1.08Last Year’s EPS
1.04Same Quarter Last Year
Moderate Buy
Based on 9 Analysts Ratings
Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call presents a constructive and action-oriented tone: management reported tangible progress across core metrics (1% identical sales ex-fuel, eCommerce +19% and now profitable, Our Brands +175 bps vs. national brands, media >20% growth, adjusted EPS +6%) while also candidly outlining margin pressures (gross margin down 9 bps), pharmacy and inflation headwinds (IRA ~130 bps, brand-to-generic ~40 bps), higher transportation costs (~15 bps), and execution gaps across the store fleet. Cost-savings execution (COGS savings 30% ahead of plan) and strong balance-sheet metrics (net debt/EBITDA 1.75x) provide funding and flexibility to invest in price and operations. Overall, the positive operational and financial progress, clear plans for savings and reinvestment, and the achievement of eCommerce profitability outweigh the disclosed challenges, but risks remain in near-term inflation/transportation and store execution consistency.Company Guidance
Identical Sales Growth and Core Momentum
Identical sales excluding fuel of 1% in Q1, led by strong performance in eCommerce, fresh categories, and Our Brands. Loyal households grew for the 17th consecutive quarter, and Kroger outperformed Circana's Rest of Market, marking the best performance vs. traditional grocery competitors in over three years.
eCommerce Growth and Profitability
eCommerce grew 19% year-over-year, driven ~50% by convenience (under-an-hour) delivery. Perfect order rates improved 8%, the business attracted a record number of new households, and eCommerce (including media) turned profitable this quarter. The shift to store-based fulfillment and third-party partnerships (DoorDash, Uber Eats) improved economics and converted households after closing three fulfillment centers.
Our Brands Strength and Item-Level Focus
Our Brands gained share and outpaced national brands by 175 basis points in the quarter, with momentum in Simple Truth and Private Selection and new items resonating with customers.
Retail Media and Data Advantage
Kroger Precision Marketing delivered over 20% growth. Competitive advantages include 95% of transactions tied to loyalty cards with 20+ years of history, new partnerships (Google Display & Video 360, TikTok self-service) and expanding AI capabilities to drive advertiser value and media margin contribution.
Strong Financial Results and Balance Sheet
Adjusted FIFO operating profit was $1.5 billion and adjusted EPS was $1.58, up 6% year-over-year. Kroger generated strong adjusted free cash flow and ended the quarter with net total debt to adjusted EBITDA of 1.75x (below the target range of 2.3x-2.5x), providing financial flexibility.
Cost Savings Ahead of Plan
Delivered cost of goods savings ~30% ahead of plan in Q1, with management highlighting meaningful, multi-year runway across COGS and goods-not-for-resale. eCommerce profitability improvements (including prior $400M eCom target) were ahead of schedule and are expected to accelerate.
Fuel Rewards and Traffic
Fuel results outperformed expectations with fuel reward redemptions up 10% year-over-year and Kroger outpacing industry fuel gallon benchmarks by >400 basis points, driving incremental store traffic.
KR Earnings History
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
Beat
Missed
KR Earnings-Related Price Changes
Report Date | Price 1 Day Before | Price 1 Day After | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Jun 18, 2026 | $61.82 | $56.61 | -8.43% |
Mar 05, 2026 | $67.63 | $71.19 | +5.27% |
Dec 04, 2025 | $65.52 | $62.49 | -4.62% |
Jun 20, 2025 | $64.18 | $70.50 | +9.84% |
Earnings announcements can affect a stock’s price. This table shows the stock's price the day before and the day after recent earnings reports, including the percentage change.
FAQ
When does Kroger Company (KR) report earnings?
Kroger Company (KR) is schdueled to report earning on Sep 04, 2026, Before Open (Confirmed).
What is Kroger Company (KR) earnings time?
Kroger Company (KR) earnings time is at Sep 04, 2026, Before Open (Confirmed).
Where can I see when companies are reporting earnings?
You can see which companies are reporting today on our designated earnings calendar.
What companies are reporting earnings today?
You can see a list of the companies which are reporting today on TipRanks earnings calendar.
What is KR EPS forecast?
KR EPS forecast for the fiscal quarter 2026 (Q2) is 1.08.
