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Kroger Company (KR)
NYSE:KR
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Kroger Company (KR) AI Stock Analysis

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KR

Kroger Company

(NYSE:KR)

Rating:70Outperform
Price Target:
$77.00
▲(7.81% Upside)
Kroger's overall stock score reflects a stable financial performance with significant leverage, balanced by strong operational efficiency and cash generation. The earnings call provided a positive outlook with strategic growth initiatives, despite challenges in store closures and e-commerce profitability. Technical analysis and valuation present a mixed picture, with no significant undervaluation or overvaluation.
Positive Factors
Cost Management
Strong cost management and potential modest tailwinds from higher Food at Home inflation and Express Scripts re-entering the ID base are expected to accelerate EBIT growth.
E-commerce Growth
Faster e-commerce growth of 15% YoY contributed an incremental growth suggesting e-commerce growth likely accounted for the majority of the sequential market share improvements.
Sales and Market Share
KR outgrew the industry for the first time in over 2 years, driven by strong pharmacy growth and new customer growth due to competitor closures.
Negative Factors
E-commerce Profitability
E-commerce remains unprofitable despite having the best QoQ improvement in profits yet, leading to questions about KR's longer-term commitment to Ocado.
Industry Competition
Heightened competition and risk of a broader consumer slowdown balance risk/reward.
Market Share Losses
There are modest market share losses and further valuation expansion likely requires stronger grocery market share trends.

Kroger Company (KR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Kroger Company Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKroger Company (KR) is one of the largest grocery chains in the United States, operating supermarkets and multi-department stores under various banners, including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, and King Soopers. The company provides a wide range of products and services, including groceries, pharmacy, health and beauty, and general merchandise. Kroger also offers online shopping and delivery services, catering to the evolving shopping preferences of consumers.
How the Company Makes MoneyKroger generates revenue primarily through the sale of food and grocery items, which includes fresh produce, meat, dairy products, and canned goods. The company operates on a low-margin, high-volume business model, where it sells a large volume of products at competitive prices. Key revenue streams include in-store sales, online grocery orders, and pharmacy services. Additionally, Kroger earns income through its private label products, which typically have higher margins than national brands. The company also benefits from pharmacy sales, fuel centers, and partnerships with third-party vendors for advertising and promotions, contributing to its overall earnings.

Kroger Company Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Store Count
Store Count
Indicates the total number of retail locations, highlighting the company's market reach and potential for customer engagement. A growing store count can signal expansion and increased market penetration.
Chart InsightsKroger's store count has been declining since 2019, but 2024 marks a reversal with a slight increase. This aligns with the company's strategic focus on digital sales and operational excellence, as highlighted in their earnings call. The completion of 30 major store projects in 2025 suggests a renewed emphasis on physical retail presence. Despite challenges like flat EPS and lower fuel profitability, Kroger's investments in digital growth and alternative profit businesses indicate a balanced approach to expansion and profitability.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Kroger Company Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jun 20, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 9.56%|
Next Earnings Date:Sep 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong growth in e-commerce, fresh sales, and Our Brands, along with an increase in adjusted net earnings and improved labor relations. However, there are challenges with planned store closures, underperformance in the fuel segment, and ongoing e-commerce profitability issues, amidst an uncertain economic environment.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Growth in E-commerce and Fresh Sales
E-commerce sales grew by 15%, driven by strong demand in delivery, and Fresh categories showed strong performance, supporting identical sales without fuel results.
Improvement in Our Brands Performance
Our Brands grew faster than national brands for the seventh consecutive quarter, driven by products like Simple Truth and Private Selection.
Increase in Adjusted Net Earnings
Adjusted net earnings per diluted share increased by 4% to $1.49 in the first quarter.
Growth in Pharmacy Sales
Strong pharmacy sales contributed to identical sales growth, supported by organic script growth and non-GLP-1 prescriptions.
Improvement in Labor Relations
Significant progress on labor agreements, with new agreements ratified for over 23,000 associates.
Negative Updates
Store Closures Planned
Plans to close approximately 60 underperforming stores over the next 18 months, indicating challenges in certain locations.
Fuel Segment Underperformance
Fuel results were behind expectations, with lower sales due to fewer gallons sold and lower average retail prices.
E-commerce Profitability Challenges
Despite growth, the e-commerce segment is not yet profitable, and efforts are ongoing to improve profitability.
Economic Environment Uncertainty
Customers continue to spend cautiously, with a shift towards more value-oriented shopping and promotional products.
Company Guidance
During the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, Kroger reported a 3.2% increase in identical sales, excluding fuel and adjustment items, and a 4% rise in adjusted net earnings per diluted share, reaching $1.49. The company experienced strong performance in its pharmacy, e-commerce, and Fresh categories. E-commerce sales grew by 15%, driven by robust delivery demand, while Our Brands surpassed national brands for the seventh consecutive quarter, with Simple Truth and Private Selection leading sales growth. Kroger plans to close approximately 60 underperforming stores over the next 18 months and will reinvest cost savings into lower prices and extended store hours. The company aims to complete 30 major store projects in 2025 and accelerate new store openings in 2026. Kroger's leadership team has been restructured to enhance customer focus, with a new e-commerce business unit established under Chief Digital Officer Yael Cosset. Adjusted FIFO operating profit was $1.5 billion, but fuel sales were lower than expected, impacting results. The company is maintaining its full-year guidance for net operating profit and adjusted EPS.

Kroger Company Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Kroger's financial statements depict a stable yet leveraged company with moderate profitability. The income statement shows steady operational efficiency, but the high debt-to-equity ratio and low equity ratio on the balance sheet highlight financial risks. Strong cash generation is evident, but declining free cash flow growth could impact future liquidity.
Income Statement
76
Positive
Kroger's income statement reveals a stable gross profit margin of approximately 23%, with a TTM net profit margin of 1.76%. The revenue growth has been modest, slightly declining over the past year. However, EBIT and EBITDA margins are relatively steady, indicating decent operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet shows a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.83, indicating significant leverage. Return on equity has been improving, currently at 29% TTM, suggesting effective use of equity. The equity ratio is low at 16.7%, highlighting potential financial risk due to high liabilities.
Cash Flow
68
Positive
Kroger's cash flow statement displays a healthy operating cash flow to net income ratio of 2.12 TTM, indicating strong cash generation relative to its earnings. However, the free cash flow growth has declined, and the free cash flow to net income ratio is relatively low, which could impact future liquidity.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue146.97B147.12B150.04B148.26B137.89B132.50B
Gross Profit30.51B30.16B30.24B28.81B27.52B28.15B
EBITDA7.77B7.65B7.04B7.03B6.06B7.29B
Net Income2.58B2.67B2.16B2.24B1.66B2.58B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets53.25B52.62B50.51B49.54B49.09B48.64B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments5.92B5.27B3.10B2.14B2.90B2.78B
Total Debt25.21B25.08B19.25B20.41B20.44B20.59B
Total Liabilities44.34B44.34B38.90B39.52B39.66B39.09B
Stockholders Equity8.91B8.29B11.62B10.04B9.45B9.58B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.84B1.78B2.88B1.23B3.58B3.95B
Operating Cash Flow5.60B5.79B6.79B4.31B6.19B6.82B
Investing Cash Flow-3.25B-3.23B-3.75B-3.02B-2.61B-2.81B
Financing Cash Flow-473.00M-490.00M-2.17B-2.29B-3.44B-2.71B

Kroger Company Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price71.42
Price Trends
50DMA
70.46
Positive
100DMA
69.46
Positive
200DMA
65.29
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.10
Positive
RSI
51.94
Neutral
STOCH
45.14
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KR, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 71.42 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 71.07, above the 50-day MA of 70.46, and above the 200-day MA of 65.29, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.10 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 51.94 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 45.14 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for KR.

Kroger Company Risk Analysis

Kroger Company disclosed 15 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Kroger Company reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Kroger Company Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
70
Outperform
$46.76B19.2224.06%1.82%-2.11%25.03%
68
Neutral
$1.79B232.410.68%8.47%-85.17%
67
Neutral
$1.77B17.787.86%1.90%2.49%15.99%
67
Neutral
$14.39B31.1236.94%16.83%52.71%
63
Neutral
$20.95B14.50-4.08%3.12%2.72%-11.24%
61
Neutral
$10.88B11.8531.10%2.89%1.96%-14.99%
52
Neutral
$1.22B22.103.58%1.01%-7.96%-64.67%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KR
Kroger Company
71.42
20.25
39.57%
IMKTA
Ingles Markets
65.48
-4.25
-6.09%
WMK
Weis Markets
71.67
8.14
12.81%
SFM
Sprouts Farmers
148.41
52.40
54.58%
ACI
Albertsons Companies
19.46
-0.71
-3.52%
GO
Grocery Outlet Holding
18.06
0.35
1.98%

Kroger Company Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Kroger Company Holds Annual Shareholders Meeting
Neutral
Jun 27, 2025

On June 26, 2025, Kroger Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, where ten directors were elected, executive compensation was approved, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was ratified as the independent auditor for 2025. Several shareholder proposals were rejected, including reports on cigarette pollution, a third-party framework for U.S. farmers, and consumer health data privacy. During the meeting, technical difficulties affected the audio webcast, preventing the final question’s response from being heard. The company addressed concerns about tariffs, stating efforts to avoid passing costs to consumers by sourcing products from less affected areas.

The most recent analyst rating on (KR) stock is a Buy with a $80.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kroger Company stock, see the KR Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 14, 2025