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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:68Neutral
Price Target:
$76.00
▲(9.67%Upside)
Kroger's overall stock score reflects a balance of stable financial performance and positive long-term prospects driven by strategic focus on e-commerce and fresh categories. However, high leverage and challenges in e-commerce profitability pose risks. The moderate valuation and mixed technical signals suggest a cautious yet optimistic outlook.
Positive Factors
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.
Pharmacy growth
Pharmacy growth was strong and accelerated, driven by existing customers fulfilling more scripts and new customer growth due to competitor closures.
Sales and market share
KR outgrew the industry for the first time in over 2 years, indicating a positive market share inflection.
Negative Factors
Competition and consumer slowdown
Heightened competition and risk of a broader consumer slowdown balance risk/reward.
E-commerce profitability
E-commerce remains unprofitable despite having the best QoQ improvement in profits yet.
Market share loss
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 DescriptionThe Kroger Co. operates as a retailer in the United States. The company operates combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. Its combination food and drug stores offer natural food and organic sections, pharmacies, general merchandise, pet centers, fresh seafood, and organic produce; and multi-department stores provide apparel, home fashion and furnishings, outdoor living, electronics, automotive products, and toys. The company's marketplace stores offer full-service grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty care, and perishable goods, as well as general merchandise, including apparel, home goods, and toys; and price impact warehouse stores provide grocery, and health and beauty care items, as well as meat, dairy, baked goods, and fresh produce items. It also manufactures and processes food products for sale in its supermarkets and online; and sells fuel through 1,613 fuel centers. As of January 29, 2022, the company operated 2,726 supermarkets under various banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The Kroger Co. was founded in 1883 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
How the Company Makes MoneyKroger makes money primarily through the sale of grocery products, which include fresh and prepared foods, as well as household essentials. The company's revenue model is built on a multi-channel retail strategy that includes brick-and-mortar stores, e-commerce, and private label brands. Key revenue streams include the sale of national and private label products, fuel, and pharmacy services. Additionally, Kroger has partnerships with a variety of suppliers and leverages data analytics through its loyalty programs to optimize inventory and marketing strategies. The company's earnings are also supported by its investments in technology and distribution networks to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.

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: 5.77%|
Next Earnings Date:Sep 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The Kroger Co.'s first-quarter earnings call presented a balanced view of both achievements and challenges. Significant growth was noted in e-commerce and fresh segments, alongside strategic investments in improving customer experience and labor relations. However, challenges such as store closures, declining fuel sales, and the need to address e-commerce profitability were also highlighted. The macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, influencing customer spending habits.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Solid First-Quarter Results
The Kroger Co. announced strong first-quarter results with identical sales, excluding fuel and adjustment items, increasing by 3.2%. Adjusted net earnings per diluted share increased by 4% to $1.49.
Growth in E-commerce
E-commerce sales grew by 15% in the first quarter, driven by strong demand and delivery. This represents a significant impact on results, with improvements in order accuracy and reduced pickup wait times.
Strong Performance in Fresh and Pharmacy Segments
Fresh identical sales outperformed center store sales, supporting overall sales growth. Pharmacy sales were also strong, contributing significantly to identical sales growth.
Strategic Investments in Customer Experience
Investments in projects that grow the core business, accelerate new store openings, and reduce costs are expected to reinvest savings into lower prices and additional store hours.
Our Brands Outperforming National Brands
Our Brands grew faster than national brands for the seventh consecutive quarter, with Simple Truth and Private Selection leading sales growth. New product introductions, like 80 new protein products, were highlighted.
Labor Relations Progress
Significant progress on labor agreements was noted, with new agreements covering more than 23,000 associates ratified.
Negative Updates
Store Closures
Plans to close approximately 60 underperforming stores over the next 18 months were announced, acknowledging not all stores are delivering sustainable results.
Fuel Sales Decline
Fuel results were behind expectations, with sales lower compared to last year due to lower average retail price per gallon and fewer gallons sold.
E-commerce Profitability Challenges
While e-commerce is growing, it is not yet profitable. The company acknowledged the need to become profitable in this segment.
Uncertain Macroeconomic Environment
Customers continue to spend cautiously in an uncertain economic environment, affecting overall consumer confidence and spending patterns.
Company Guidance
During The Kroger Co.'s first quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported a 3.2% increase in identical sales excluding fuel and adjustment items, and a 4% rise in adjusted net earnings per diluted share to $1.49. Key growth areas included pharmacy, e-commerce, and fresh categories, with e-commerce sales experiencing a 15% increase. The company also announced plans to close approximately 60 underperforming stores over the next 18 months while completing 30 major store projects in 2025. The Kroger Co. is focusing on cost optimization and reviewing its capital allocation strategy to ensure investments yield high returns. They are also committed to growing market share and boosting e-commerce profitability. Despite some challenges, such as lower fuel profitability, the company raised its identical sales guidance to a range of 2.25% to 3.25% for the year. The call highlighted efforts to improve customer experience and associate engagement, with the average hourly wage for associates now over $19.50, increasing to more than $25 when benefits are included.

Kroger Company Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Kroger shows stable profitability with a gross profit margin of 23% and a net profit margin of 1.76%. However, modest revenue growth and high leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.83 pose financial risks. The company demonstrates strong cash generation, but declining free cash flow growth is concerning.
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.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue147.12B150.04B148.26B137.89B132.50B
Gross Profit33.40B33.36B31.78B30.35B30.90B
EBITDA7.64B7.04B7.03B6.06B7.29B
Net Income2.67B2.16B2.24B1.66B2.58B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets52.62B50.51B49.54B49.09B48.64B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments5.27B3.10B2.14B2.90B2.78B
Total Debt25.08B19.25B20.41B20.44B20.59B
Total Liabilities44.34B38.90B39.52B39.66B39.09B
Stockholders Equity8.29B11.62B10.01B9.43B9.55B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.78B2.88B1.23B3.58B3.95B
Operating Cash Flow5.79B6.79B4.31B6.19B6.82B
Investing Cash Flow-3.23B-3.75B-3.02B-2.61B-2.81B
Financing Cash Flow-490.00M-2.17B-2.29B-3.44B-2.71B

Kroger Company Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price69.30
Price Trends
50DMA
69.43
Negative
100DMA
68.81
Positive
200DMA
64.31
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.15
Positive
RSI
42.78
Neutral
STOCH
7.34
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KR, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 69.3 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 71.09, below the 50-day MA of 69.43, and above the 200-day MA of 64.31, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.15 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 42.78 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 7.34 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral 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 (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$15.36B35.5835.74%15.51%53.77%
68
Neutral
$45.83B18.8424.06%1.85%-2.11%25.03%
68
Neutral
$1.97B18.387.54%1.85%1.76%6.01%
65
Neutral
$27.10B15.29-1.16%3.10%1.15%2.75%
64
Neutral
$1.32B78.921.43%10.37%-73.84%
63
Neutral
$1.16B19.194.00%1.03%-7.79%-64.85%
61
Neutral
$11.01B11.9931.10%2.93%1.96%-14.99%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KR
Kroger Company
69.30
15.37
28.50%
IMKTA
Ingles Markets
63.00
-15.48
-19.72%
WMK
Weis Markets
73.41
0.37
0.51%
SFM
Sprouts Farmers
158.06
57.30
56.87%
GO
Grocery Outlet Holding
13.29
-5.92
-30.82%
ACI
Albertsons Companies
19.47
0.26
1.35%

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: Jul 29, 2025