Kroger (NYSE:KR) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Kroger (NYSE:KR) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 5.100-5.30 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 5.270. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Kroger Stock Down 6.0%

Shares of KR traded down $3.72 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $58.10. The company had a trading volume of 8,635,067 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,583,012. The company has a market capitalization of $35.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.42. Kroger has a 52 week low of $56.50 and a 52 week high of $76.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.80. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $66.12 and a 200 day moving average price of $66.48.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last released its earnings results on Thursday, June 18th. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $46.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $45.59 billion. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. Kroger’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.49 earnings per share. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Kroger will post 5.25 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $75.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Erste Group Bank lowered Kroger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, April 27th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $80.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group raised their price objective on Kroger from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Kroger presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $74.67.

Key Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger reported first-quarter revenue of $46.12 billion, topping estimates, with identical sales excluding fuel up 1.0% and adjusted e-commerce sales rising 19%, showing steady demand for groceries and essentials. Reuters: Kroger beats quarterly sales estimates
• Positive Sentiment: The company maintained its 2026 guidance, which may signal management confidence in the business despite a tougher consumer environment. PR Newswire: Kroger Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call option volume suggests some traders are positioning for a rebound after the post-earnings selloff. MarketBeat KR page
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor focus is also on Kroger’s stronger traffic trends, pharmacy headwinds, and ongoing price investments, which were highlighted ahead of the report as key drivers to watch. Yahoo Finance: The Kroger Co. Gears Up for Q1 Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger’s adjusted EPS of $1.58 missed estimates by one cent, reinforcing concerns that aggressive price cuts are squeezing margins. Zacks: Kroger Q1 Earnings Miss Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple premarket reports pointed to margin pressure and a softer outlook narrative, which likely amplified selling after the earnings release. Benzinga: Kroger Stock Crashes On Triple Whammy
• Negative Sentiment: Earlier this week, analysts and commentary had already flagged shrinking margins and pre-earnings caution, setting a weak tone before the results. Yahoo Finance: Kroger faces escalating cage free egg campaign

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kroger

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KR. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in Kroger by 27.3% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 15,733 shares of the company’s stock valued at $962,000 after acquiring an additional 3,373 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP raised its stake in Kroger by 40.7% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 56,243 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,807,000 after acquiring an additional 16,270 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kroger in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $201,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kroger by 11.5% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 97,288 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,978,000 after acquiring an additional 10,051 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nebula Research & Development LLC bought a new stake in Kroger during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,840,000. 80.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.