Oxbow Advisors LLC Acquires Shares of 17,304 The Kroger Co. $KR

Oxbow Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm acquired 17,304 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $961,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ares Financial Consulting LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in Kroger in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in Kroger in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. acquired a new position in Kroger during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Kroger during the first quarter valued at approximately $31,000. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kroger Trading Up 0.6%

NYSE KR opened at $56.39 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $58.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.84. The Kroger Co. has a 12 month low of $54.15 and a 12 month high of $76.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.55 billion, a PE ratio of 33.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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). Kroger had a return on equity of 44.33% and a net margin of 0.71%.The firm had revenue of $46.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $45.59 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.49 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. On average, analysts expect that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 EPS for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Saturday, August 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.39 per share. This is an increase from Kroger’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 91.76%.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is opening new Marketplace locations in metro Atlanta, expanding its larger-format grocery, general merchandise and prepared-food offering. A new store is also planned for Lenoir City, Tennessee, supporting the company’s long-term growth and local market presence. Kroger opens new Marketplace locations in metro Atlanta New Kroger grocery store coming to Lenoir City
• Neutral Sentiment: Rebel Creamery, whose ice cream products are sold at Kroger and other major retailers, filed for bankruptcy while appealing a multimillion-dollar judgment. The development could affect product availability, but appears unlikely to have a material direct impact on Kroger’s finances. Ice cream brand sold at Kroger files for bankruptcy
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger reportedly plans to close 60 U.S. stores in 2026, including locations tied to its Fry’s banner. The closures may improve efficiency and profitability, but they also signal weak store economics and could reduce sales and customer reach. Kroger to Close 60 Stores
• Negative Sentiment: Reports and social-media reactions highlight declining Kroger store traffic, raising concerns about competitive pressure, consumer behavior and the company’s ability to sustain sales growth. Kroger’s declining traffic
• Negative Sentiment: A jalapeño-related salmonella recall involving products sold at Kroger and other grocers creates potential reputational, compliance and customer-trust risks, although the financial impact is not yet clear. Products recalled over jalapeño salmonella outbreak
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger’s co-branded credit card with U.S. Bank is reportedly being discontinued, including changes to gas-discount benefits. Ending the program may frustrate shoppers and weaken loyalty incentives. Kroger’s credit card is going away

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently weighed in on KR shares. Telsey Advisory Group set a $78.00 price objective on Kroger and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Citigroup lowered their target price on Kroger from $71.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. UBS Group set a $63.00 target price on shares of Kroger and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and issued a $71.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Finally, Barclays set a $61.00 price target on shares of Kroger and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $72.00.

About Kroger

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.