West Family Investments Inc. Purchases Shares of 10,343 The Kroger Co. $KR

West Family Investments Inc. bought a new position in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 10,343 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $574,000.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Kroger during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kroger during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Kroger in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Kroger in the first quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Kroger in the first quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

Kroger Stock Down 0.0%

KR opened at $56.34 on Thursday. The Kroger Co. has a 52 week low of $54.15 and a 52 week high of $76.58. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $58.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $64.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43. The company has a market cap of $34.51 billion, a PE ratio of 33.14, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last announced 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $45.59 billion. Kroger had a net margin of 0.71% and a return on equity of 44.33%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.49 earnings per share. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 EPS for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on KR. Barclays set a $61.00 price target on Kroger and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $71.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $82.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a research report on Friday, June 19th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on Kroger from $71.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 23rd. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $72.00.

Key Stories Impacting Kroger

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is expanding and refreshing its retail footprint, including new Marketplace locations in metro Atlanta and a remodeled Worthington, Ohio, store. The investments could improve customer experience, sales productivity and local market competitiveness. Kroger opens new Marketplace locations in metro Atlanta
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary remains broadly constructive: Kroger’s average brokerage recommendation is equivalent to a Buy, while recent analysis describes the shares as reasonably valued after their decline. The appointment of Nate Faust to lead e-commerce could support better digital execution and efficiency over time. Kroger stock looks reasonable as e-commerce leadership changes start
• Positive Sentiment: The nationwide rollout of Fold Bitcoin Gift Cards gives Kroger a new payments and rewards-related offering, although the near-term financial impact is likely limited. Kroger rolls out Fold Bitcoin Gift Card program nationwide
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger plans to close 60 U.S. stores in 2026. Management may be using the closures to eliminate underperforming locations and improve profitability, but the scale of the reductions raises concerns about sales, market share and restructuring costs. Kroger closing 60 stores in 2026
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that Kroger’s customer traffic is declining suggest shoppers may be cutting back or shifting business to competitors. Persistent traffic weakness could pressure identical-store sales and margins. Kroger’s traffic woes reflect the market
• Negative Sentiment: A recall involving jalapeño products sold at Kroger and other retailers creates food-safety and reputational risk, though the incident also affects competitors. Products recalled over jalapeño salmonella outbreak
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger agreed to pay $75,000 to settle an EEOC disability-discrimination and retaliation lawsuit. The financial cost is small, but the case adds legal, compliance and reputational pressure. Kroger to pay $75,000 in EEOC lawsuit

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.