The Kroger Co. $KR Shares Sold by Maj Invest Holding A S

Maj Invest Holding A S reduced its position in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 1.4% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 1,755,027 shares of the company’s stock after selling 25,515 shares during the quarter. Kroger comprises 4.5% of Maj Invest Holding A S’s holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Maj Invest Holding A S’s holdings in Kroger were worth $102,880,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $103,000. Conning Inc. boosted its holdings in Kroger by 12.5% in the 3rd quarter. Conning Inc. now owns 665,708 shares of the company’s stock worth $39,024,000 after buying an additional 74,183 shares during the period. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. boosted its holdings in Kroger by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. now owns 37,327 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,188,000 after buying an additional 807 shares during the period. Busey Bank purchased a new position in Kroger in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $414,000. Finally, Balance Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Kroger in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $201,000. 80.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kroger Trading Down 1.3%

Shares of Kroger stock opened at $65.00 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $60.24 and its 200-day moving average price is $63.53. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.59. The Kroger Co. has a 12-month low of $54.15 and a 12-month high of $76.58. The company has a market cap of $38.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.33, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.36.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, September 11th. The company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $34.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.64 billion. Kroger had a net margin of 0.73% and a return on equity of 49.90%. Kroger’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.04 earnings per share. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that The Kroger Co. will post 5.20 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 16th will be issued a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 16th. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 84.78%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Mary Adcock sold 72,901 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.70, for a total transaction of $4,425,090.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 175,233 shares in the company, valued at $10,636,643.10. The trade was a 29.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on KR shares. Telsey Advisory Group lowered their target price on shares of Kroger from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 14th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $68.00 price target (up from $66.00) on shares of Kroger in a report on Wednesday, October 21st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, September 14th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Kroger from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 24th. Finally, HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Twelve 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 data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $70.35.

More Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Major expansion planned: Kroger intends to add approximately 110 stores by 2029, using three new formats that could broaden its reach and support sales growth. Several new-store projects, including a planned 100,000-square-foot location, are also advancing. Kroger Plots 110 New Stores by 2029
• Positive Sentiment: $5 billion customer-value investment: Kroger plans to invest in lower everyday prices and simpler promotions. The strategy may improve customer loyalty and competitiveness over time, although it could require significant near-term spending. Kroger To Invest $5B In Customer Value
• Positive Sentiment: New products and merchandising initiatives: Kroger is adding Burger King’s seasonal pretzel burger bun and is promoting highly rated exclusive wines, while a holiday fresh-herb program expands supplier activity ahead of the key shopping season. These developments are modest positives for traffic and product differentiation. Kroger wines earn elite scores
• Neutral Sentiment: E-commerce transformation: Kroger is pursuing a “fresh, fast and personal” digital strategy, potentially improving online grocery economics and customer engagement, but the articles provide no financial targets or evidence of immediate earnings impact. Kroger Maps E-Commerce Transformation
• Negative Sentiment: Market-share concerns: A report described additional bad news for Kroger’s market share, reinforcing worries that Walmart, Costco and other price-focused competitors are taking customers. Kroger receives more bad news with market share
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive and reputational risks: Coverage of rivals’ lower-price strategies, Kroger’s proposed data-collection practices and a reported $17 million unfair-pricing settlement add pressure to the company’s brand and profitability outlook. Kroger unfair pricing settlement

About Kroger

The Kroger Co is a U.S. food and grocery retailer headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883, the company operates supermarkets under banners that include Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Fry’s, Harris Teeter and Smith’s, among others.

Kroger’s business includes the sale of fresh food, groceries, general merchandise, household products and health and beauty items. Many of its stores also provide pharmacy services and fuel centers. The company offers digital shopping, pickup and delivery services, loyalty programs and a range of private-label products, including Simple Truth, Private Selection and Kroger-branded products.

Kroger primarily serves customers across the United States, with stores concentrated in the Midwest, South, West and parts of the Mid-Atlantic region.