The Kroger Co. $KR Stake Raised by Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its holdings in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 11.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 175,588 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 17,566 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC’s holdings in Kroger were worth $12,706,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brighton Jones LLC increased its holdings in shares of Kroger by 27.3% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 15,733 shares of the company’s stock valued at $962,000 after purchasing an additional 3,373 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP lifted its holdings in Kroger by 40.7% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 56,243 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,807,000 after purchasing an additional 16,270 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Kroger in the second quarter worth about $201,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in Kroger by 11.5% in the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 97,288 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,978,000 after buying an additional 10,051 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nebula Research & Development LLC acquired a new position in Kroger during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,840,000. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kroger Trading Up 1.1%

NYSE:KR opened at $56.13 on Thursday. 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 Kroger Co. has a 1-year low of $54.15 and a 1-year high of $76.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 0.44. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $63.73 and a 200 day simple moving average of $65.94.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 18th. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.59 by ($0.01). Kroger had a return on equity of 44.33% and a net margin of 0.71%.The company had revenue of $46.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $45.59 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.49 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.39 per share. 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 is Friday, August 14th. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 82.35%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have commented on KR shares. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $80.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company set a $58.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Weiss Ratings cut Kroger from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, UBS Group set a $63.00 price target on Kroger and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Nine investment 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.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $71.94.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The Giant Eagle acquisition could boost Kroger’s scale, market share, and revenue base in attractive regional markets while strengthening its pharmacy and digital fulfillment footprint. Kroger Tries a Smaller Grocery Deal After Albertsons Merger Fizzled
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentators viewed the deal as a more manageable, offensive move that could help Kroger defend against Walmart and Amazon while buying revenue at a relatively low sales multiple. Kroger Expands Footprint With $1.65 Billion Giant Eagle Acquisition
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader grocery-sector trading was mixed, offering little extra direction from the industry backdrop. Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed Late Afternoon
• Negative Sentiment: Some investors appeared cautious on the acquisition because it adds integration risk and new liabilities at a time when Kroger already carries meaningful debt, which may pressure near-term margins and balance sheet flexibility. Kroger (KR) Stock Slips on Plans to Purchase Giant Eagle for $1.65B

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.