Analysts Set The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) Target Price at $74.56

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) has been assigned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the seventeen brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $74.5625.

KR has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays reiterated a “positive” rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Monday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Kroger from $73.00 to $71.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 5th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 price target (down from $74.00) on shares of Kroger in a report on Friday, December 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $82.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $75.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, March 5th.

Kroger Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:KR opened at $72.35 on Tuesday. Kroger has a 12 month low of $58.60 and a 12 month high of $76.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $69.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $66.49. The stock has a market cap of $44.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.29, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.55.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.08. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The firm had revenue of $34.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.10 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.14 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Kroger will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.50%.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group initiated coverage on Kroger with a “buy” rating, providing fresh institutional endorsement that can support further upside. TickerReport: Erste Group Initiates Coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger’s deal with Google to scale retail‑media using checkout data highlights a path to higher-margin ad revenue and better monetization of its loyalty/transaction data — a longer‑term growth driver. The Drum: Kroger-Google Retail Media
• Positive Sentiment: Harris Teeter (a Kroger banner) was named one of Newsweek’s “Most Trustworthy Companies in America,” which may modestly support brand equity and customer loyalty in East Coast markets. PRNewswire: Harris Teeter Recognition
• Neutral Sentiment: New customer‑experience rankings and seasonal marketing (survey comparing Kroger, Publix, Trader Joe’s; sponsored Easter tips) are PR positives but unlikely to move fundamentals near‑term. Yahoo: Grocery Chain Survey
• Negative Sentiment: Court rulings tied to the failed Kroger–Albertsons merger require Kroger to cover legal fees, creating a direct cash/legal overhang and keeping regulatory/legal risk in focus. Yahoo Finance: Kroger Must Pay Legal Fees
• Negative Sentiment: California and a coalition of states are seeking $10.3M related to efforts that helped block the merger — a reminder of potential transaction‑related liabilities and political/regulatory scrutiny. Reuters: States Seek $10.3M
• Negative Sentiment: An EEOC claim alleges a Kroger store revoked an employee accommodation in violation of the ADA, raising compliance and reputational risk (potential legal/cost exposure if upheld). Yahoo News: EEOC ADA Claim
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that Albertsons is closing stores and laying off employees earlier caused a pullback in Kroger shares (market reaction tied to sector news and merger fallout). That episode underscores continued volatility linked to competitor and consolidation headlines. Yahoo Finance: Why KR Was Trading Lower

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kroger

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of Nova Scotia raised its stake in Kroger by 102.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 168,395 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,079,000 after purchasing an additional 85,223 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its holdings in shares of Kroger by 43.4% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 72,244 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,870,000 after purchasing an additional 21,876 shares during the period. Liberty One Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Kroger by 85.0% in the third quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC now owns 857,667 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,828,000 after buying an additional 394,060 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Kroger by 45.5% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 855,810 shares of the company’s stock worth $57,690,000 after purchasing an additional 267,434 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mediolanum International Funds Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Kroger by 401.3% during the 3rd quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 19,470 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,293,000 after purchasing an additional 15,586 shares in the last quarter. 80.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.