Daiichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Buys New Holdings in The Kroger Co. $KR

Daiichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm purchased 105,633 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,866,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KR. Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kroger in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Kroger during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. acquired a new stake in Kroger during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Kroger in the first quarter valued at approximately $31,000. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kroger Stock Up 2.7%

NYSE:KR opened at $57.86 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.79. The company has a market capitalization of $35.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.43. The Kroger Co. has a one year low of $54.15 and a one year high of $76.58. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $57.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $64.71.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last issued its 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). The business had revenue of $46.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $45.59 billion. Kroger had a return on equity of 44.33% and a net margin of 0.71%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.49 earnings per share. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 EPS for the current fiscal 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 represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. This is a positive change from Kroger’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio is presently 91.76%.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger’s dividend profile continues to attract attention from income-focused investors. Analysts reviewing the stock highlight its potential appeal as a dividend investment, which could support demand for the shares. Kroger Could Be a Great Choice
• Positive Sentiment: The company is expanding its Fold Bitcoin Gift Card offering after a successful pilot, adding another digital and cryptocurrency-related feature for customers. The initiative is strategically positive but is unlikely to materially affect near-term financial results. Kroger Expands Fold Bitcoin Gift Card Offering
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is unveiling a remodeled store in Worthington, Ohio, reflecting continued investment in store quality and the customer experience. Kroger to Unveil Remodeled Store
• Neutral Sentiment: An ice cream brand sold at Kroger and other retailers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing concerns the supplier’s ownership and future rather than Kroger’s finances, so the direct impact on KR appears limited. Ice Cream Brand Files for Chapter 11
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger’s annual food-bank and peanut-butter donation efforts may support community goodwill but should have little direct effect on valuation. Kroger Holds Peanut Butter Drive
• Neutral Sentiment: Cincinnati officials limited protests near Kroger’s headquarters following complaints from a nearby small-business owner. The development reduces immediate disruption but highlights ongoing local tensions. Cincinnati Limits Kroger HQ Protests
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger plans to close 60 stores during 2026. Although closures could improve the portfolio by removing underperforming locations, the scale of the reductions raises concerns about sales, market presence and restructuring costs. Kroger to Shutter 60 Stores
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger faces a proposed $17 million class-action settlement involving pharmacy customers who used insurance for prescriptions. The settlement would create a financial cost and adds legal and reputational risk, though the amount is modest relative to Kroger’s scale. Kroger Pharmacy Settlement
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger agreed to pay $75,000 to resolve an EEOC disability-discrimination and retaliation lawsuit. The payment is financially immaterial but adds to legal and compliance headlines. Kroger EEOC Lawsuit Settlement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on KR shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $82.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research report on Friday, June 19th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $78.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Kroger from $73.00 to $67.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $72.00.

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.