Flputnam Investment Management Co. Trims Stock Holdings in The Kroger Co. $KR

Flputnam Investment Management Co. lowered its holdings in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 35.4% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 56,029 shares of the company’s stock after selling 30,679 shares during the quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co.’s holdings in Kroger were worth $3,111,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in Kroger in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $3,016,956,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Kroger in the fourth quarter worth $470,561,000. Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new position in shares of Kroger in the second quarter valued at $284,501,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in shares of Kroger in the second quarter valued at $195,234,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 2nd quarter valued at $119,723,000. 80.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Kroger Price Performance

Kroger stock opened at $57.73 on Monday. 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 simple moving average of $57.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of $64.41. 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 stock has a market cap of $35.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.96, a PEG ratio of 1.55 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 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 business had revenue of $46.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.59 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.49 earnings per share. Kroger’s revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Saturday, August 15th will be paid 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 yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. Kroger’s payout ratio is 91.76%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on KR. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Monday, June 1st. Telsey Advisory Group set a $78.00 price target on Kroger and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $71.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $80.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $82.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research note on Friday, June 19th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $72.00.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger announced its 2026 Wellness Tour, with September in-store and community events intended to increase customer engagement and reinforce the company’s health-and-wellness offerings. The initiative is strategically positive, though its near-term financial impact is likely limited. Kroger Wellness Tour announcement
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option activity, with purchases more than double the typical daily volume, suggests increased bullish speculative interest. However, options activity does not guarantee sustained buying in the stock.
• Neutral Sentiment: Murray’s Cheese, a Kroger brand, expanded its premium cave-aged collection to select Harris Teeter stores in Charlotte. The launch supports product differentiation and potentially higher-margin sales but is unlikely to materially affect companywide results. Murray’s Cheese Harris Teeter launch
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger’s recent earnings showed revenue growth and earnings ahead of the prior-year period, but earnings per share narrowly missed estimates. Management’s fiscal-year EPS guidance remains a key factor for investors assessing whether the current valuation is justified.
• Negative Sentiment: Industry data indicated Kroger’s foot traffic declined in July as the broader supermarket sector also struggled. Persistent traffic weakness could pressure comparable sales and raise concerns about consumer demand. Kroger July foot traffic report
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger agreed to pay $17 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging prescription-drug pricing practices. The cash cost is manageable relative to Kroger’s size, but the settlement adds legal expense and reputational risk. Kroger prescription pricing settlement
• Negative Sentiment: Sony Music sued Kroger over alleged unauthorized use of songs in social-media advertising, creating another potential legal liability. The financial impact is uncertain, but the lawsuit adds to investor concerns following the pharmacy settlement. Sony Music lawsuit against Kroger

Kroger 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.