Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. Invests $849,000 in The Kroger Co. $KR

Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. acquired a new position in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 15,281 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $849,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger during the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC purchased a new stake in Kroger during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger during the first quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new position in Kroger in the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Nationwide grocery-and-prescription delivery: Kroger and Instacart launched a combined delivery service through Kroger’s websites and apps across nearly all major banners, including Fred Meyer, Ralphs and Harris Teeter. The service may improve convenience, encourage larger orders and strengthen Kroger’s digital ecosystem, although near-term financial benefits were not disclosed. Kroger Customers Can Shop for Groceries and Prescriptions in a Single Order
• Positive Sentiment: Store expansion and remodeling: Kroger plans new stores in Dearborn and Commerce Township, Michigan, in 2027, while also investing millions of dollars in two existing-store remodels and local programs. These projects signal continued investment in market share and the physical store base, though they will require additional capital spending. Kroger Adding New Stores in Dearborn and Commerce Township in 2027
• Positive Sentiment: Automation rollout: Kroger is introducing inventory robots, a move that could improve stock accuracy, product availability and labor efficiency. The earnings impact remains uncertain because the reports did not provide implementation costs or savings estimates. Kroger Rolls Out Inventory Robots
• Neutral Sentiment: A media comparison highlighting Kroger-branded products may reinforce the value proposition of its private-label business, but it is not a new corporate announcement and is unlikely to materially affect KR by itself. 10 Kroger Store-Brand Foods That Beat Name Brands
• Negative Sentiment: $17 million pharmacy settlement: Kroger pharmacy customers may be eligible for payments under a proposed class-action settlement alleging overcharges involving generic prescriptions and a savings program. The settlement creates a direct financial cost and adds reputational and compliance risk, although the amount is modest relative to Kroger’s sales. Kroger Must Pay $17 Million Settlement

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KR has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $78.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Kroger from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Monday, June 1st. Wells Fargo & Company set a $58.00 price objective on Kroger in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $72.00.

Kroger Stock Performance

Kroger stock opened at $58.49 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $57.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $64.63. 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 stock has a market cap of $35.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.43. The Kroger Co. has a fifty-two week low of $54.15 and a fifty-two week high of $76.58.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, June 18th. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $46.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $45.59 billion. Kroger had a return on equity of 44.33% and a net margin of 0.71%.The firm’s revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.49 earnings per share. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $0.39 per share. This is a boost from Kroger’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio is currently 91.76%.

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.