Kroger Company (The)NYSE: KR
Consumer Staples · Food Retail
$56.60
-8.44%
Vol: 16.7M
Research Digest
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Kroger reported Q1 2026 results on June 18, posting adjusted EPS of $1.58 and maintaining full-year guidance amid analyst caution over margin pressure from price cuts.
On June 18, 2026, Kroger reported Q1 2026 results with identical sales (ex-fuel) up 1.0%, operating profit of $1,407 million, GAAP EPS of $1.46 and adjusted EPS of $1.58 (in line with the ~$1.58-$1.59 consensus), and it maintained its 2026 guidance. Digital momentum stayed strong, with adjusted eCommerce sales up 19% and Kroger Precision Marketing profit up over 20%. Heading into the print, analyst views were mixed: JPMorgan cut its target to $70 (Neutral) and Erste Group downgraded to Hold, while Evercore ISI raised its target to $83 (Outperform). The consensus sits at a Moderate Buy with a ~$76 target. The risk is that Kroger's aggressive price-cutting plan and weaker food sales trends could pressure margins, limiting upside even as e-commerce and retail media scale.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysJun 17Kroger reports Q1 FY2026 earnings on June 18, with options markets pricing a larger-than-normal ~7.6% post-earnings swing versus a 4.2% historical average.Mixed▶
Kroger will host its first-quarter 2026 earnings call at 8:00 a.m. ET on June 18, 2026. Analysts expect about $1.59 EPS on roughly $45.4 billion in revenue, representing year-over-year growth of about 6% and 0.6% respectively. Options traders are bracing for an outsized move, pricing in a next-day swing of about 7.6% versus the stock's 4.2% historical average over the past eight quarters; KR closed six of its last eight post-earnings sessions higher, including a 9.8% pop after its June 2025 report. The bear case is that Kroger missed revenue expectations last quarter and continues to absorb costs from a $100M refrigerant-repair settlement and leadership transition following the collapsed Albertsons merger. Margin trends and any updated guidance will drive the reaction.
Jun 16Kroger heads into its June 18 Q1 fiscal 2026 report with options markets pricing an outsized 7.6% post-earnings move and recent analyst price-target cuts.Mixed▶
Ahead of Kroger's Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings release before the open on Thursday, June 18, options traders are pricing in a next-day swing of roughly 7.6%, well above the stock's historical average earnings move of 4.2% over the last eight quarters (per a Schaeffer's note dated June 15, 2026). Analysts expect Q1 EPS of about $1.59 on revenue near $45.4 billion, implying year-over-year growth of roughly 6% and 0.6% respectively. The setup comes under new CEO Greg Foran, who is pushing aggressive price cuts on thousands of products to compete with Amazon and Walmart. On June 11, JPMorgan trimmed its price target to $70 from $72, and Jefferies cut its target to $80 from $82 while keeping a Buy. The bear case is that margin-eroding price cuts plus soft national-chain traffic and regulatory scrutiny over electronic shelf labels could pressure profitability even if volumes hold. KR was trading near $64.71 as of mid-June, below the consensus 12-month target of about $75.36.
Jun 15No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
Jun 14No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
May 21Kroger plans biggest price cuts in years to take on Walmart, CostcoNeutral▶
Per Bloomberg report on May 21, 2026, new CEO Greg Foran (took role February 2026) is preparing the biggest price cuts in years across product categories to win back market share against Walmart and Costco. Kroger shares climbed 3.5% to ~$68.32 on May 18. Company named to 2026 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation list. Memorial Day promo with 4X Fuel Points May 20-23. Q1 fiscal 2026 results due June 2 (expected revenue ~$45.35B, EPS $1.61).
May 20Kroger was named to the 2026 Axios Harris Poll 100 on May 19 and shares gained 3.48% on May 18 to $68.32, ahead of the company's June 19 earnings date.Positive▶
Kroger announced inclusion in the 2026 Axios Harris Poll 100 on May 19, an annual reputation ranking of the most visible US companies based on 16,000+ surveys. Shares climbed 3.48% from $66.02 to $68.32 on May 18 and traded up to $71.71 on May 19. Separately, leadership turnover continues with Jamie Lancaster (global VP of the Kroger Capability Center) departing to launch Illumin Edge Advisory, extending an executive-flux story. Memorial Day promotions and the May 13 announcement that Kroger will carry Papa John's garlic dipping sauce in stores round out the news flow. Consensus analyst rating is Buy. Risk: ongoing executive departures point to lingering organizational unrest following the failed Albertsons merger, and the next earnings catalyst is not until June 19.
May 19Kroger stock traded $65.79-$68.37 on May 19 with $74.56 average PT and ex-dividend $0.350 May 15.Neutral▶
On May 19, 2026, Kroger shares traded between $65.79-$68.37 (current ~$68.04). Ex-dividend $0.350 on May 15. Papa John's announced May 13 it will launch Special Garlic Dipping Sauce in Kroger stores nationwide. Kroger faces $100M settlement on refrigeration upgrades plus $2.5M civil penalty raising ESG compliance cost questions. 2026 guidance: identical sales 1-2%, adj. FIFO operating profit $5.0-$5.2B, adj. EPS $5.10-$5.30. New store opening pace up 30% with Jacksonville and Kansas City expansion. 12-analyst consensus Buy with $74.56 PT (~10% upside). Bear case: rising ESG-related cash outflows and mid-single-digit growth profile.
May 18No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours. Kroger traded $65.87-$67.48 on May 18; ex-dividend date was May 15. Fiscal Q1 2026 earnings are due June 2.
May 15Kroger trades ex-dividend on May 15 at $0.35; stock fell 3 days in a row ahead of June 2 Q1 printMixed▶
Kroger goes ex-dividend May 15, 2026 with a $0.35 quarterly cash dividend. The stock has fallen three days in a row, last closing at $64.62 (-0.28%), trading well off its 52-week high of $76.57. Q1 fiscal 2026 results are scheduled for June 2, with Street expecting revenue of ~$45.35B. Greg Foran was appointed CEO and the board approved 10 changes to the executive officer roster; total store count has dropped below 2,700 for the first time since 2015. Kroger is leveraging AI to cut food waste and inform grocery pricing. Risk: Erste Group downgraded KR from Buy to Hold on April 27; investor pressure on climate disclosures; consumer demand softness.
May 14Kroger trades near $64.80 with proxy mailed May 13 ahead of June 25 annual meeting and June 2 Q1 FY26 earnings expected at ~$45.35B revenueMixed▶
Kroger shares fell about 1.28% to $64.80 with the stock down 3.46% over the past month amid competitive pressures in grocery retail. The company mailed its proxy statement to shareholders on or about May 13, 2026, ahead of a fully virtual annual meeting on June 25, 2026. Kroger is set to report fiscal Q1 2026 results on June 2, with the Street modeling revenue of approximately $45.35 billion and GAAP EPS around $1.61. The ex-dividend date is May 15 with a quarterly dividend of $0.35. Analyst consensus remains a Buy with a 12-month PT of $73-74. On April 27, Erste Group downgraded Kroger from Buy to Hold. Risk: margin compression from grocery price wars and ongoing Albertsons-related cap allocation overhang.
May 13Kroger declares $0.35 quarterly dividend with ex-dividend May 15 as analysts hold Buy consensus ahead of Q1 earningsNeutral▶
Kroger's Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.35 per share, payable June 1 to holders of record May 15, 2026. Shares closed near $64.62 on May 12, down 0.28% on the day and lower for three straight sessions. The Buy consensus among 12 analysts holds with an average price target of $73.67, implying roughly 12% upside. Kroger is preparing for its fiscal Q1 2026 earnings, with analysts forecasting $45.35B revenue and $1.61 EPS. Full-year 2026 guidance includes EPS of $5.10-$5.30 and ID sales growth of 1%-2%. The company also rolled out a Mother's Day promotional campaign offering Boost membership savings.
May 12Kroger declares $0.35 dividend ahead of May 15 ex-date; faces Maryland surveillance-based pricing ban regulatory headwindNeutral▶
Kroger declared a quarterly dividend of $0.35/share payable June 1, with May 15 ex-date and record date. Maryland banned surveillance-based pricing, creating a regulatory headwind for Kroger's pricing strategy. Q4 2026 (reported earlier) showed modest revenue growth with total revenue of $34.7B and operating profit of $1.25B (+36.6% YoY). Stock trading $64.40-$65.80 on May 12 within 52-week range of $58.60-$76.58. 11 analysts rate Buy on average with 12-month PT around $73.55 (~12% upside). Company captures 6% of US grocery market but lacks structural cost advantages of Walmart/Amazon.
May 11Kroger declares $0.35 quarterly dividend payable June 1 as analysts maintain Buy rating with $73.55 targetNeutral▶
Kroger Co. declared a quarterly dividend of 35 cents per share payable June 1, 2026 to shareholders of record May 15. The stock closed around $65.90 on May 8 with a market cap of $40.21 billion, trading at a P/E of 42.61 and yielding 2.1%. Analysts maintain a Buy rating with a $73.55 12-month price target implying ~12% upside. Kroger faces new regulatory headwinds as Maryland banned surveillance pricing practices. FY2026 revenue was $147.64 billion (+0.35% YoY) but earnings fell 61.85% to $1.01 billion. Mother's Day promotional activity launched May 4. Risk: regulatory pressure on dynamic pricing could compress margins further.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRKROGER | $56.60 | -8.44% | -17.6% | 10.1x | 0.42 | $34.9B |
| WMTWALMART | $117.25 | -0.75% | -10.4% | 35.6x | 0.60 | $932.5B |
| COSTCOSTCO | $952.10 | -1.40% | -11.4% | 42.0x | 0.87 | $421.9B |
| PGPROCTER | $151.06 | +0.33% | +5.6% | 21.2x | 0.39 | $350.2B |
| KOCOCA | $79.50 | -0.54% | -2.6% | 22.8x | 0.35 | $341.6B |
| PMPHILIP | $179.03 | -0.23% | -5.4% | 19.5x | 0.41 | $278.0B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price below 200d MA — bearish structure.