Kroger (NYSE:KR) Sets New 52-Week High – Should You Buy?

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $75.95 and last traded at $75.92, with a volume of 2934198 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $72.19.

Key Stories Impacting Kroger

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Evercore raised its price target on Kroger and reiterated an Outperform rating, citing the company’s guidance of modest comparable‑sales growth for 2026 and recent results that validate management’s plan. This analyst support likely boosted investor confidence. Kroger (KR) Stock Gets Price Target Boost from Evercore
• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup published a bullish forecast pointing to strong price appreciation potential for KR, adding institutional conviction behind the rally. Citigroup Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Kroger
• Positive Sentiment: New CEO Greg Foran has outlined five growth priorities and pledged changes to boost customer loyalty and margins — investors are viewing the leadership shift and clearer strategic plan as a catalyst for better execution and returns. Kroger and new CEO Greg Foran outline 5 growth priorities
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger relaunched a customer appreciation week with daily digital deals — a near‑term traffic and loyalty initiative that supports same‑store sales and digital engagement. Kroger brings back customer appreciation week
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces reassessing Kroger’s valuation (post‑earnings and strategy announcements) note solid long‑term returns but debate fairness of current multiples — useful context but not an immediate catalyst. Assessing Kroger’s Valuation
• Neutral Sentiment: Seeking Alpha flagged that while e‑commerce growth is strong, shares may be fairly valued after the rally (a downgrade note) — a cautionary view that can temper further upside. Kroger: Strong E-Commerce Growth, But Fairly Valued After Rally (Downgrade)
• Neutral Sentiment: Ocado — whose exclusive deal with Kroger ended — is shifting to store‑based fulfillment and talking to other U.S. retailers; the move reduces Kroger’s unique tech exposure but has ambiguous near‑term impact. Ocado turns to store-based e-commerce fulfillment
• Negative Sentiment: The USDA expanded a recall of frozen fried rice that includes products sold at Kroger, creating short‑term cost and reputational risk in affected categories. Frozen fried rice recall for Trader Joe’s, Kroger expanded by USDA
• Negative Sentiment: Several local reports of assaults/thefts at Kroger stores surfaced this week; while isolated, rising store safety incidents can pressure foot traffic and increase security costs if they become more widespread. Cherokee County deputies search for suspect in connection with attempted assault at Kroger’s

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on KR. Morgan Stanley set a $73.00 target price on shares of Kroger and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $78.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Evercore set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Kroger and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group upped their target price on Kroger from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $74.56.

Kroger Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $47.89 billion, a PE ratio of 49.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $65.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $65.93.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.08. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The company had revenue of $34.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.14 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 EPS for the current year.

Kroger Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.50%.

Institutional Trading of Kroger

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of KR. Ares Financial Consulting LLC purchased a new position in Kroger during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kroger by 268.1% in the 4th quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 416 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 303 shares during the period. MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new position in shares of Kroger during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. bought a new position in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

About Kroger

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.