Islay Capital Management LLC Sells 8,242 Shares of The Kroger Co. $KR

Islay Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 75.4% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,683 shares of the company’s stock after selling 8,242 shares during the quarter. Islay Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Kroger were worth $168,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in KR. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kroger by 27.3% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 15,733 shares of the company’s stock valued at $962,000 after buying an additional 3,373 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP raised its holdings in shares of Kroger by 40.7% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 56,243 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,807,000 after buying an additional 16,270 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Kroger in the second quarter worth about $201,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in Kroger by 11.5% in the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 97,288 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,978,000 after purchasing an additional 10,051 shares during the period. Finally, Nebula Research & Development LLC acquired a new stake in Kroger in the second quarter worth about $1,840,000. 80.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KR has been the subject of a number of research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Morgan Stanley set a $73.00 price objective on Kroger and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Kroger from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. Erste Group Bank lowered Kroger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group lifted their price objective on Kroger from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $74.67.

More Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is making aggressive price cuts to attract Walmart shoppers, which could support grocery traffic and sales volumes if the promotions resonate with value-focused consumers. Kroger makes play for Walmart customers with massive price cuts
• Positive Sentiment: Options activity suggests some traders are positioning for a stronger-than-expected earnings report, with Kroger set to report first-quarter results on June 18. Options Bulls Target Kroger Stock Before Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts are expecting higher Q1 earnings and have been revising forecasts ahead of the report, which keeps investor focus on whether Kroger can meet expectations. Kroger Likely To Report Higher Q1 Earnings; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger is also leaning into promotional giveaways, including a summer ice cream campaign, which may help customer engagement but is unlikely to move the stock much on its own. Kroger’s ice cream giveaway to celebrate summer is back
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger is doubling down on electronic shelf labels, a move that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators over concerns about rapid price changes and possible surge pricing, which could hurt sentiment. Kroger’s Electronic Shelf Labels Test Regulatory Patience And Investor Expectations
• Negative Sentiment: Consumer-focused commentary questioning the value of some Kroger products may add to concerns about pricing power and shopper perception. 10 Kroger Products That Aren’t Worth It Anymore, And 10 That Are Still Must-Haves

Kroger Price Performance

Kroger stock opened at $64.07 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.88, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.43. The Kroger Co. has a 1 year low of $58.60 and a 1 year high of $76.58. The business has a 50-day moving average of $66.51 and a 200-day moving average of $66.54. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66.

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.