Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. Takes Position in The Kroger Co. $KR

Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund purchased 20,280 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,126,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Kroger by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,169,425 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,821,546,000 after purchasing an additional 868,529 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in Kroger during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,016,956,000. State Street Corp boosted its position in Kroger by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 31,948,112 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,153,622,000 after buying an additional 386,503 shares during the period. GQG Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Kroger by 11.3% during the fourth quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 13,398,072 shares of the company’s stock worth $837,113,000 after acquiring an additional 1,360,946 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Kroger by 0.4% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 12,296,026 shares of the company’s stock valued at $889,878,000 after acquiring an additional 53,625 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

Kroger Stock Up 0.2%

KR opened at $56.37 on Friday. The Kroger Co. has a one year low of $54.15 and a one year high of $76.58. 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 capitalization of $34.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $58.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $64.76.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.59 by ($0.01). Kroger had a net margin of 0.71% and a return on equity of 44.33%. The firm had revenue of $46.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $45.59 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.49 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. Analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 EPS for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be issued a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from Kroger’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio is presently 91.76%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Kroger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, June 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Monday, June 1st. Erste Group Bank cut Kroger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, April 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Kroger from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Kroger currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $72.00.

More Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Bitcoin gift-card expansion: Kroger is rolling out its Fold Bitcoin Gift Card nationwide after a successful seasonal pilot. The initiative could attract new customers and generate incremental engagement, although the financial impact is likely limited initially. Kroger Expands Fold Bitcoin Gift Card Offering After Successful Pilot
• Positive Sentiment: Potentially attractive shareholder returns: Coverage highlights Kroger’s dividend and describes the shares as reasonably valued following recent weakness. Analysts’ average rating remains equivalent to a Buy, which may provide some support for the stock. Kroger Stock Looks Reasonable
• Positive Sentiment: E-commerce leadership change: The appointment of Nate Faust to lead Kroger’s e-commerce operations is viewed as a possible catalyst for improved efficiency and digital execution. Kroger Stock Looks Reasonable
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger is investing in remodeled stores, while also participating in food-bank and community initiatives. These developments may support customer loyalty and local brand perception but are unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Kroger to Unveil Remodeled Store
• Negative Sentiment: Store closures and traffic concerns: Reports that Kroger plans to close 60 stores in 2026, alongside polling indicating traffic weakness, reinforce concerns about sales momentum and the company’s retail footprint. Kroger to Shutter 60 Stores Kroger Traffic Woes Reflect the Market
• Negative Sentiment: Legal and product risks: Kroger faces a proposed $17 million settlement involving Dillons pharmacy customers, while a separate disability-discrimination case was settled for $75,000. A jalapeño-related salmonella recall involving products sold at Kroger also creates reputational and potential liability risk, though the $75,000 payment is financially immaterial. Proposed Kroger Settlement Jalapeño Salmonella Recall

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.