Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd Takes Position in The Kroger Co. $KR

Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd acquired a new position in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 159,525 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,858,000. Kroger comprises 1.4% of Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KR. Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. raised its stake in Kroger by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. now owns 3,537 shares of the company’s stock worth $221,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Kroger by 3.3% in the first quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 4,899 shares of the company’s stock valued at $354,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Kroger by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 10,747 shares of the company’s stock worth $674,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the period. Stephens Inc. AR lifted its position in Kroger by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 17,995 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,124,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ROI Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Kroger by 2.0% in the first quarter. ROI Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8,943 shares of the company’s stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

Kroger News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger’s dividend profile continues to attract attention from income-focused investors. Analysts reviewing the stock highlight its potential appeal as a dividend investment, which could support demand for the shares. Kroger Could Be a Great Choice
• Positive Sentiment: The company is expanding its Fold Bitcoin Gift Card offering after a successful pilot, adding another digital and cryptocurrency-related feature for customers. The initiative is strategically positive but is unlikely to materially affect near-term financial results. Kroger Expands Fold Bitcoin Gift Card Offering
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is unveiling a remodeled store in Worthington, Ohio, reflecting continued investment in store quality and the customer experience. Kroger to Unveil Remodeled Store
• Neutral Sentiment: An ice cream brand sold at Kroger and other retailers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing concerns the supplier’s ownership and future rather than Kroger’s finances, so the direct impact on KR appears limited. Ice Cream Brand Files for Chapter 11
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger’s annual food-bank and peanut-butter donation efforts may support community goodwill but should have little direct effect on valuation. Kroger Holds Peanut Butter Drive
• Neutral Sentiment: Cincinnati officials limited protests near Kroger’s headquarters following complaints from a nearby small-business owner. The development reduces immediate disruption but highlights ongoing local tensions. Cincinnati Limits Kroger HQ Protests
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger plans to close 60 stores during 2026. Although closures could improve the portfolio by removing underperforming locations, the scale of the reductions raises concerns about sales, market presence and restructuring costs. Kroger to Shutter 60 Stores
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger faces a proposed $17 million class-action settlement involving pharmacy customers who used insurance for prescriptions. The settlement would create a financial cost and adds legal and reputational risk, though the amount is modest relative to Kroger’s scale. Kroger Pharmacy Settlement
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger agreed to pay $75,000 to resolve an EEOC disability-discrimination and retaliation lawsuit. The payment is financially immaterial but adds to legal and compliance headlines. Kroger EEOC Lawsuit Settlement

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on KR. Erste Group Bank lowered shares of Kroger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $71.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. UBS Group set a $63.00 price target on Kroger and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, Barclays set a $61.00 price objective on Kroger and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $72.00.

Kroger Stock Performance

NYSE KR opened at $57.86 on Monday. The Kroger Co. has a 1 year low of $54.15 and a 1 year high of $76.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.43. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $57.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.72.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 18th. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.01). Kroger had a net margin of 0.71% and a return on equity of 44.33%. The company had revenue of $46.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.49 earnings per share. Kroger’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. As a group, research analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 EPS for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be issued a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. This is an increase from Kroger’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Kroger’s payout ratio is presently 91.76%.

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.