Erste Group Bank Forecasts Kroger FY2027 Earnings

Key Points

• Erste Group Bank forecasts Kroger will earn $5.25 EPS in FY2027 (versus the current consensus of $4.44) and assigns the stock a "Buy" rating, also projecting FY2028 EPS of $5.62.
• Overall analyst sentiment is mildly positive with 9 Buy and 8 Hold ratings, a MarketBeat consensus target price of $74.56, and an average rating of "Moderate Buy."
• Kroger recently beat quarterly EPS estimates at $1.28, set FY2026 guidance of $5.10–$5.30 EPS, and announced a quarterly dividend of $0.35 (annualized yield ~2.0%).

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Erste Group Bank issued their FY2027 earnings estimates for shares of Kroger in a research note issued on Thursday, April 2nd. Erste Group Bank analyst H. Engel expects that the company will earn $5.25 per share for the year. Erste Group Bank has a "Buy" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Kroger's current full-year earnings is $4.44 per share. Erste Group Bank also issued estimates for Kroger's FY2028 earnings at $5.62 EPS.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of Kroger from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $70.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $82.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Telsey Advisory Group raised their price target on shares of Kroger from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Kroger from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, April 4th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Kroger has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $74.56.

Kroger Price Performance

Shares of NYSE KR opened at $70.93 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $43.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.36, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.55. Kroger has a 52 week low of $58.60 and a 52 week high of $76.58. The company's 50-day moving average price is $70.23 and its 200 day moving average price is $66.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $34.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $35.10 billion. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The firm's revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.14 EPS. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS.

Kroger Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be given a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Kroger's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 91.50%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kroger

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Old North State Trust LLC boosted its position in shares of Kroger by 25.9% in the fourth quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 6,531 shares of the company's stock worth $408,000 after acquiring an additional 1,345 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors raised its holdings in Kroger by 17.6% in the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 7,830 shares of the company's stock valued at $489,000 after buying an additional 1,170 shares during the period. Larry Mathis Financial Planning LLC purchased a new position in Kroger in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $218,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in Kroger by 14.1% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 363,197 shares of the company's stock valued at $22,694,000 after buying an additional 44,807 shares during the period. Finally, Mengis Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Kroger by 8.2% in the fourth quarter. Mengis Capital Management Inc. now owns 44,557 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,784,000 after buying an additional 3,369 shares during the period. 80.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Kroger

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group raised multi‑year earnings expectations and carries a “Buy” view, forecasting FY2027 EPS of $5.25 and FY2028 EPS of $5.62 — signals of stronger forward profitability versus current consensus and supportive for the stock’s valuation.
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger expanded its Flashfood partnership across all 100+ Mid‑Atlantic stores, a move that can reduce food waste, cut costs, drive traffic and support its “Food as Medicine”/community health narrative. Kroger Scales Flashfood
• Positive Sentiment: Company expansion and remodel activity (new Marketplace stores and updates in central Ohio) point to continued investment in store productivity and sales growth potential. Kroger updates plans for new central Ohio Marketplace
• Neutral Sentiment: Short‑term promotions (senior discount days and one‑day extra discounts) are driving traffic and goodwill but have limited longer‑term margin impact. (Multiple local/news links)
• Neutral Sentiment: Community/PR initiatives (Earth Month campaign with WWF) support brand and ESG narrative but are unlikely to move near‑term earnings materially. Kroger Begins Earth Month Campaign
• Neutral Sentiment: Discussion of electronic shelf labels and digital pricing raises industry questions on pricing transparency and consumer reaction — could be a mixed operational lever if Kroger adopts ESLs. Digital price tags increase store efficiency
• Negative Sentiment: A lawsuit alleges Kroger colluded with trucking firms via no‑hire agreements for drivers — potential legal, reputational and settlement risk that could attract regulatory scrutiny. Kroger colluded with trucking companies, lawsuit alleges
• Negative Sentiment: Arizona’s attorney general is seeking ~$972k from Kroger related to the failed Albertsons merger — small in absolute dollars but a reminder of lingering regulatory/legal costs from that deal. Arizona AG seeks $972k from Kroger

Kroger Company 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.

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