281,019 Shares in The Kroger Co. $KR Acquired by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new stake in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 281,019 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $15,605,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SGL Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Kroger during the second quarter worth about $2,764,000. Allstate Corp raised its stake in Kroger by 108.5% during the 4th quarter. Allstate Corp now owns 47,991 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,998,000 after acquiring an additional 24,976 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Kroger during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $76,633,000. Conning Inc. lifted its position in Kroger by 10,178.7% during the 4th quarter. Conning Inc. now owns 507,459 shares of the company's stock worth $31,706,000 after acquiring an additional 502,522 shares during the period. Finally, North Dakota State Investment Board purchased a new position in shares of Kroger in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,299,000. Institutional investors own 80.93% of the company's stock.

Kroger Price Performance

Kroger stock opened at $57.73 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.37 billion, a PE ratio of 33.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.43. The Kroger Co. has a 52 week low of $54.15 and a 52 week high of $76.58. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $57.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $64.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) 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). The business had revenue of $46.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $45.59 billion. Kroger had a return on equity of 44.33% and a net margin of 0.71%.The business's revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.49 EPS. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Saturday, August 15th will be paid a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. 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%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $80.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company set a $58.00 price target on Kroger in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Barclays set a $61.00 price objective on shares of Kroger and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Kroger from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, June 20th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group set a $78.00 target price on shares of Kroger and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $72.00.

More Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger announced its 2026 Wellness Tour, with September in-store and community events intended to increase customer engagement and reinforce the company’s health-and-wellness offerings. The initiative is strategically positive, though its near-term financial impact is likely limited. Kroger Wellness Tour announcement
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option activity, with purchases more than double the typical daily volume, suggests increased bullish speculative interest. However, options activity does not guarantee sustained buying in the stock.
• Neutral Sentiment: Murray’s Cheese, a Kroger brand, expanded its premium cave-aged collection to select Harris Teeter stores in Charlotte. The launch supports product differentiation and potentially higher-margin sales but is unlikely to materially affect companywide results. Murray’s Cheese Harris Teeter launch
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger’s recent earnings showed revenue growth and earnings ahead of the prior-year period, but earnings per share narrowly missed estimates. Management’s fiscal-year EPS guidance remains a key factor for investors assessing whether the current valuation is justified.
• Negative Sentiment: Industry data indicated Kroger’s foot traffic declined in July as the broader supermarket sector also struggled. Persistent traffic weakness could pressure comparable sales and raise concerns about consumer demand. Kroger July foot traffic report
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger agreed to pay $17 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging prescription-drug pricing practices. The cash cost is manageable relative to Kroger’s size, but the settlement adds legal expense and reputational risk. Kroger prescription pricing settlement
• Negative Sentiment: Sony Music sued Kroger over alleged unauthorized use of songs in social-media advertising, creating another potential legal liability. The financial impact is uncertain, but the lawsuit adds to investor concerns following the pharmacy settlement. Sony Music lawsuit against 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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