Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. Increases Holdings in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) by 14.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 145,547 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 18,668 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Kroger were worth $9,852,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in Kroger in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Kroger in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. TCTC Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in Kroger in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Transce3nd LLC purchased a new stake in Kroger in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Garde Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in Kroger in the first quarter valued at approximately $31,000. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kroger Stock Performance

Shares of KR traded up $0.12 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $71.40. 8,981,889 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,888,329. The business's 50-day moving average price is $69.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $65.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.92, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The Kroger Co. has a twelve month low of $49.41 and a twelve month high of $74.11. The company has a market capitalization of $47.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.45, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.58.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, June 20th. The company reported $1.49 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.04. Kroger had a return on equity of 30.01% and a net margin of 1.76%. The business had revenue of $45.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $45.35 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.43 earnings per share. The business's revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th will be given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. This is a boost from Kroger's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Kroger's payout ratio is 34.88%.

Insider Activity at Kroger

In related news, VP Carin L. Fike sold 5,541 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.79, for a total value of $392,247.39. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,480 shares in the company, valued at $246,349.20. The trade was a 61.42% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Christine S. Wheatley sold 30,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.44, for a total value of $2,083,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 127,737 shares in the company, valued at $8,870,057.28. This trade represents a 19.02% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 245,753 shares of company stock worth $17,688,180 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.44% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on KR shares. Morgan Stanley set a $76.00 target price on Kroger and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Kroger from $73.00 to $78.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Kroger from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, June 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Kroger from $57.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their target price on Kroger from $76.00 to $75.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 17th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $70.00.

Kroger Company Profile

The Kroger Co operates as a food and drug retailer in the United States. The company operates combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. Its combination food and drug stores offer natural food and organic sections, pharmacies, general merchandise, pet centers, fresh seafood, and organic produce; and multi-department stores provide apparel, home fashion and furnishings, outdoor living, electronics, automotive products, and toys.