Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Has $889.88 Million Stock Position in The Kroger Co. $KR

Key Points

• Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its Kroger stake slightly in the first quarter, holding 12.3 million shares worth about $889.9 million and representing 2.01% of the company.
• Kroger reported quarterly earnings of $1.58 per share, just below estimates, while revenue came in at $46.12 billion and rose 2.2% year over year. The company also reaffirmed FY2026 EPS guidance of 5.10 to 5.30.
• The company boosted its quarterly dividend to $0.39 per share from $0.35, even as recent headlines point to mixed operating trends, including slower foot traffic and uncertainty around expansion and acquisition plans.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) by 0.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,296,026 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 53,625 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 2.01% of Kroger worth $889,878,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in KR. Swiss National Bank lifted its position in shares of Kroger by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 1,764,500 shares of the company's stock worth $127,679,000 after purchasing an additional 39,300 shares during the period. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. increased its position in shares of Kroger by 8.5% during the first quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 343,728 shares of the company's stock worth $24,872,000 after buying an additional 27,054 shares during the period. AIA Group Ltd raised its stake in Kroger by 12.5% during the first quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 135,500 shares of the company's stock worth $9,805,000 after buying an additional 15,100 shares during the last quarter. Arjuna Capital raised its stake in Kroger by 1.1% during the first quarter. Arjuna Capital now owns 82,723 shares of the company's stock worth $5,986,000 after buying an additional 901 shares during the last quarter. Finally, German American Bancorp Inc. acquired a new position in Kroger in the first quarter valued at $223,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.93% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Kroger

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger announced a partnership with Mid-Ohio Food Collective aimed at a $100,000 flash match goal, highlighting continued community engagement and brand goodwill. Kroger partners with Mid-Ohio Food Collective for $100,000 flash match goal
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is expanding its wine business with 147 new wine shops nationwide, a move that could support higher-margin sales and strengthen its premium offerings. Kroger bets on luxury wines with 147 new wine shops nationwide
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and media coverage continue to debate Kroger’s valuation, with one recent piece suggesting the stock may be trading near fair value rather than at a discount. Is Kroger (KR) Stock Trading Around Fair Value Today?
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger’s proposed acquisition activity is still facing regulatory review, with possible divestitures discussed, which keeps the deal story active but uncertain for investors. Kroger (KR) Awaits Giant Eagle Review As Tempo Starts Cook Never Club
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple reports of a shooting at a Cypress Kroger location, including critical injuries and an arrest, may weigh on sentiment due to safety concerns and potential reputational damage. Suspect charged after shooting inside Cypress Kroger; security expert shares tips on how to survive a violent situation
• Negative Sentiment: Recent coverage says Kroger foot traffic has slumped for a third straight month, suggesting softer in-store demand and pressure on near-term sales trends. Kroger foot traffic slumps, analyst says, continuing a three-month trend
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that Kroger scrapped most of its Florida Harris Teeter expansion plans also point to slower growth expectations in a key market. Kroger scraps plans for 80 Harris Teeter stores in Florida, except 1

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $71.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Barclays set a $61.00 price objective on Kroger and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Erste Group Bank lowered Kroger from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Kroger from $73.00 to $67.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $72.00.

Kroger Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE KR opened at $58.89 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43. The firm has a market cap of $36.08 billion, a PE ratio of 34.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.44. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $61.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $65.60. The Kroger Co. has a 12-month low of $54.15 and a 12-month high of $76.58.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 last year, the firm posted $1.49 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 earnings per share 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 given a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. 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 82.35%.

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.

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