Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A. Buys New Stake in The Kroger Co. $KR

Key Points

• Eurizon Capital SGR bought a new stake in Kroger during the fourth quarter, acquiring 133,131 shares valued at about $8.3 million.
• Institutional interest in Kroger remains high, with 80.93% of the stock owned by hedge funds and other institutions, and several other investors also recently increasing or initiating positions.
• Analysts are mixed but generally constructive on KR: the stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating and an average price target of $74.87, while Kroger also recently reported earnings that beat EPS expectations and announced a $0.35 quarterly dividend.

Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A. bought a new stake in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 133,131 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,318,000.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kroger in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kroger by 268.1% in the 4th quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 416 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the period. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. purchased a new stake in Kroger in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Avalon Trust Co purchased a new stake in Kroger in the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Kroger in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on KR shares. Morgan Stanley set a $73.00 price target on shares of Kroger and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their price target on shares of Kroger from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Barclays reissued a "positive" rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Monday, February 9th. Erste Group Bank lowered shares of Kroger from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued a "market perform" rating and issued a $70.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Kroger presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $74.87.

More Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks pieces frame Kroger as potentially undervalued and a possible dividend/value pick versus Walmart, which may support investor interest in the stock. Are Investors Undervaluing The Kroger Co. (KR) Right Now?
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger received a 2026 Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health for the fifth straight year, reinforcing its employer brand and suggesting continued focus on workforce stability and culture. Kroger Earns Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health for Fifth Consecutive Year
• Neutral Sentiment: Additional commentary highlights KR as a candidate for dividend-focused investors, but this is largely a reiteration of Kroger’s existing income profile rather than a fresh catalyst. Kroger (KR) Could Be a Great Choice
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry comparison articles such as KR vs. WMT are more about relative valuation than a company-specific development, so they are likely having only a limited direct impact. KR vs. WMT: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?
• Negative Sentiment: A report that Kroger is facing a costly store fix after a federal lawsuit could pressure margins and raise concerns about legal and compliance-related expenses. Kroger forced to make costly store fix after federal lawsuit
• Negative Sentiment: News that Kroger’s North American Ocado fulfillment centers were shut in part due to weaker-than-expected demand is a reminder of previous technology/investment missteps, which may weigh on investor confidence. UK grocer Asda taps Ocado to revamp online business
• Negative Sentiment: Reports of multiple executive departures under new CEO Greg Foran add leadership uncertainty at a time when the company is still being reshaped. Kroger loses four top executives under new CEO Greg Foran

Kroger Price Performance

Kroger stock opened at $62.25 on Monday. The Kroger Co. has a 52-week low of $58.60 and a 52-week high of $76.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.69, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $68.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $66.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.08. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The business had revenue of $34.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.10 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.14 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 5.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Kroger's dividend payout ratio is presently 91.50%.

Kroger 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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