Janus Henderson Group PLC Has $6.30 Million Stake in The Kroger Co. $KR

Key Points

• Janus Henderson more than doubled its Kroger stake in the first quarter, increasing holdings by 143.1% to 87,153 shares valued at approximately $6.3 million. Institutional investors collectively own 80.93% of Kroger.
• Kroger’s latest quarter showed revenue growth but a slight EPS miss: revenue rose 2.2% year over year to $46.12 billion, while EPS of $1.58 came in just below the $1.59 consensus estimate. Management maintained fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $5.10–$5.30.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.39 per share from $0.35, implying an annualized dividend of $1.56 and a 2.7% yield. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $72, above the reported $57.31 share price.

Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its stake in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) by 143.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 87,153 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 51,308 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC's holdings in Kroger were worth $6,305,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Kroger by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,169,425 shares of the company's stock worth $4,821,546,000 after purchasing an additional 868,529 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in Kroger by 1.2% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 31,948,112 shares of the company's stock worth $2,153,622,000 after purchasing an additional 386,503 shares during the period. GQG Partners LLC grew its holdings in Kroger by 11.3% during the fourth quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 13,398,072 shares of the company's stock valued at $837,113,000 after purchasing an additional 1,360,946 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in Kroger by 0.4% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 12,296,026 shares of the company's stock valued at $889,878,000 after purchasing an additional 53,625 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Kroger in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $470,561,000. Institutional investors own 80.93% of the company's stock.

Kroger Trading Up 1.1%

Shares of Kroger stock opened at $57.31 on Friday. The Kroger Co. has a 1 year low of $54.15 and a 1 year high of $76.58. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $59.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $65.22. The company has a market cap of $35.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.71, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, June 18th. The company reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $46.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $45.59 billion. Kroger had a net margin of 0.71% and a return on equity of 44.33%. Kroger's revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.49 earnings per share. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 EPS for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $0.39 per share. This is an increase from Kroger's previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. Kroger's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

KR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Barclays set a $61.00 price objective on shares of Kroger and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Erste Group Bank lowered shares of Kroger from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Evercore restated an "outperform" rating and set a $78.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $71.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Finally, HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Kroger has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $72.00.

Key Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New AI advertising placement could support growth. Kroger Precision Marketing has added “product listing ads” to Kroger’s AI shopping assistant. The initiative gives suppliers another way to promote products and could increase advertising revenue while improving the company’s digital-shopping capabilities. Kroger Adds Product Listing Ads To AI Shopping Assistant
• Neutral Sentiment: Ohio lawsuit settled. Kroger reached a settlement related to the death by suicide of an Ohio employee. The resolution removes some litigation uncertainty, although financial terms and any broader reputational impact were not disclosed. Kroger Settles Lawsuit Over Ohio Worker’s Death by Suicide
• Neutral Sentiment: Store network changes appear localized. An Owensboro, Kentucky, Kroger location is expected to close ahead of the opening of a new Marketplace-format store, suggesting a transition within the company’s footprint rather than a broad retrenchment. Owensboro Kroger Site Closing Ahead of New Marketplace Location
• Negative Sentiment: Recall creates a limited product-safety risk. The FDA recalled a ready-to-eat meal sold at Kroger and other retailers because of possible metal contamination. The recall appears supplier-specific, but food-safety incidents can create reputational and compliance costs. FDA Recalls Ready-to-Eat Meal Sold at Kroger
• Negative Sentiment: Recent weakness reflects broader market pressure rather than a new earnings catalyst. Kroger underperformed the broader market in the latest session. Investors may remain cautious after the company’s most recent quarterly earnings slightly missed EPS expectations, despite revenue exceeding forecasts and management maintaining fiscal 2026 EPS guidance. Here’s Why Kroger Fell More Than Broader Market

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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