Phillips Financial Management LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)

Phillips Financial Management LLC lifted its holdings in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) by 112.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 7,422 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 3,929 shares during the period. Phillips Financial Management LLC's holdings in Kroger were worth $502,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Kroger in the 1st quarter worth approximately $71,000. Alps Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Kroger by 48.4% in the first quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 16,954 shares of the company's stock worth $1,148,000 after purchasing an additional 5,530 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP increased its position in shares of Kroger by 6.8% during the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 34,710 shares of the company's stock worth $2,477,000 after purchasing an additional 2,199 shares in the last quarter. Significant Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Kroger by 12.3% in the 1st quarter. Significant Wealth Partners LLC now owns 8,647 shares of the company's stock worth $585,000 after purchasing an additional 948 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Leavell Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Kroger by 54.4% during the 1st quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 15,877 shares of the company's stock worth $1,075,000 after buying an additional 5,596 shares during the last quarter. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Kroger Price Performance

KR stock opened at $70.74 on Friday. The Kroger Co. has a 52-week low of $50.69 and a 52-week high of $74.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.92. The stock has a market cap of $46.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.59. The business has a fifty day moving average of $68.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $66.19.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, June 20th. The company reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $45.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.35 billion. Kroger had a return on equity of 30.01% and a net margin of 1.76%. The company's quarterly revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.43 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. This is an increase from Kroger's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Kroger's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 34.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Carin L. Fike sold 16,475 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.79, for a total transaction of $1,215,690.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 49,360 shares in the company, valued at $3,642,274.40. This trade represents a 25.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Gabriel Arreaga sold 37,960 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.44, for a total value of $2,749,822.40. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 75,218 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,448,791.92. This trade represents a 33.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 244,462 shares of company stock valued at $17,649,963 over the last quarter. 0.44% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on Kroger from $76.00 to $75.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 17th. Guggenheim boosted their target price on shares of Kroger from $73.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group set a $83.00 price target on shares of Kroger and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, June 23rd. Wall Street Zen raised Kroger from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, June 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $76.00 price target on Kroger and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Kroger currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average 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.

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