Russell Investments Group Ltd. Acquires 28,065 Shares of The Kroger Co. $KR

Key Points

• Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its Kroger stake by 0.9%, buying 28,065 shares to hold 2,997,416 shares (about 0.45%) valued at roughly $202.0 million at quarter-end.
• Kroger beat Q4 EPS ($1.28 vs. $1.20 expected), set FY‑26 adjusted EPS guidance of 5.10–5.30, and approved additional buybacks while paying a $0.35 quarterly dividend (1.9% yield), though revenue slightly missed estimates and the GAAP payout ratio is high (91.5%).
• Analysts are split—consensus is a Moderate Buy (8 buys, 8 holds) with a $74.38 target—and the stock traded near its one‑year high (~$74.90), rising about 3.8% on the news.

Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its holdings in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,997,416 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 28,065 shares during the quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned approximately 0.45% of Kroger worth $202,014,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new stake in Kroger in the second quarter worth $28,000. Avalon Trust Co purchased a new position in Kroger during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its holdings in Kroger by 87.8% in the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 445 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Kroger in the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Westside Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Kroger by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 490 shares of the company's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares during the period. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Kroger Stock Up 3.8%

NYSE:KR opened at $74.31 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $65.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $65.85. The company has a market capitalization of $47.03 billion, a PE ratio of 48.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.62. The Kroger Co. has a 1-year low of $58.60 and a 1-year high of $74.90.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 company had revenue of $34.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $35.10 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.14 EPS. Kroger's revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th were issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 13th. Kroger's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 91.50%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on KR. Wolfe Research reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Kroger from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, December 27th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Kroger from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $70.00 to $68.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $78.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Kroger from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $75.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $74.38.

Key Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat on profit and margins: Kroger reported adjusted EPS above estimates, delivered gross‑margin expansion and 20% e‑commerce growth; management also rolled out FY‑26 adjusted EPS guidance above consensus and approved further buybacks — a clear catalyst for earnings per‑share growth. PR Newswire
• Positive Sentiment: Large, sustained capital returns: Management completed accelerated repurchases in 2025 and the board approved an additional $2B repurchase authorization on top of a $7.5B program; analysts and commentators say buybacks plus a growing dividend underpin long‑term per‑share upside. MarketBeat
• Positive Sentiment: Street support and upgrades: Several shops have reiterated/raised ratings and price targets (e.g., Roth MKM reaffirmed buy with a $78 PT; Telsey lifted its target), reinforcing positive sentiment into the print. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Unusual bullish options flow: Call buying spiked (large single‑day activity), suggesting some traders are positioning for additional upside or event‑driven moves.
• Neutral Sentiment: New CEO’s playbook: Greg Foran is pushing lower prices, sharper promotions, AI and e‑commerce improvements to accelerate sales — a credible strategic pivot but execution and timing remain uncertain. FoodBusinessNews
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst consensus is broadly constructive (moderate buy), but median price targets leave limited near‑term upside absent stronger top‑line revisions. AmericanBankingNews
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue and sales outlook are muted: Q4 revenue slightly missed estimates and management offered modest identical‑sales guidance for 2026 (1–2% ex‑fuel), tempering a rally based solely on EPS strength. Retail Insight Network
• Negative Sentiment: Product recalls: Kroger‑branded and partner rice/frozen products were included in a glass‑fragment recall, creating short‑term inventory, sales and reputational headwinds in affected markets. MSN
• Negative Sentiment: Labor and legal exposure: Class‑action suits over e‑commerce worker classification and heightened union friction (Teamsters commentary) add regulatory/legal risk and potential costs. GroceryDive
• Negative Sentiment: Dividend sustainability question: Commentary flagged a high payout ratio on a GAAP basis (dividend > GAAP net income), which could worry income investors despite strong cash flow and buybacks. 24/7 Wall St.

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.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.