The Kroger Co. $KR Shares Bought by International Assets Investment Management LLC

Key Points

• International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its Kroger stake by 2,575.1% in the third quarter, acquiring 163,645 additional shares and bringing its holdings to 170,000 shares valued at approximately $9.97 million. Institutional investors collectively own 80.93% of Kroger.
• Kroger reported quarterly EPS of $1.09, exceeding estimates by $0.04, while revenue reached $34.62 billion, up 2% year over year. The company maintained fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $5.10–$5.30 and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.39, yielding about 2.3% annually.
• Shares opened at $66.73, and analysts maintained a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $70.35. Kroger also faces strategic and competitive risks, including litigation related to its failed Albertsons merger and heightened competition for value-focused grocery shoppers.

International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) by 2,575.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 170,000 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 163,645 shares during the quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC's holdings in Kroger were worth $9,965,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Kroger during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Kroger in the first quarter worth about $31,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger during the first quarter worth about $33,000. North Point Portfolio Managers Corp OH purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, GK Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kroger during the third quarter valued at about $33,000. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger plans to invest approximately $5 billion through 2029 to lower everyday prices and simplify promotions. Management also expects e-commerce to eventually represent about 30% of sales, potentially strengthening customer traffic and digital growth. Kroger Says It Will Spend $5 Billion Through 2029 Lowering Prices
• Positive Sentiment: The company is accelerating direct sourcing to improve cost visibility and control, which could support margins over time despite the near-term expense of lower prices. Kroger Accelerates Direct Sourcing Efforts
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option activity indicates increased bullish speculative interest: 36,862 calls traded, compared with typical volume of about 15,056. This is a sentiment indicator rather than a change to Kroger’s fundamentals.
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger agreed to acquire Giant Eagle in a proposed $1.65 billion cash-and-stock transaction. Combining loyalty programs, pharmacy records and digital platforms could create data and operating synergies, but privacy concerns surrounding purchasing, behavioral and location data may increase regulatory and reputational risk. Kroger Just Put $1.65 Billion Behind a Data Privacy Test
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger and Albertsons are concluding witness testimony in Delaware litigation over their failed merger. The case could result in additional costs or damages and keeps scrutiny on Kroger’s prior consolidation strategy. Albertsons and Kroger Fighting in Court Over Failed Merger
• Negative Sentiment: Albertsons is promoting a lower-cost annual membership program, potentially intensifying competition for value-conscious grocery shoppers alongside Walmart and Amazon. Albertsons Has a New Advantage for Grocery Shoppers

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Mary Adcock sold 72,901 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.70, for a total transaction of $4,425,090.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 175,233 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,636,643.10. The trade was a 29.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.41% of the company's stock.

Kroger Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of KR opened at $66.73 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.59, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.70. The Kroger Co. has a one year low of $54.15 and a one year high of $76.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.27, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.36. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $60.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $63.59.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, September 11th. The company reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $34.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $34.64 billion. Kroger had a return on equity of 49.90% and a net margin of 0.73%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.04 EPS. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that The Kroger Co. will post 5.20 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 16th will be paid a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 16th. Kroger's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 84.78%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on KR shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, September 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research note on Wednesday, October 21st. BNP Paribas Exane raised Kroger from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $72.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $60.00 price objective on Kroger and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 21st. Finally, Melius Research set a $80.00 target price on Kroger and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Kroger presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $70.35.

Kroger Profile

The Kroger Co is a U.S. food and grocery retailer headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883, the company operates supermarkets under banners that include Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Fry's, Harris Teeter and Smith's, among others.

Kroger's business includes the sale of fresh food, groceries, general merchandise, household products and health and beauty items. Many of its stores also provide pharmacy services and fuel centers. The company offers digital shopping, pickup and delivery services, loyalty programs and a range of private-label products, including Simple Truth, Private Selection and Kroger-branded products.

Kroger primarily serves customers across the United States, with stores concentrated in the Midwest, South, West and parts of the Mid-Atlantic region.

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