Secure Asset Management LLC Cuts Stock Position in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)

Secure Asset Management LLC decreased its position in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - Free Report) by 63.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,109 shares of the company's stock after selling 6,990 shares during the quarter. Secure Asset Management LLC's holdings in Kroger were worth $278,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of KR. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kroger during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. TCTC Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kroger in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Transce3nd LLC purchased a new stake in Kroger in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Kroger during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 80.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Christine S. Wheatley sold 30,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.44, for a total transaction of $2,083,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 127,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,870,057.28. This trade represents a 19.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Brian W. Nichols sold 1,300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.71, for a total transaction of $86,723.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 12,090 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $806,523.90. This trade represents a 9.71% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 306,818 shares of company stock valued at $20,994,769. Company insiders own 0.44% of the company's stock.

Kroger Stock Performance

Shares of Kroger stock traded down $0.13 on Friday, reaching $66.11. 6,136,978 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,736,251. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $69.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $64.72. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.49, a PEG ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.58. The Kroger Co. has a twelve month low of $49.04 and a twelve month high of $73.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74.

Kroger (NYSE:KR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 6th. The company reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.09 by $0.05. Kroger had a net margin of 1.85% and a return on equity of 27.73%. The business had revenue of $34.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.96 billion. Analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were issued a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. Kroger's payout ratio is 34.88%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KR has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on Kroger from $61.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Kroger from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Roth Capital set a $58.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of Kroger from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $73.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $68.06.

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.