Kroger (KR) News Today

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) shares have ticked higher on a mix of analyst upgrades, institutional buying and positive strategic moves, even as pricing investigations and legal disputes present headwinds.

• Analyst upgrades: Morgan Stanley lifted its price target from $65 to $71 (equal‐weight) and Melius bumped ratings from “sell” to “hold” with a $70 target, reflecting growing confidence in Kroger’s valuation.
• Institutional activity: Sherbrooke Park Advisers built a new $730K stake and Focus Partners Wealth increased its position by nearly 75%, signaling fresh buying interest.
• Growth initiatives: Kroger opened an Asian Marketplace at its Lewisville store, plans to hire 15,000 workers to boost the in‐store experience, and rolled out Memorial Day grilling bundles and a 10% military discount to attract shoppers.
• Reputation gain: Inclusion in the 2025 Axios Harris Poll of America’s most visible and trusted companies underlines Kroger’s strong brand trust.
• Challenges: Multi‐state investigations and consumer reports allege error‐prone pricing and overcharging on sale items, while Albertsons escalates counterclaims in their merger‐fee dispute, which may entail regulatory or legal costs.

Overall, investor focus on Kroger’s pricing power, brand strength and expansion efforts has helped offset concerns around pricing probes and litigation, supporting the recent uptick in the stock.