Korea Investment CORP Purchases Shares of 437,568 The Kroger Co. $KR

Korea Investment CORP acquired a new stake in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 437,568 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $24,298,000. Korea Investment CORP owned approximately 0.07% of Kroger as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kroger during the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC bought a new position in shares of Kroger during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Kroger during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Kroger during the first quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Kroger in the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Citigroup cut their price target on Kroger from $71.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 23rd. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $78.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $80.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $82.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a report on Friday, June 19th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Kroger presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $72.00.

Key Headlines Impacting Kroger

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger’s dividend profile continues to attract attention from income-focused investors. Analysts reviewing the stock highlight its potential appeal as a dividend investment, which could support demand for the shares. Kroger Could Be a Great Choice
• Positive Sentiment: The company is expanding its Fold Bitcoin Gift Card offering after a successful pilot, adding another digital and cryptocurrency-related feature for customers. The initiative is strategically positive but is unlikely to materially affect near-term financial results. Kroger Expands Fold Bitcoin Gift Card Offering
• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is unveiling a remodeled store in Worthington, Ohio, reflecting continued investment in store quality and the customer experience. Kroger to Unveil Remodeled Store
• Neutral Sentiment: An ice cream brand sold at Kroger and other retailers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing concerns the supplier’s ownership and future rather than Kroger’s finances, so the direct impact on KR appears limited. Ice Cream Brand Files for Chapter 11
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger’s annual food-bank and peanut-butter donation efforts may support community goodwill but should have little direct effect on valuation. Kroger Holds Peanut Butter Drive
• Neutral Sentiment: Cincinnati officials limited protests near Kroger’s headquarters following complaints from a nearby small-business owner. The development reduces immediate disruption but highlights ongoing local tensions. Cincinnati Limits Kroger HQ Protests
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger plans to close 60 stores during 2026. Although closures could improve the portfolio by removing underperforming locations, the scale of the reductions raises concerns about sales, market presence and restructuring costs. Kroger to Shutter 60 Stores
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger faces a proposed $17 million class-action settlement involving pharmacy customers who used insurance for prescriptions. The settlement would create a financial cost and adds legal and reputational risk, though the amount is modest relative to Kroger’s scale. Kroger Pharmacy Settlement
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger agreed to pay $75,000 to resolve an EEOC disability-discrimination and retaliation lawsuit. The payment is financially immaterial but adds to legal and compliance headlines. Kroger EEOC Lawsuit Settlement

Kroger Trading Down 0.1%

KR opened at $57.86 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $35.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.43. The Kroger Co. has a 12 month low of $54.15 and a 12 month high of $76.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $57.88 and a 200 day moving average of $64.72.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 18th. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $46.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.59 billion. Kroger had a return on equity of 44.33% and a net margin of 0.71%.The company’s revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.49 earnings per share. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 EPS for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. This is an increase from Kroger’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Kroger’s dividend payout ratio is presently 91.76%.

Kroger Company 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.