Sienna Gestion Sells 8,342 Shares of The Kroger Co. $KR

Sienna Gestion cut its holdings in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 9.2% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 82,327 shares of the company’s stock after selling 8,342 shares during the period. Sienna Gestion’s holdings in Kroger were worth $5,135,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Kroger by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,169,425 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,821,546,000 after buying an additional 868,529 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in Kroger by 61.1% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 33,367,551 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,249,307,000 after buying an additional 12,652,261 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Kroger by 1.2% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 31,948,112 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,153,622,000 after buying an additional 386,503 shares in the last quarter. GQG Partners LLC grew its position in Kroger by 11.3% during the fourth quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 13,398,072 shares of the company’s stock worth $837,113,000 after buying an additional 1,360,946 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Kroger by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 12,242,401 shares of the company’s stock worth $764,932,000 after buying an additional 122,606 shares in the last quarter. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Kroger Stock Down 1.0%

NYSE KR opened at $64.07 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $66.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.54. The company has a market capitalization of $39.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.88, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.43. The Kroger Co. has a 1-year low of $58.60 and a 1-year high of $76.58.

Trending Headlines about Kroger

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Options activity suggests some traders are positioning for a potential move higher into Kroger’s earnings report, with bulls targeting the stock ahead of Thursday’s results. Options Bulls Target Kroger Stock Before Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market watchers expect Kroger to post higher quarterly earnings, which could support the stock if results and guidance beat expectations. Kroger Likely To Report Higher Q1 Earnings; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger is highlighted as one of the key retail names to watch this week alongside the Fed meeting and retail sales data, keeping the stock in focus but without a direct catalyst yet. The FOMC Meeting, Retail Sales Data, Kroger Earnings, and More to Watch This Week
• Neutral Sentiment: Harris Teeter, a Kroger banner, announced a new “Aisle Adventures” shopping experience, a brand initiative that may help customer engagement but is not an immediate financial catalyst. Harris Teeter Introduces “Aisle Adventures,” A New Discovery-Driven Shopping Experience
• Negative Sentiment: Kroger’s rollout of electronic shelf labels is facing regulatory scrutiny over concerns about pricing transparency and possible surge pricing, which could weigh on investor sentiment. Kroger’s Electronic Shelf Labels Test Regulatory Patience And Investor Expectations

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup lifted their target price on Kroger from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $70.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Erste Group Bank downgraded Kroger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Telsey Advisory Group lifted their target price on Kroger from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $80.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Kroger presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $74.67.

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.