Reading KR? Track it free: the weekly brief, plus an alert if the thesis breaks. No credit card.
Track KR free→Reading KR? Track it free: the weekly brief, plus an alert if the thesis breaks. No credit card.
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NYSEConsumer StaplesGrocery StoresSnapshot 2026-06-15
Recent financial performance sits well below its industry cohort — worth keeping an eye on, though it has not freshly broken.
Recent financial performance is weak, and management's recent track record has been unsteady, with frequent disruptive corporate changes. Earnings quality is robust, cash backs up reported profits. The sector backdrop is a headwind, and risk is moderate. Peer multiples imply a price about 28% above where it trades (it looks cheap on this basis); the read is cheap, value-trap risk, as it trades below peer multiples, but recent financials are weak. If KR cuts guidance on the next call, that could be a meaningful negative. This read is provisional.
Daily closes. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
A consensus fair price across 8 valuation methods, at three horizons. Current price $64.06. Estimates are diagnostics, not price targets. Short-horizon estimates are close to coin-flips, so confidence is a method-agreement read, not a prediction.
No-growth: today's peer multiple on trailing earnings. The headline read.
Embeds projected growth. Leans optimistic by design. Upside context.
We take the 12-month fair value above and grade our own number — how the market prices this name versus what we'd justify, and where the two diverge.
At $64 KR trades at 13× p/e, below its 18× p/e peer median. Our $89 fair value sits above the price; medium confidence. Analysts: $70–$83. Not investment advice.
One valuation read at a 12-month horizon, plus how price compares to peers and the company's own history.
The price sits about 28% below a flat-multiple fair value; not enough history to forecast a comparison. This describes what's priced in, not a forecast of the move.
No fragility gates fired.
For similar setups historically (n=20,154): about 33% saw a 20%+ drawdown, and roughly 76% of those did not recover within the year. These are historical base rates for the cohort, not a forecast of this stock.
Each factor is a parallel diagnostic with a clear read of what it shows and how names like it have historically fared. Never aggregated into a single score.
Operating income rose in 2 of the last 3 quarter-over-quarter moves. Historically, Consumer Staples names rated weak grew net income 56% of the time over the next year (vs 58% for the rest of the cohort, n=1144).
Over the trailing year it converted 12.22x of net income into operating cash flow. Historically, Consumer Staples names rated robust grew net income 64% of the time over the next year (vs 51% for the rest of the cohort, n=1037).
Most sensitive to the broad stock market.
Not enough signal to read sensitivity to the US dollar, real (inflation-adjusted) rates, Fed net liquidity, long-term interest rates.
The next print and the backdrop around it (sector regime and the AI cycle). Context for the path, not a forecast of returns.
EPS estimate $1.13 → $1.14 (+0.4% / 30d). 0 raised, 2 cut, 18 covering analysts.
0 upgrades, 0 downgrades / 30d, 1 maintained. 46% of analysts rate Buy.
2 PT revisions / 30d. Avg target 19.3% above current price.
0 positive, 0 negative / 30d.
How management runs the business: capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
A guidance track record builds as the company issues and delivers on guidance.
What a normal day, a bad day, and the worst of the last year would mean for a $10,000 position.
On a typical day, $10k can swing ±$129.
How much price usually moves either way.
On a bad day, this stock has moved -$266.
A rough but not unusual down day (about the 95th percentile).
In the worst 12 months, $10k could have lost $1,945.
Deepest peak-to-trough drop in the last year.
Past results, not a forecast. Not investment advice.
The most important moves since the prior daily snapshot.
No material changes since the prior snapshot.
as of 2026-06-15
Specific, dated things to watch for, each with what would confirm it and what would prove it wrong.
Why it matters: Identical sales growth is a key measure of Kroger's performance. A drop below 1.0% signals weak demand.
Confirms:In Q2 2026, sales without fuel growth were below 1.0%.
Disproves:Q2 2026 identical sales without fuel growth reported at or above 1.0%.
Recent news graded against this company's own objectives — whether it reinforces or challenges the thesis, and how confirmed it is.
Price cuts may attract new customers and boost sales.
Conditional scenarios: if X happens, the view would shift in this direction. These are not predictions.
Recent SEC 8-K filings ranked by likely impact, confidence, and recency.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. On May 22, 2026, Timothy A. Massa, the Executive Vice President and Associate Experience Officer of The Kroger Co. (the “Company”), provided notice to the Company of his intention to retire in the fall of 2026. Mr. Massa will continue in his role until September 2026 and is expected to remain an employee of the Company through July 1, 2027 to facil…
Whether the overall read has been drifting up or down lately, and how it's changed since last week.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
Long-thesis check; widest uncertainty.
$70.00 – $83.00 (median $75.00) · 7 analysts · as of 2026-06-11
Looks cheaper than most peers in the same business.
Around its own typical valuation.
Trailing four: 2024-Q2, 2024-Q3, 2025-Q2, 2025-Q3
A side-by-side read on sector standing, valuation, and risk versus Food Retail.
| Stock | Sector standing | Valuation | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
KR Kroger | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 51 of 100 | inexpensive | moderate |
CASY Casey's | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 44 of 100 | expensive | moderate |
CART Maplebear Inc. | Above typical Show detailsSector percentile: 88 of 100 | full | elevated |
SFM Sprouts Farmers Market | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 64 of 100 | fair | elevated |
ACI Albertsons | Above typical Show detailsSector percentile: 99 of 100 | inexpensive | moderate |
24 material management or governance events in the past 24 months, led by M&A activity. Historically, Consumer Staples names rated volatile grew net income 42% of the time over the next year (vs 51% for the rest of the cohort, n=368).
Not investment advice. As of 2026-06-15.
via XLP
Tailwind = sector leading the S&P 500; headwind = trailing. Both can be constructive. Historically, headwind regimes have averaged stronger forward returns than tailwind.
Context label only: describes the market state (e.g. real bear vs narrative panic, healthy uptrend vs late-stage froth). It is not a per-ticker buy/sell signal and does not predict factor performance.
Not investment advice. As of 2026-06-15.
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
Kroger has set a capital expenditure guidance range of $3.8 to $4.0 billion for 2026.
Kroger has provided a free cash flow guidance range of $2.7 to $2.9 billion for 2026.
Kroger has set an adjusted EPS guidance range of $5.10 to $5.30 for 2026.
Why it matters: CapEx plans show Kroger wants to grow. Keeping guidance shows they trust future investments.
Confirms:CapEx guidance for 2026 confirmed at $3.8 billion or higher.
Disproves:CapEx guidance for 2026 is now below $3.8 billion.
Why it matters: Adjusted EPS shows how profitable a company is. If it drops below $5.10, it raises worries about earnings.
Confirms:Q2 2026 adjusted EPS reported below $5.10.
Disproves:Q2 2026 adjusted EPS reported at or above $5.10.
Why it matters: Free cash flow is vital for funding operations and growth. Maintaining guidance indicates strong cash generation.
Confirms:Free cash flow guidance for 2026 confirmed at $2.7 billion or higher.
Disproves:Free cash flow guidance for 2026 lowered below $2.7 billion.
Why it matters: Confirming the $3.8 to $4.0 billion CapEx guidance shows Kroger's commitment to growth.
Confirms:Management will share CapEx plans in the next earnings call or investor event.
Disproves:CapEx plans are cut to below $3.8 billion.
Why it matters: If revenue growth improves, it suggests a positive shift in the consumer staples sector. This could benefit Kroger.
Confirms:Consumer staples revenue grew over 5% compared to last year.
Disproves:Consumer staples revenue growth remains below 5% year over year.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On March 5, 2026, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) issued a press release announcing its fourth quarter and full year 2025 results. Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and furnished herewith, is a copy of that release.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. On February 8, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of The Kroger Co. (the “Company”) appointed Gregory S. Foran, 64, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), effective as of February 10, 2026. Mr. Foran was also appointed as a member of the Board, effective as of February 10, 2026. Mr. Foran previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Air Ne…
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On December 4, 2025, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) issued a press release announcing its third quarter 2025 results. Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and furnished herewith, is a copy of that release.
Material Impairments. On December 4, 2025, the Company determined the impairment and related charges as a result of the closure of certain fulfillment centers in the United States includes a cash payment to Ocado of approximately $350 million. 2 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. The Kroger Co. December 5, 2025 By: /s/ George H. Vincent…