Wealthquest Corp Acquires New Shares in The Kroger Co. $KR

Posted by Max Byerly on May 25th, 2026

Wealthquest Corp acquired a new stake in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR – Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 7,792 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $487,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of KR. Ares Financial Consulting LLC purchased a new position in Kroger in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Kroger by 268.1% in the 4th quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 416 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 303 shares in the last quarter. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. purchased a new position in Kroger in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Avalon Trust Co purchased a new position in Kroger in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Kroger in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kroger Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:KR opened at $67.32 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $69.56 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $66.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The Kroger Co. has a one year low of $58.60 and a one year high of $76.58. The company has a market cap of $41.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.00, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.46.

Kroger (NYSE:KR – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.08. Kroger had a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The firm had revenue of $34.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.10 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.14 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. Analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 5.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 15th. Kroger’s payout ratio is currently 91.50%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently weighed in on KR. Morgan Stanley set a $73.00 price objective on shares of Kroger and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $70.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Kroger from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and cut their price target for the company from $70.00 to $68.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Kroger from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, March 9th. Finally, Wolfe Research reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $75.00 price target on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Kroger has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $74.87.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Kroger

More Kroger News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

Positive Sentiment: Kroger announced it will host its first-quarter 2026 earnings conference call on June 18, which keeps investors focused on upcoming results and any updates on pricing strategy and margins. Kroger Announces First Quarter Conference Call with Investors
Positive Sentiment: Kroger is also being viewed as a beneficiary of consumer trade-down trends as shoppers face higher gas prices, which could support traffic if its lower-price strategy resonates with value-focused households. Rising Gas Prices Are Hitting Household Budgets. Some Grocery Stores Are Eyeing Price Cuts In Response.
Neutral Sentiment: Valerie Jabbar, senior vice president of Retail Divisions, retired after 38 years with Kroger; the move is a leadership update but does not appear to be a major stock driver on its own. Kroger Senior Vice President Valerie Jabbar Announces Retirement After 38 Years of Service
Neutral Sentiment: Media coverage that Kroger is preparing price cuts and facing stiff competition from Walmart, Costco and Aldi reinforces the same story: stronger traffic potential, but likely margin pressure if discounts deepen. Kroger plans price cuts as new CEO looks to regain shoppers
Negative Sentiment: Investors are likely concerned that a nationwide price-cut strategy could reduce profitability in the near term, especially if Kroger has to absorb higher costs while lowering shelf prices. Why Kroger Stock Dropped Today
Negative Sentiment: Recent recall headlines involving Kroger-branded garlic cheese croutons and a separate Clean Air Act settlement may add modest reputational and legal overhang, though these look secondary to the pricing narrative. Kroger garlic cheese croutons sold in 17 states recalled for salmonella risk

About Kroger

(Free Report)

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.