The Kroger Co. (KR) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Kroger's Q3 results missed top-line estimates, triggering a sharp sell-off while peers like Dollar General soared. We dig into the data to understand why the retailer's momentum has suddenly taken a hit. Management is aggressively repurchasing shares, but with leverage rising and interest costs doubling, investors must ask whether this is financial engineering or a deeper structural growth problem. With guidance narrowed to the low end and multiples compressing, I revisit my investment thesis to explain why I am changing my rating.
Kroger Co (NYSE:KR, XETRA:KOG) swung to a quarterly loss in the third quarter as rising expenses weighed on results, despite modest growth in core sales. The US grocery giant reported earnings per share of $1.05, slightly above analysts' expectations of $1.04, while revenue fell short at $33.9 billion, below the $34.2 billion estimate.
Kroger (KR) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.05 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.98 per share a year ago.
While grocery sales are stable, shoppers remain sensitive to prices and seek discounted items. That could impact earnings.
Grocery powerhouse Kroger Co (NYSE:KR) is down 1.4% to trade at $66.61 this afternoon, as investors gear up for the company's third-quarter results, due out before the open Thursday.
Kroger (KR) demonstrates resilience amid economic uncertainty, delivering strong Q2 results, raising full-year guidance, and maintaining a bullish outlook despite recent price gains. KR's fundamentals remain solid with expanding gross margins, robust e-commerce growth, increased dividend, and ongoing share buybacks supporting shareholder returns. Valuation remains attractive, with a forward P/E of 14.16x and potential upside to a price target of $85, making KR cheaper than peers like WMT and CASY.
In the most recent trading session, Kroger (KR) closed at $67.03, indicating a +1.33% shift from the previous trading day.
Dividends are one of the best benefits to being a shareholder, but finding a great dividend stock is no easy task. Does Kroger (KR) have what it takes?
Kroger Co. (KR) is rated a Buy, supported by strong fundamentals, growth initiatives, and long-term tailwinds despite near-term headwinds and management changes. KR's robust free cash flow, cost-cutting measures, and significant private label sales underpin its resilience and strength in a highly competitive grocery market. Risks include intensifying competition from discount grocers, ongoing legal disputes over the failed Albertsons acquisition, and leadership transitions in an uncertain macro environment.
The latest trading day saw Kroger (KR) settling at $65.9, representing a -2.24% change from its previous close.
When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?