Guggenheim Reiterates Buy Rating for The Kroger Co.

Guggenheim has reiterated its buy rating for The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), maintaining a price target of $71. This update came from analyst John Heinbockel on June 22, 2026. Shares of Kroger traded near $56.62 on Monday.

Other Institutional Activity in The Kroger Co.

BlackRock, Inc. reduced its holdings in Kroger by 1,127,559 shares, leaving it with 53,118,358 shares valued at approximately $3.84 billion. Berkshire Hathaway Inc maintained its position with 50 million shares worth around $3.62 billion. Vanguard Capital Management LLC opened a new position with 36,423,947 shares, valued at about $2.64 billion, while Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC also started a new stake with 31,655,062 shares worth roughly $2.29 billion. State Street Corp trimmed its holdings by 1,536,547 shares, ending with 30,450,904 shares valued at $2.20 billion. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake by 3,401,534 shares, totaling 23,470,023 shares valued at $1.70 billion.

The Kroger Co. Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of Kroger traded near $56.62 on Monday. The company has a market cap of roughly $34.7 billion and a P/E ratio of 33.1, with a forward P/E of 10.2. Kroger's beta is 0.416, indicating lower volatility compared to the market. The stock's 52-week range is between $56.32 and $76.58, with a 50-day moving average of $65.74 and a 200-day moving average of $66.47. Kroger's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 415.97.

Recent Earnings

Kroger reported revenue of approximately $147.6 billion with a revenue growth rate of 1.2%. The company's earnings per share (EPS) was $1.71, with a net margin of 0.69% and a return on equity (ROE) of 14.4%. The next earnings report is expected on September 10, 2026.

Dividend

Kroger pays an annual dividend rate of $1.40, with a yield of 2.47% and a payout ratio of 80.12%.

Insider Buying and Selling at The Kroger Co.

On June 1, 2026, several insiders purchased shares of Kroger at an average price of $61.52. Chairman Ronald Sargent bought 388 shares, while other executives including Nora Aufreiter, Anne Gates, Elaine Chao, and Mark Sutton also made smaller purchases. In contrast, Executive Vice President Gabriel Arreaga sold 3,163 shares at an average price of $75.60 on March 13, 2026.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On June 22, 2026, Guggenheim maintained its buy rating for Kroger with a $71 price target. That same day, Barclays and Morgan Stanley both maintained hold ratings, with price targets of $61 and $67, respectively. JP Morgan previously maintained a hold rating with a $70 target on June 11, 2026. The current consensus among 21 analysts is a buy rating, with an average price target of $71.81.

About The Kroger Co.

The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. It operates a variety of store formats including combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, and price impact warehouses. Kroger offers a wide range of products from groceries and pharmaceuticals to apparel and home goods. The company also manufactures and processes food products for sale in its supermarkets and online. Led by CEO Gregory S. Foran, Kroger employs around 403,000 people.

Bottom Line

Guggenheim's reiterated buy rating for The Kroger Co. underscores the firm's positive outlook on the company. Investors often follow such analyst updates closely, although it's important to remember that these ratings reflect opinions as of the report date and may not indicate future performance. Always consider multiple factors when evaluating a stock.