Kroger (NYSE:KR) was upgraded by stock analysts at Wolfe Research from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports.
Several other analysts have also issued reports on KR. Pivotal Research set a $30.00 target price on Kroger and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, December 2nd. Oppenheimer reissued a “hold” rating and set a $22.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Jefferies Group reduced their target price on Kroger from $24.00 to $19.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 11th. Telsey Advisory Group increased their target price on Kroger from $24.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, UBS reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $24.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. Eighteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $28.93.
Kroger (KR) traded down $0.05 on Wednesday, hitting $26.95. The stock had a trading volume of 8,427,200 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,239,129. The firm has a market cap of $23,796.77, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.92. Kroger has a 12 month low of $19.69 and a 12 month high of $35.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11.
In other Kroger news, insider Christopher T. Hjelm sold 16,530 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.00, for a total value of $446,310.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Jorge P. Montoya sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.98, for a total value of $269,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 108,910 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,938,391.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 28,068 shares of company stock worth $755,498 over the last ninety days. 0.87% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of KR. Howe & Rusling Inc. bought a new position in shares of Kroger during the third quarter worth about $103,000. Dupont Capital Management Corp bought a new position in shares of Kroger during the second quarter worth about $105,000. Mountain Capital Investment Advisors Inc bought a new position in shares of Kroger during the second quarter worth about $128,000. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA raised its position in shares of Kroger by 497.2% during the second quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 5,273 shares of the company’s stock worth $129,000 after acquiring an additional 4,390 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its position in shares of Kroger by 85.2% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 5,888 shares of the company’s stock worth $137,000 after acquiring an additional 2,708 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.59% of the company’s stock.
About Kroger
The Kroger Co (Kroger) manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets. The Company operates supermarkets, multi-department stores, jewelry stores and convenience stores throughout the United States. As of January 28, 2017, it had operated approximately 4,000 owned or leased supermarkets, convenience stores, fine jewelry stores, distribution warehouses and food production plants through divisions, subsidiaries or affiliates.
