First National Bank of Hutchinson Sells 15,674 Shares of The Kroger Co. $KR

First National Bank of Hutchinson cut its stake in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 31.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 34,624 shares of the company’s stock after selling 15,674 shares during the period. Kroger makes up about 1.6% of First National Bank of Hutchinson’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. First National Bank of Hutchinson’s holdings in Kroger were worth $2,505,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ares Financial Consulting LLC bought a new stake in Kroger during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC increased its holdings 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 during the period. MV Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Kroger in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kroger in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Kroger during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. 80.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Kroger News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kroger is expanding its premium offering by launching in-store wine shops, which could help lift sales mix and attract higher-spending customers. Kroger launches store wine shops to tap into consumer demand for premium options
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and industry coverage have pointed to Kroger’s focus on fresh food and merchandising improvements as a potential competitive advantage that could support long-term customer loyalty and growth. Is Fresh Food Becoming Kroger’s Biggest Competitive Advantage?
• Positive Sentiment: Reports suggest the Kroger-Giant Eagle deal may win approval with only limited store divestitures, easing concerns that antitrust review could derail the transaction. The Kroger-Giant Eagle deal is seen being approved after limited store divestitures
• Neutral Sentiment: Kroger is reportedly scrapping plans to build dozens of Harris Teeter stores across Florida, though some reports say a Jacksonville location may still move forward. The pullback lowers expansion expectations but also reduces near-term capital spending. Kroger wipes out plan for 80 stores in Florida
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry chatter continues around the regulatory path for the Kroger-Giant Eagle merger, with antitrust experts discussing possible hurdles and remedies. Will the Kroger-Giant Eagle deal face regulatory challenges?
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader consumer trend stories about shoppers spending more time on meal planning and grocery shopping do not directly change Kroger’s fundamentals, but they reinforce demand for convenience-focused grocery and prepared-food offerings. US Millennials and Gen Z Are Losing Hours Each Week to Food Friction

Kroger Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:KR opened at $58.66 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $35.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.51, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.44. The Kroger Co. has a 12-month low of $54.15 and a 12-month high of $76.58. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $62.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $65.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 18th. The company reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.59 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $46.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.59 billion. Kroger had a net margin of 0.71% and a return on equity of 44.33%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.49 EPS. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.30 EPS. Analysts predict that The Kroger Co. will post 5.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Kroger Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. This is a boost from Kroger’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Kroger’s payout ratio is currently 82.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KR has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Kroger from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. Telsey Advisory Group set a $78.00 target price on Kroger and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $71.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. Barclays set a $61.00 price target on Kroger and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $58.00 price target on Kroger in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $72.00.

About Kroger

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.