Kroger’s Upcoming Earnings Report and Stock Performance Overview

Cincinnati, Ohio-based The Kroger Co. (KR) is a leading food and drug retailer. The company operates a variety of store formats, including combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. With a market capitalization of $46.5 billion, Kroger stands as one of the largest food retailers globally. The grocery giant is set to release its Q1 earnings on Thursday, June 19.

Analysts’ Earnings Expectations

Ahead of the announcement, analysts project that Kroger will report an adjusted profit of $1.44 per share, slightly up from $1.43 per share in the same quarter last year. Notably, the company has met or exceeded analysts’ profit expectations in each of the past four quarters, indicating consistent performance.

Fiscal Projections for 2026 and 2027

Looking ahead, analysts expect Kroger’s adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the full fiscal 2026 to be $4.74, representing a 6% increase from $4.47 in fiscal 2025. Furthermore, projections for fiscal 2027 indicate an anticipated earnings surge of 8.7% year-over-year to $5.15 per share.

Stock Performance and Market Context

Kroger’s stock prices have increased by 28.5% over the past 52 weeks, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 8.7% gains and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund’s (XLP) 7.1% returns during the same period.

The recent increase in Kroger’s stock is partly due to a shift in investment from discretionary and cyclical stocks to consumer staples amidst rising macroeconomic uncertainties. After releasing its mixed Q4 results on March 6, Kroger’s stock gained 2%. The company’s adjusted sales for the quarter rose 2.6% year-over-year to $34.3 billion, slightly missing Wall Street’s expectations. However, its adjusted EPS held steady at $1.14, beating consensus estimates by 1.8%.

Future Sales and Earnings Growth

Looking forward, Kroger anticipates a 2% to 3% growth in identical sales excluding fuel for fiscal 2025. The adjusted EPS is expected to range between $4.60 and $4.80, indicating a midpoint growth of 5.1% year-over-year.

Analyst Ratings

The consensus outlook for KR stock remains favorable, with a “Moderate Buy” rating. Among the 20 analysts covering Kroger, opinions include 11 “Strong Buys,” eight “Holds,” and one “Strong Sell.” As of now, the stock is trading slightly above its mean price target of $67.95.

On the date of publication, Aditya Sarawgi did not hold (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For further details, please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.