Roth Mkm Upgrades Kroger Stock Forecast

Roth Mkm analysts have recently increased their price target for Kroger (NYSE:KR) from $52.00 to $56.00, as stated in a research report published on Friday. The firm maintains a "neutral" rating on Kroger's stock. This updated price target suggests a potential downside of approximately 6.79% based on Kroger's current stock price.

Other Analysts' Ratings

In addition to Roth Mkm's update, other equities analysts have also provided their insights on Kroger. Guggenheim raised their target price from $61.00 to $63.00, assigning the stock a "buy" rating. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley increased their price target from $57.00 to $58.00 and maintained an "equal weight" rating. Evercore ISI adjusted their price target upward from $62.00 to $63.00, giving Kroger an "outperform" rating.

Melius Research has initiated coverage on Kroger and has set a target price of $55.00 with a "hold" rating. Wells Fargo & Company, on the other hand, increased their price target from $65.00 to $70.00 and also rated the stock as "overweight." Currently, five analysts have suggested holding the stock, while eight have given it a buy rating, and one has assigned a strong buy rating. The consensus rating for Kroger is classified as a "Moderate Buy" with an average target price of $63.33 according to data from MarketBeat.com.

Recent Stock Performance

On Friday, shares of Kroger traded lower by $0.63, reaching a price of $60.08. The trading volume for the day stood at 1,527,541 shares, contrasting with the stock's average volume of 4,642,204 shares. Kroger has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.46, and a current ratio of 0.87. The stock's 52-week range shows a low of $43.51 and a high of $61.37. As of now, Kroger has a market cap of $43.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.71, and a beta of 0.48. The company’s 50-day and 200-day moving averages are $57.75 and $54.57, respectively.

Quarterly Earnings Insights

Kroger reported its quarterly earnings on December 5th, revealing earnings per share (EPS) of $0.98, which surpassed the consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.01. The company's return on equity stood at 28.54% with a net margin of 1.86%. For the quarter, Kroger's revenue was $33.63 billion, slightly below analysts' expectations of $34.19 billion, representing a 1.0% decrease from the previous year. Looking ahead, analysts predict that Kroger will achieve an EPS of 4.46 for the current year.

Recent Insider Transactions

In related news, Vice President Brian W. Nichols sold 6,922 shares of Kroger stock on October 7th at an average price of $55.80, totaling $386,247.60. After the sale, Nichols owns approximately 14,063 shares, worth around $784,715.40, reflecting a decrease of 32.99% in his ownership. Another insider, SVP Valerie L. Jabbar, also sold 3,000 shares on September 23rd at an average price of $55.91, amounting to $167,730. Following this transaction, Jabbar holds 74,084 shares valued at roughly $4.14 million, marking a 3.89% reduction in ownership. In total, insiders have sold 12,932 shares valued at $721,243 over the last 90 days, holding collectively 1.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investor Activity

Several large institutional investors have adjusted their positions in Kroger recently. Mendel Capital Management LLC increased its stake by 0.6% during the third quarter, now owning 31,559 shares valued at $1.8 million. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC raised its holding by 1.1% in the second quarter, owning 16,551 shares worth $826,000. Other notable investors include SignalPoint Asset Management LLC, Bleakley Financial Group LLC, and M3 Advisory Group LLC, all of which have increased their positions in Kroger. Overall, institutional investors control approximately 80.93% of Kroger's stock.

About Kroger

The Kroger Co operates as a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. Its operations include a diverse range of facilities, such as combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. Kroger’s combination stores provide various offerings, including natural food sections, organic products, pharmacies, general merchandise, and fresh produce, while multi-department stores include apparel, home goods, electronics, and more.

Kroger, Stocks, Forecast