Groupama Asset Management Increases Stake in The Kroger Co.

Groupama Asset Management has boosted its stake in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) by 16.0% during the third quarter, as detailed in its latest 13F filing with the SEC. Following this increase, the fund now holds 138,914 shares of Kroger's stock after purchasing an additional 19,186 shares during the quarter. By the end of the recent reporting period, Groupama's holdings in Kroger were valued at approximately $80,000.

Recently, other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Kroger. For example, Altshuler Shaham Ltd took on a new investment in Kroger valued at around $28,000 during the second quarter. In the same period, Northwest Investment Counselors LLC established a new position worth about $34,000. Additionally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in Kroger by a significant 218.8% in the second quarter, bringing its total to 714 shares valued at roughly $36,000 after acquiring 490 shares during that time. Furthermore, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. entered a new position valued at approximately $40,000 during the third quarter, while ORG Partners LLC also purchased a new stake worth around $42,000 in the second quarter. It is noteworthy that hedge funds and other institutional investors now own 80.93% of Kroger's stock.

Insider Transactions

In related news, VP Carin L. Fike recently sold 3,010 shares of Kroger stock on September 17, at an average price of $55.57, resulting in a total transaction value of $167,265.70. Following this sale, Fike holds 47,593 shares in Kroger, with an estimated value of $2,644,743.01. This transaction represents a 5.95% reduction in her ownership. The details of this sale were disclosed in a regulatory filing with the SEC. Additionally, SVP Timothy A. Massa sold 25,889 shares on December 6, at an average price of $60.12, amounting to a total transaction value of $1,556,446.68. After this transaction, Massa now owns 115,861 shares valued at around $6,965,563.32, marking an 18.26% decrease in ownership. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold a total of 38,821 shares of Kroger stock, valued at $2,277,690, with insiders currently holding 1.40% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings and Recommendations

A number of analysts have recently provided updates regarding Kroger shares. BMO Capital Markets downgraded Kroger from an "outperform" status to a "market perform" rating, setting a price target of $60.00 for the company as noted in a report on December 3. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $57.00 to $58.00, maintaining an "equal weight" rating in a report issued on September 13. In another report, Roth MKM increased its target price for Kroger from $52.00 to $56.00, giving the stock a "neutral" rating. Guggenheim also raised its price target from $61.00 to $63.00, maintaining a "buy" rating in a research report dated November 25. Lastly, Wells Fargo & Company updated their target price from $65.00 to $70.00, rating the stock as "overweight" in a note on December 5. Overall, five research analysts have given the stock a hold rating, eight have rated it a buy, and one has classified it as a strong buy. According to MarketBeat.com data, Kroger currently holds an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average target price set at $63.33.

Kroger's Stock Performance

Kroger's stock opened at $57.78 recently, showcasing a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.07, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74. The stock's 50-day moving average is $57.81, while the 200-day moving average stands at $54.65. The company has a market capitalization of $41.80 billion, with a P/E ratio of 15.29 and a price-to-earnings growth ratio of 0.92. Kroger's stock reached a 52-week low of $43.51 and a high of $61.37. In its latest quarterly earnings report released on December 5, Kroger posted an EPS of $0.98, slightly surpassing analysts' expectations of $0.97. The company had a net margin of 1.85% and a return on equity of 27.73%. Revenue for the quarter reached $33.63 billion, albeit lower than analysts' predictions of $34.19 billion, marking a 1.0% decline compared to the same period last year. Analysts anticipate The Kroger Co. will post a total EPS of 4.45 for the current fiscal year.

Dividends Announced

Recently, Kroger declared a quarterly dividend, which was distributed to shareholders on December 1. Shareholders recorded on November 15 received a dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date was also on November 15. This represents an annual dividend yield of 2.22%, amounting to $1.28 on an annualized basis, with a payout ratio of 33.86%.

About Kroger Co.

The Kroger Co. operates as a prominent food and drug retailer in the United States. The company manages a variety of store formats that include combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. Their combination stores feature a range of offerings, including natural food and organic sections, pharmacies, general merchandise, pet centers, fresh seafood, and organic produce. Multi-department outlets provide apparel, home furnishings, electronics, automotive products, and toys.

Kroger, Investors, Analysts