May 29, 2025 a 09:00 am
KR: Analysts Ratings - The Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) presents a diverse business model, operating a range of store types across the United States, positioning itself as a leading retailer. This diversity affords Kroger a robust platform to navigate market fluctuations, but the complexities of its operations could imply challenges in maintaining uniform growth and performance across all sectors. Recent ratings reflect cautious optimism among analysts with a balanced mix of recommendations, indicating a stable yet watchful sentiment toward the company's short- to mid-term prospects.
Historical Stock Grades
The analysis for The Kroger Co. as of May 2025 reflects a landscape of steady, if cautious, sentiment. The data depicts a predominance of Hold recommendations, suggesting a market view of steady stability rather than strong optimism. A detailed breakdown of the most recent ratings is as follows:
| Recommendation Type | Count | Visual Score |
|---|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 3 | |
| Buy | 9 | |
| Hold | 12 | |
| Sell | 1 | |
| Strong Sell | 1 |
Sentiment Development
- The total number of ratings for KR has remained fairly stable over recent months, reflecting a moderate level of certainty among analysts regarding the company's market performance.
- There is a noticeable consistency in Hold recommendations, which has been the dominant sentiment throughout the observed period.
- While Strong Buy ratings have decreased slightly, Buy ratings remain significant, indicating cautious optimism.
Percentage Trends
Over the months, KR's analyst ratings percentage distribution has shown subtle shifts, particularly an increase in Hold recommendations. This suggests a trend towards risk aversion amongst analysts as uncertainties within the market influence sentiment. Key trends include:
- From November 2024 to May 2025, a marked rise in Hold ratings from 46% to 55% highlights increased conservatism among analysts.
- Strong Buy recommendations have dipped slightly, reflecting reduced immediate bullish confidence.
- The shift in ratings emphasizes a prevailing cautious stance amid uncertain market conditions, indicating more Buy and Hold positions rather than Strong Buy endorsements.
Latest Analyst Recommendations
Examining the most recent analyst ratings, it is evident that sentiment towards Kroger remains steady, with no significant shifts in opinion among major financial institutions:
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-19 | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Morgan Stanley |
| 2025-05-01 | Overweight | Overweight | JP Morgan |
| 2025-04-03 | Buy | Buy | Guggenheim |
| 2025-03-11 | Outperform | Outperform | Evercore ISI Group |
| 2025-03-07 | Neutral | Neutral | Citigroup |
Analyst Recommendations with Change of Opinion
Changes in analyst recommendations indicate shifts in opinion which can be critical signs of underlying market reassessments:
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-03 | Buy | Hold | Jefferies |
| 2024-12-03 | Market Perform | Outperform | BMO Capital |
| 2024-06-18 | Outperform | Market Perform | BMO Capital |
| 2024-04-16 | Overweight | Equal Weight | Wells Fargo |
| 2024-04-08 | Underperform | Neutral | Exane BNP Paribas |
Interpretation
The analyst sentiments convey a cautious yet relatively stable outlook on Kroger's future prospects. The consistent presence of Hold and Buy recommendations reflects a market environment that endorses maintaining positions. These insights underscore a tempered confidence amidst prevailing market uncertainties, hinting at slight risk aversion. Most importantly, there is no significant uptrend in aggressive bullish sentiment which would signal elevated confidence in Kroger's growth potential.
Conclusion
In summary, The Kroger Co. remains a steady entity within the retail market, offering resilience against economic volatilities. The stabilization around Hold and Buy ratings highlights a conservative yet confident market view. While there seems to be an absence of strong bullish momentum, the company's enduring market position coupled with adaptability across retail formats could foster continued stability. The prevailing sentiment suggests opportunities for cautious engagement in KR assets, balancing potential risks with established market credibility.