June 11, 2025 a 08:38 am
KR: Analysts Ratings - The Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co., one of the leading retail operators in the United States, presents a compelling mix of business operations, from supermarkets to fuel centers. Analysts have observed a stable yet cautious environment surrounding Kroger's stock, as reflected in recent ratings. The sentiment remains relatively conservative, with a significant lean towards 'Hold' recommendations.
Historical Stock Grades
The recommendation trends provide insights into analyst confidence levels regarding the future performance of Kroger's stock. Recently, the ratings have demonstrated a noticeable skew towards more conservative expectations:
| Recommendation Type | Number | Score Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 3 | |
| Buy | 9 | |
| Hold | 12 | |
| Sell | 0 | |
| Strong Sell | 1 |
Sentiment Development
Recent months have shown a stabilization in analyst sentiment towards Kroger, with an increase in 'Hold' ratings that suggests a cautious but steady outlook:
- The total number of ratings has remained relatively stable.
- 'Strong Buy' recommendations remain constant, showing limited bullish sentiment.
- 'Hold' ratings have seen a slight increase, indicating neutral expectations.
- The 'Sell' category diminished, showing reduced pessimism.
Percentage Trends
Analyzing the percentage distribution of ratings, a perceptible shift towards neutrality can be observed:
- 'Strong Buy' ratings have decreased over the year, reflecting reduced market optimism.
- 'Hold' ratings now dominate, accounting for the largest portion at approximately 50%.
- The share of 'Sell' and 'Strong Sell' ratings remains minimal, signifying a lack of significant negative sentiment.
- Over the last 12 months, the 'Buy' ratings have held steady, while 'Hold' has grown from 35% to nearly 50%.
Latest Analyst Recommendations
Recent analyst ratings continue to highlight a consistent and measured stance towards Kroger's stock:
| 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 | Overweight | Overweight | JP Morgan |
Analyst Recommendations with Change of Opinion
Changes in analyst opinions provide insights into shifting perspectives about Kroger's market position and growth prospects:
| 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 aggregated analyst ratings reflect a mixed but steady sentiment towards Kroger. From a market perspective, there seems to be a cautious optimism, as reflected in consistent 'Hold' and some positive 'Buy' ratings. The recent decrease in negative ratings suggests improved confidence, albeit modest. Noteworthy is the stability of analyst opinions, indicating no drastic shifts in Kroger's business outlook.
Conclusion
In summary, The Kroger Co.'s current market position is seen with measured optimism. Analysts' steady ratings underscore a stable business outlook with moderate growth prospects. Despite some fluctuations, the recent trend indicates a slight shift towards holding positions, highlighting a wait-and-see approach amid market uncertainties. For potential investors, the balance of risks and opportunities suggests evaluating Kroger within the broader economic context while considering its foundational stability and consistent operational performance.