Pre-market · Regular session opens 9:30 AM ET
Last update: Sep 16, 2026, 5:08 PM ET
The Kroger Co.
$61.14 1.78% today
Pre-market

Why The Kroger Co. (KR) stock moved

Updated Sep 17, 2026

The Kroger Co. (KR) shares fell 1.8% to $61.14 as of September 17, 2026, a modest decline from the prior close of $62.25. BestStocks flagged the session as a major change for KR. Below, we break down what changed for KR, why it matters for investors, how the stock reacted, and the catalysts on the calendar.

What happened

KR fell 1.8% to $61.14

Kroger reported Q2 fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.09, beating consensus of $1.05, despite revenue of $34.62B coming in slightly below expectations (Yahoo Finance, Zacks). The stock rallied +3.81% to $60.72 as investors rewarded the earnings beat and the company's cost discipline, even as management lowered full-year identical sales guidance to 0.2–0.8% amid a pressured consumer retail environment. Volume of 2.86M shares ran 1.12x normal for this point in the session. Monitor Q2 earnings call details and any analyst commentary on the lowered full-year sales guidance range (0.2–0.8%); watch for updates on consumer demand trends and Kroger's ability to sustain profit margins into Q3 and beyond.

This summary describes the catalyst and move as first detected on Sep 14, 2026, 12:13 PM EDT; the stock has continued trading since, so the current price and percentage move (shown above) may be larger or smaller than the figures here.
ValuationWeak confidence
Rel. volume
1.1×
Normal
Vs peers
No comparable peers
Market cap
$37.5B
New York Stock Exchange
Analyst target
$70
+13.9% vs price
Price chart
Aug 17 – Sep 17
VNEVV$56$59$62Aug 17Aug 25Sep 1Sep 10Sep 17
E earnings
F filing
A analyst
V/N other
click a marker to highlight
Change events — click to jump to details

What it means for The Kroger Co. investors

For The Kroger Co. investors, the recent signals are mixed, leaving the near-term picture neutral / mixed. On the constructive side: The Kroger Co. (KR) moved +3.62% from $56.56 to $58.61 on 2026-07-16; Positive price momentum. Weighing against that: Negative session, down 1.8%; The Kroger Co. (KR) moved -3.71% from $58.74 to $56.56 on 2026-07-15. Wall Street's consensus price target sits at $69.64, implying +13.9% upside from $61.14. BestStocks rates the overall signal quality weak (36/100). With earnings roughly 77 days out, the next report is the most likely near-term test of the move.

KR price reaction

KR last traded at $61.14, down $1.11 (-1.78%) from the previous close of $62.25. The session traded on 1.1× average volume (normal), so participation was unremarkable. Over the past month the stock has ranged between $56.07 and $62.25, and it currently sits about 82% of the way up that band.

Bullish and bearish analyst opinions on The Kroger Co. (KR)

The consensus analyst price target on The Kroger Co. (KR) is $69.64, 13.9% above the recent $61.14. Over the past 90 days analysts logged 0 upgrades, 13 maintains, and 0 downgrades. Here is how the bullish and bearish cases on KR line up.

The bullish case

  • Wall Street's consensus price target of $69.64 implies +13.9% upside from $61.14.
  • The Street's most bullish target is $82.00 (+34.1%).
  • The Kroger Co. (KR) moved +3.62% from $56.56 to $58.61 on 2026-07-16.
  • Positive price momentum.

The bearish case

  • The most bearish analyst target is $58.00 (-5.1%).
  • Negative session, down 1.8%.
  • The Kroger Co. (KR) moved -3.71% from $58.74 to $56.56 on 2026-07-15.
Bull vs bear balanceNeutral / Mixed
BearishNeutralBullish

Weighing both sides, BestStocks' composite read of recent signals is roughly balanced, as the bull-versus-bear meter above shows. This is an educational summary of the bull and bear case, not investment advice.

Analyst price targets and ratings are FMP consensus figures as of Sep 17, 2026; other aggregators may differ. High and low targets show the range of estimates, not forecasts.

Analyst expectations
Consensus target: $70+13.9%
= 13 maintains
Guggenheim maintained Buy · 2026-09-15
SEC filings watch
8-K2026-07-01
Material event — review for impact
high
8-K2026-06-26
Material event — review for impact
high
10-Q2026-06-26
Quarterly financial results
medium
8-K2026-06-18
Material event — review for impact
high
Peer context
KR-1.8%

Previous notable changes for KR

Valuation2026-09-15+2.2%via Yahoo Finance
Kroger shares rose 2.04% to $62.16 following a second-quarter earnings beat and cost-control execution. The company reported adjusted EPS of $1.09, exceeding analyst estimates, driven by margin expansion in pharmacy, fuel, and e-commerce plus supply chain optimization—offsetting a reduction in full-year identical-sales guidance to 0.2%–0.8% due to softer store sales and price-sensitive consumer behavior (Yahoo Finance, Morningstar). Volume at 4.37M shares is 1.10x normal for this point in the session.
News2026-09-11+2.7%
The Kroger Co. (KR) moved +5.36% on 2026-09-11 after reporting Q2 earnings of $1.09 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.05 per share. However, the company cut its fiscal-year same-store sales outlook, citing the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Valuation2026-09-11+2.7%via zacks.com
Kroger beat Q2 EPS expectations with $1.09 vs. consensus $1.05 (Zacks), driving a +2.77% intraday gain to $58.52. The company simultaneously cut its fiscal-year same-store sales guidance to 0.2–0.8% from 1–2%, citing macro headwinds including the Inflation Reduction Act impact (Barron's, WSJ). Volume was elevated at 3.58x the expected level 80 minutes into the session, suggesting broad investor relief at the earnings beat despite the lowered outlook.
Material / Earnings2026-08-21+2.8%
The Kroger Co. (KR) moved +2.50% from $56.49 to $57.90 on 2026-08-21. We checked news, earnings announcements, analyst updates, SEC filings, and corporate actions — no company-specific catalyst was found. Volume remained near its 5-day average, suggesting the move lacked unusual trading momentum.
Upcoming catalysts & outlook
Next earnings
2026-12-03 (est.)
in 77 days
Earnings Release
2026-12-03
High impact
Thesis shift
Neutral / Mixed
bearish signal
Risk level
Medium
from change events

Frequently asked questions about KR

Why did The Kroger Co. (KR) stock move?

KR fell 1.8% to $61.14. The move coincided with the context summarized above, though no single company-specific catalyst was independently confirmed.

How much did KR stock fall?

KR lost 1.78% ($1.11) versus the prior close of $62.25, last trading at $61.14 on 1.1× average volume.

When is The Kroger Co.'s next earnings date?

KR's next earnings report is estimated for 2026-12-03 — about 77 days away.

What is the analyst price target for KR?

The consensus analyst price target for KR is $69.64, about 13.9% above the current $61.14. Over the past 90 days, analysts recorded 0 upgrades, 13 maintains, and 0 downgrades.

How BestStocks tracks KR

This page is generated automatically by BestStocks' change-detection system after its price and volume cleared KR-specific materiality thresholds, triggering an evidence check. It draws on 10 tracked change events for KR, cross-checked against the data sources listed below. Price, volume, and market-capitalization figures are the live intraday quote as of September 17, 2026 and refresh as new information is detected; for companies with multiple share classes, market-cap figures can differ by data source. Analyst price targets and ratings are FMP consensus. This is an educational summary of what changed and why — not personalized investment advice.

Data sources
FMP real-time & historical price dataSEC EDGAR filingsAnalyst ratings & price targets (FMP)Earnings calendar (FMP)
Educational research tool — not personalized investment advice. Data may be delayed.