Koger Stock Jumps As New CEO Sparks Growth Hopes
The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) shares are up during Monday’s premarket session following the appointment of Greg Foran as the new Chief Executive Officer.
This leadership change comes as the company aims to advance its growth strategy, adding pressure as broader markets edged lower.
Greg Foran Named CEO of Kroger
Foran, who has over 40 years of experience in leading large consumer businesses, succeeds Ron Sargent, who served as interim CEO since March 2025.
The board expressed confidence in Foran’s ability to guide Kroger into its next chapter, citing his successful track record in retail, including a notable turnaround at Walmart U.S., where he oversaw significant digital advancements.
In addition to his retail expertise, Foran’s recent role as CEO of Air New Zealand involved leading a digital transformation and navigating challenges during the pandemic.
This leadership transition is expected to be discussed further during the upcoming earnings call on March 5, 2026.
The company reiterated its previously issued FY25 guidance of adjusted earnings of $4.75 to $4.80 per share (vs. consensus of $4.80).
Kroger’s Strong Momentum Amidst Leadership Change
Kroger’s stock is currently trading 12.9% above its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 10.1% above its 100-day SMA, indicating strong short-term momentum. Shares have increased by 3.40% over the past 12 months and are currently positioned closer to their 52-week highs than lows.
The RSI is at 68.03, which is considered neutral territory, while the MACD is above its signal line, indicating bullish momentum. The combination of a neutral RSI and bullish MACD suggests mixed momentum.
- Key Resistance: $73.50
- Key Support: $62.00
Upcoming Earnings and Analyst Expectations
The Kroger Co. is slated to provide its next financial update on March 5, 2026.
- EPS Estimate: $1.20 (Up from $1.14 YoY)
- Revenue Estimate: $35.13 billion (Up from $34.31 billion YoY)
- Valuation: P/E of 59.7x (Indicates premium valuation)
Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions:
The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price forecast of $71.88. Recent analyst moves include:
- Morgan Stanley: Equal-Weight (Lowers Target to $67.00) (January 15)
- Barclays: Equal-Weight (Lowers Target to $68.00) (January 8)
- Citigroup: Neutral (Lowers Target to $68.00) (December 10, 2025)
Valuation Insight: While the stock trades at a premium P/E multiple, the strong consensus and rising estimates suggest analysts view the growth prospects as justification for the 2% upside to analyst targets.
Kroger’s Benzinga Edge Scorecard Analysis
Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for The Kroger, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
- Value: 45.76 — Trading at a premium relative to peers.
- Quality: 79.97 — Balance sheet remains healthy.
- Momentum: 22.07 — Stock is underperforming the broader market.
The Verdict: The Kroger’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a mixed outlook. While the Quality score indicates a solid balance sheet, the low Momentum score suggests that the stock is currently lagging behind broader market trends.
KR Price Action: Kroger shares were up 6.81% at $72.09 during premarket trading on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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