Kroger

Kroger reported Q2 operational gains from cost savings, profitable e-commerce growth and improved on-shelf availability, but identical sales were hit by a Cyclospora outbreak and pharmacy pressures. Management lowered full-year identical sales guidance to 0.2%–0.8% and expects a ~150 basis-point pharmacy headwind in Q4 due to new high-cost drugs, while saying profit won’t be affected. The company is prioritizing a multi-year customer value plan, expanding private-label penetration, resuming share repurchases and aiming to close the Giant Eagle acquisition in 2027 pending regulatory review. » More on finance.yahoo.com

Kroger reported adjusted EPS of $1.09 for Q2 (consensus $1.06) on revenue of $34.6bn, slightly below estimates. Same-store sales growth excluding fuel was only 0.2%, and management cut the full-year forecast for that metric to 0.2–0.8% (previously 1–2%). Higher gross margins, e-commerce and retail-media growth, and cost savings supported profitability, but investors were unsettled by weak demand and revision-related uncertainty; the stock fell about 1.95% in premarket trading. » More on de.investing.com

Harbor Mid Cap Value Fund named Kroger a top detractor in Q2 2026 after the grocery chain’s shares dropped more than 20% amid slowing same-store sales and inflationary pressure. Increased competition from lower-cost providers has forced Kroger to cut prices to defend market share. The stock is down about 15% year‑over‑year and closed at $58.59 on September 4, 2026, with a market cap near $35.9 billion. » More on finance.yahoo.com

Kroger has appointed Mark Ibbotson executive vice president and chief store operations officer, effective September 14. Ibbotson joins from leadership roles at Asda and Walmart, where he drove store operations, e‑commerce integration and digital transformation. Since 2020 he worked as a strategic advisor and served as a senior advisor at McKinsey. Kroger highlights his experience in simplifying complex operating models and expanding digital and physical capacity. » More on de.investing.com

Citi warns of a tighter price competition between Kroger and Walmart that could pressure Kroger's same-store sales and margins. Walmart has around $3 billion in rebates it plans to invest in grocery prices and could expand market share. Citi expects Q2 results largely in line with expectations, but cut its full-year earnings target for Kroger and lowered the price target from $61 to $57 amid more pessimistic margin assumptions and ongoing competitive dynamics. » More on de.investing.com