Equity Profile

KR

The Kroger Co.

Consumer StaplesFood Retail$36.3B

Jun18Thu

Pre-Earnings Brief

UpcomingQ1-2026Pre-Market9:00 AM EDT

Company Snapshot

The Kroger Co. (KR) is a major player in the food retail sector, operating supermarkets and multi-department stores across the United States....

Key Metrics to Watch

EPS

Earnings per share (EPS) is a key indicator of profitability and will show how well Kroger has managed costs and sales.

$1.59

Revenue

Total revenue reflects overall sales performance and consumer demand, which are crucial for assessing Kroger's market position.

$45.5B

Wall Street expectations, options signals, track record, and call prep available with Pro.

KR Q1-2026 Earnings Preview

Context

Company Snapshot

The Kroger Co. (KR) is a major player in the food retail sector, operating supermarkets and multi-department stores across the United States. As a consumer staples company, Kroger is important for understanding trends in grocery shopping, consumer spending, and inflation impacts on food prices.

Earnings Scorecard·Last 8Q

EPS Beat Streak

EPS Beat Rate

88%

Avg EPS Surprise

+2.91%

Avg Stock Reaction

+2.25%

Last Quarter Recap

In the last quarter, Kroger reported an EPS of $1.28, exceeding estimates by 6.31%. The stock reacted positively, gaining 5.27% the following day.

Management Promises & Guidance

Expectations

Wall Street Expectations

Analysts expect Kroger to report solid earnings this quarter, with a consensus EPS of $1.59 and revenue of $45.5 billion. The market is closely watching for any signs of consumer spending trends.

Bull Case

If Kroger beats EPS estimates, it could indicate strong consumer demand and effective cost management, leading to a positive market reaction.

Bear Case

Conversely, if Kroger misses expectations, it may raise concerns about inflationary pressures on food prices and consumer spending habits.

Key Metrics to Watch

EPS

$1.59

Earnings per share (EPS) is a key indicator of profitability and will show how well Kroger has managed costs and sales.

Revenue

$45.5B

Total revenue reflects overall sales performance and consumer demand, which are crucial for assessing Kroger's market position.

Expectations

Two Questions That Matter

The print will turn on these two things.

Will Kroger's EPS exceed $1.59?

A beat on EPS would signal strong operational performance and could boost investor confidence.

What are the trends in consumer spending on groceries?

Understanding consumer behavior is crucial for assessing future revenue growth and market positioning.

Edge

What the Street Is Missing

Why consensus could be wrong

The consensus might underestimate Kroger's ability to manage costs effectively amidst rising inflation, leading to better-than-expected EPS.

Supporting Evidence

Kroger has consistently beaten EPS estimates in recent quarters, indicating strong operational efficiency.

The options market is pricing a larger move than historical averages, suggesting heightened expectations.

Consumer spending on groceries remains resilient despite inflation, which may not be fully reflected in analyst estimates.

Key Risk

If Kroger's EPS comes in below $1.55, it could signal deeper issues with consumer spending.

Edge

Thesis-Break Levels

Pre-commit to what would confirm each case.

This quarter's performance will hinge on Kroger's ability to navigate inflationary pressures while maintaining sales growth.

Bull Confirmed If

An EPS of $1.65 or higher would confirm strong demand and cost management.

Bear Confirmed If

An EPS below $1.55 would raise concerns about consumer spending and inflation impacts.

Pre-Earnings Positioning

Options Market

Implied Move

±7.5%

Historical Avg

±4.2%

Pricing rich

The options market is pricing in a significant move, suggesting that traders expect volatility around the earnings announcement.

Options are pricing ±7.5% while KR has averaged ±4.2% over the last 8 prints — setup is pricing rich.

Detail

ATM IV

0.4%

30d HV

28.7%

Calls (1.3M)P/C Ratio: 0.52Puts (352K)

Edge

Historical Setup Match

Cross-company pattern from 30 similar setups.

Prior-quarter beat + options rich in Consumer Staples

n=30

Fade rate: 9 of 27 (33%)

This setup has occurred 30 times across Consumer Staples in the last 2 years. 18 of 27 (67%) held or extended their move within 5 days — this setup typically holds direction. The average absolute 1-day move is 4.7%, with a raw directional average of +1.7% (modestly positive historical bias).

Preparation

Post-Print Playbook

Likely market behavior by outcome — not investment advice.

Beat & Raise

If Kroger beats expectations, history suggests a potential stock increase of around 2.39%, confirming strong demand.

In-Line / Cautious

If results are in line with expectations, the stock may see muted movement as investors await further commentary.

Miss

A miss could lead to a decline, with historical patterns suggesting an average drop of around 1.34%.

Preparation

Congressional Activity

House & Senate STOCK Act disclosures over the trailing 6 months.

Trades

1 buy·2 sells

Members

House + Senate

Est. Notional

$3,003.00–$45,000.00

disclosed dollar ranges

Most Active Members

R-OHDavid J. TaylorRep.
2

Earnings Track Record

Preparation

What to Listen For

Call Prep

1Any updates on Kroger's pricing strategy in response to inflation.
2Insights into consumer behavior and spending patterns on groceries.
3Management's outlook on competitive pressures in the food retail sector.
4Details on cost management initiatives and their impact on margins.
5Any commentary on future revenue growth projections.

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Company Snapshot

The Kroger Co. (KR) is a major player in the food retail sector, operating supermarkets and multi-department stores across the United States....

Key Metrics to Watch

EPS

Earnings per share (EPS) is a key indicator of profitability and will show how well Kroger has managed costs and sales.

$1.59

Revenue

Total revenue reflects overall sales performance and consumer demand, which are crucial for assessing Kroger's market position.

$45.5B

Wall Street expectations, options signals, track record, and call prep available with Pro.

KR Q1-2026 Earnings Preview

Context

Company Snapshot

Earnings Scorecard·Last 8Q

EPS Beat Streak

EPS Beat Rate

88%

Avg EPS Surprise

+2.91%

Avg Stock Reaction

+2.25%

Last Quarter Recap

In the last quarter, Kroger reported an EPS of $1.28, exceeding estimates by 6.31%. The stock reacted positively, gaining 5.27% the following day.

Management Promises & Guidance

Expectations

Wall Street Expectations

Analysts expect Kroger to report solid earnings this quarter, with a consensus EPS of $1.59 and revenue of $45.5 billion. The market is closely watching for any signs of consumer spending trends.

Bull Case

If Kroger beats EPS estimates, it could indicate strong consumer demand and effective cost management, leading to a positive market reaction.

Bear Case

Conversely, if Kroger misses expectations, it may raise concerns about inflationary pressures on food prices and consumer spending habits.

Key Metrics to Watch

EPS

$1.59

Earnings per share (EPS) is a key indicator of profitability and will show how well Kroger has managed costs and sales.

Revenue

$45.5B

Total revenue reflects overall sales performance and consumer demand, which are crucial for assessing Kroger's market position.

Expectations

Two Questions That Matter

The print will turn on these two things.

Will Kroger's EPS exceed $1.59?

A beat on EPS would signal strong operational performance and could boost investor confidence.

What are the trends in consumer spending on groceries?

Understanding consumer behavior is crucial for assessing future revenue growth and market positioning.

Edge

What the Street Is Missing

Why consensus could be wrong

The consensus might underestimate Kroger's ability to manage costs effectively amidst rising inflation, leading to better-than-expected EPS.

Supporting Evidence

Kroger has consistently beaten EPS estimates in recent quarters, indicating strong operational efficiency.

The options market is pricing a larger move than historical averages, suggesting heightened expectations.

Consumer spending on groceries remains resilient despite inflation, which may not be fully reflected in analyst estimates.

Key Risk

If Kroger's EPS comes in below $1.55, it could signal deeper issues with consumer spending.

Edge

Thesis-Break Levels

Pre-commit to what would confirm each case.

This quarter's performance will hinge on Kroger's ability to navigate inflationary pressures while maintaining sales growth.

Bull Confirmed If

An EPS of $1.65 or higher would confirm strong demand and cost management.

Bear Confirmed If

An EPS below $1.55 would raise concerns about consumer spending and inflation impacts.

Pre-Earnings Positioning

Options Market

Implied Move

±7.5%

Historical Avg

±4.2%

Pricing rich

The options market is pricing in a significant move, suggesting that traders expect volatility around the earnings announcement.

Options are pricing ±7.5% while KR has averaged ±4.2% over the last 8 prints — setup is pricing rich.

Detail

ATM IV

0.4%

30d HV

28.7%

Calls (1.3M)P/C Ratio: 0.52Puts (352K)

Edge

Historical Setup Match

Cross-company pattern from 30 similar setups.

Prior-quarter beat + options rich in Consumer Staples

n=30

Fade rate: 9 of 27 (33%)

Preparation

Post-Print Playbook

Likely market behavior by outcome — not investment advice.

Beat & Raise

If Kroger beats expectations, history suggests a potential stock increase of around 2.39%, confirming strong demand.

In-Line / Cautious

If results are in line with expectations, the stock may see muted movement as investors await further commentary.

Miss

A miss could lead to a decline, with historical patterns suggesting an average drop of around 1.34%.

Preparation

Congressional Activity

House & Senate STOCK Act disclosures over the trailing 6 months.

Trades

1 buy·2 sells

Members

House + Senate

Est. Notional

$3,003.00–$45,000.00

disclosed dollar ranges

Most Active Members

R-OHDavid J. TaylorRep.
2

Earnings Track Record

Preparation

What to Listen For

Call Prep

1Any updates on Kroger's pricing strategy in response to inflation.
2Insights into consumer behavior and spending patterns on groceries.
3Management's outlook on competitive pressures in the food retail sector.
4Details on cost management initiatives and their impact on margins.
5Any commentary on future revenue growth projections.