The Kroger Co. (KR) Earnings Call Transcripts

The Kroger Co.'s Latest Earnings Call - Q1 FY2027

In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, The Kroger Co. reported revenue of $34.5 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.58, reflecting a 6% year-over-year growth. Identical sales, excluding fuel, grew by 1%, driven by strong performances in e-commerce and private label brands. Management reaffirmed full-year guidance, indicating a focus on cost savings and improved e-commerce profitability, despite headwinds from inflation and pharmacy-related challenges. The stock may be influenced by ongoing operational improvements and strategic pricing initiatives aimed at enhancing market share.

Reported metrics

Guidance from management

Kroger reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting identical sales growth without fuel to be in line with the first quarter. Adjusted net earnings per diluted share are anticipated to be in line with last year in the second quarter, with growth expected to accelerate in the back half of the year.

What management said

Yes. No, we don't. And we've made comments in the script about starting to pull away from that traditional grocery set, something they call rest of market. And what we're starting to see now is the beginnings of a meaningful break, and we're nowhere near where we want to be, but there's separation. That separation has been been there now for a few months, and we're pleased with that, and we're focused on it. And at s...

I think the only thing I'd add, John, and agree with everything Greg said, in terms of the unit performance that we're seeing, if you look at the unit market share performance, actually it was pretty good. It was about the best we've seen in 2 to 3 years. So I think that's encouraging in the context of the market. But to Greg's point, our objective needs to be to get the units of the business to positive. And that is...

What analysts pressed on

Analysts expressed concerns regarding the execution gap between high-performing and underperforming stores, questioning the potential impact on market share. There were also inquiries about the timeline for pricing investments to yield significant sales growth, given competitive pressures.

Main topics on the call

• E-commerce Growth — Kroger's e-commerce segment grew by 19%, with delivery services leading this growth. The e-commerce business, including media, turned profitable this quarter, marking a significant milestone for the company. Management s...
• Cost Management Initiatives — Management emphasized the need to reduce operating costs, stating, 'Taking costs out of this business is not optional.' They reported achieving cost savings 30% ahead of plan in the first quarter, which is expected to su...
• Market Share Performance — Kroger reported improved market share, pulling away from traditional grocery competitors. Management noted, 'We've started to pull away from the middle of the pack... our best performance against Secarna's rest of market...
• Pharmacy Business Challenges — The pharmacy segment faced headwinds from the Inflation Reduction Act and a shift from branded to generic prescriptions, impacting sales growth. However, management stated, 'Pharmacy profit grew ahead of expectations,' i...

Read the full The Kroger Co. transcript (Q1 FY2027) → Summary generated from the call transcript; every figure above is stated by management on the record.

Earnings Call History

EarningsCalls.dev has 38 The Kroger Co. earnings call transcripts on record, spanning March 5, 2020 to June 18, 2026. Based on this history, The Kroger Co. reports quarterly. The most recent call on file is dated June 18, 2026. The full list is below — each row opens the complete, free-to-read transcript.

Ticker

KR

Exchange

NYSE

Country

US

Sector

Consumer Staples

Industry

Consumer Staples Distribution and Retail

Calls on record

38

First call

March 5, 2020

Most recent

June 18, 2026

Reporting cadence

quarterly