Kroger reports higher Q1 sales and ecommerce growth, but slight earnings miss keeps margins in focus.
Stock Earnings Results
June 18, 2026
Table of Contents
June 18, 2026
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) reported first-quarter 2026 results with higher sales, revenue above expectations, positive ecommerce growth, and maintained full-year guidance, but adjusted EPS came in slightly below estimates.
Kroger is one of the largest grocery retailers in the United States, operating supermarkets, pharmacies, fuel centers, private-label brands, ecommerce grocery services, and retail media through Kroger Precision Marketing.
The company reported adjusted EPS of $1.58, below estimates of $1.59, representing a negative 0.6% earnings surprise. Revenue came in at $46.12 billion, above estimates of $45.40 billion, with revenue growth of 2.2%.
Identical sales excluding fuel increased 1.0%, compared with 3.2% growth in the prior-year quarter.
Kroger reported EPS of $1.46, up from $1.29 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS increased to $1.58 from $1.49.
Operating profit rose to $1.41 billion from $1.32 billion, while adjusted FIFO operating profit increased to $1.54 billion from $1.52 billion.
Gross margin was 22.7%, compared with 23.0% a year earlier. The FIFO gross margin rate decreased 9 basis points, while the OG&A rate increased 16 basis points.
Adjusted ecommerce sales increased 19%, showing continued strength in digital grocery demand.
Kroger Precision Marketing profit grew more than 20%, highlighting the company’s ability to monetize customer data and retail media advertising.
Management said the company is focused on becoming “America’s best grocer,” with priorities around customer experience, store execution, and digital growth.
Kroger maintained its 2026 guidance.
The guidance hold suggests management still sees the business tracking in line with its full-year plan despite modest identical sales growth and slight EPS pressure.
Kroger’s quarter was steady, but not strong enough to avoid pressure.
Revenue beat expectations, operating profit improved, ecommerce grew sharply, and retail media remained a high-growth profit contributor. The stock reaction likely reflected the slight EPS miss, slower identical sales growth, and margin pressure.
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