You've probably noticed that the grocery aisle is feeling a little more expensive lately, but have you checked the ticker lately? It’s a weird time for the "big blue" grocer. Kroger (KR) is currently trading around $62.49 per share as of mid-January 2026. If you’ve been watching the charts, you know it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. Just yesterday, the stock closed at $62.46, and while a three-cent jump might not seem like a headline-grabber, it’s the context that actually matters here.
The market is being incredibly picky right now.
📖 Related: How Many THB to the Dollar: Why the Rates You See Online Aren't Always Real
Honestly, if you look back just a few months to October or November 2025, the kroger stock price today per share looks a bit bruised. It was hanging out near its 52-week high of $74.90 not too long ago. Now? It’s clawing its way back from a low of $58.12. Why the slump? Basically, the drama surrounding the failed Albertsons merger left a bad taste in investors' mouths. When that deal went south under federal scrutiny, it didn't just stop a massive expansion; it triggered a total leadership reshuffle.
Why the Kroger Stock Price Today Per Share is Acting This Way
Markets hate uncertainty. That's the oldest rule in the book. Last year, Rodney McMullen—the guy who had been at the helm for what felt like forever—stepped down. Since March 2025, Ron Sargent has been steering the ship as interim CEO. Just this week, news broke that Kroger is shuffling the deck chairs again, promoting folks like Victor Smith and Monica Garnes to senior roles.
They’re trying to stabilize the vibe before they name a permanent outside CEO later this spring.
Then you’ve got the analysts. This week, Morgan Stanley’s Simeon Gutman actually lowered the price target from $72 down to $67. He kept an "Equal-Weight" rating, which is basically Wall Street’s way of saying, "It's fine, but don't expect a miracle." Barclays did something similar, dropping their target to $68.
But here is the thing: Kroger is still a cash-generating machine.
Nearly 30% of what they sell in the nonperishable and fresh food categories comes from their own private labels. You know the ones—Simple Truth and Private Selection. Because they manufacture about 30% of these "Our Brands" products themselves in their own plants, their margins are way better than if they were just reselling Name Brand stuff.
💡 You might also like: Stock Market Graph Last 5 Years: Why the Experts Were Kinda Wrong
The Dividend and the "Value" Trap
If you're into dividends, Kroger is still a pretty solid bet. The current yield is sitting around 2.24%.
- Annual Dividend: $1.40
- Quarterly Payment: $0.35
- Dividend Growth: 20 consecutive years (and counting)
That’s a big deal. For twenty years, they’ve managed to raise that payout. It’s the kind of consistency that makes retirees and "boring" investors happy. Even when the stock price is being temperamental, that check usually clears.
However, some people worry about the payout ratio. Right now, it's hovering in a range that suggests they are returning a lot of their earnings to shareholders rather than dumping it all back into the business. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily, but when you're competing against Walmart’s logistics and Amazon’s tech, you need every spare dollar to modernize.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Predictions
Kroger just dropped their food trend report for 2026, and it’s surprisingly focused on gut health and "mini-meals." They are betting big on things like:
- Probiotic yogurt shots and cultured dairy.
- High-protein, high-fiber snacks (think cheesy chickpea pasta).
- "Citrus Celebrations" featuring yuzu and blood orange.
This isn't just fluff. These are the high-margin items that help the bottom line when the kroger stock price today per share is under pressure. If they can get customers to buy a $6 bottle of specialized yuzu seltzer instead of a $2 generic soda, that’s where the growth comes from.
What’s the Real Play?
Is Kroger undervalued? Some analysts think so. The average target price from the pros is actually $73.80. If the stock is at $62.49 right now, that implies a potential upside of about 18%. But that depends on the new CEO and how they handle the "grocery wars."
Walmart is aggressive. Aldi is expanding like crazy—opening 180 new stores this year alone. Kroger’s response has been to lean into AI. They recently tapped Google Gemini to help optimize their e-commerce, which they hope will finally become truly profitable this year.
Actionable Steps for Investors
If you’re looking at the kroger stock price today per share and wondering whether to hit the buy button, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the CEO announcement: The company expects to name a permanent leader in the next couple of months. An "outsider" pick might signal a radical shift in strategy that could jumpstart the stock.
- Monitor the $60 floor: The stock has shown strong support around the $58-$60 range. If it dips below that, there might be bigger systemic issues at play.
- Check the e-commerce margins: Read the next quarterly report specifically for "e-commerce profitability." If they hit that milestone in 2026, the stock could easily re-test that $70 level.
- Dividend dates: The next ex-dividend date is likely in mid-February 2026. If you want that $0.35 per share, you’ll need to own it before then.
Kroger isn't a "get rich quick" stock. It’s a "slow and steady" grocery giant trying to find its footing after a failed marriage with Albertsons. It’s definitely not for everyone, but at $62, it’s looking a lot more like a value play than it did six months ago.