Identical Sales without fuel increased 1.0%1
Operating Profit of $1,407 million; EPS of $1.46
Adjusted FIFO Operating Profit of $1,544 million and Adjusted EPS of $1.58
Adjusted eCommerce sales grew +19%2; Kroger Precision Marketing profit grew over 20%
CINCINNATI, June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) today reported its first quarter 2026 results, maintained 2026 guidance, and shared progress on key priorities.
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1 Excludes adjustment items. See table 4.
2 Adjusted eCommerce sales exclude the effect of fulfillment center exits in markets where Kroger does not operate stores, the sale of Vitacost, and the discontinuation of Ship Marketplace.
Comments from CEO Greg Foran
"I joined Kroger because I believe it represents the best opportunity in retail. We serve millions of families every day, in our stores and online. We have the right stores in the right places, unmatched customer insights, and the ability to win. Our focus is clear: to become America's best grocer. We will measure ourselves against that every day.
We are pleased with our first quarter results, but we know there is more work to do. That is why we are building a culture that is never satisfied, with a constant focus on serving our customers better."
First Quarter Financial Results
1Q26
($ in millions; except EPS)
1Q25
($ in millions; except EPS)
ID Sales(1) (Table 4)
1.0 %
3.2 %
Earnings Per Share
$1.46
$1.29
Adjusted EPS (Table 6)
$1.58
$1.49
Operating Profit
$1,407
$1,322
Adjusted FIFO Operating Profit (Table 7)
$1,544
$1,518
Gross Margin (Table 8)
22.7 %
23.0 %
FIFO Gross Margin Rate(2)
Decreased 9 basis points
OG&A Rate(3)
Increased 16 basis points
(1) Without fuel and adjustment items, if applicable, and includes an unfavorable 130 basis point impact from the Inflation Reduction Act.
(2) Without rent, depreciation and amortization, fuel and adjustment items, if applicable.
(3) Without fuel and adjustment items, if applicable.
Total company sales were $46.1 billion in the first quarter compared to $45.1 billion for the same period last year. Excluding fuel and Vitacost, sales increased 0.5% compared to the same period last year.
Gross margin was 22.7% of sales for the first quarter compared to 23.0% for the same period last year. The decrease in rate was primarily driven by the mix impact of higher fuel sales, higher transportation costs, egg deflation, and planned price investments. These pressures were partially offset by favorable pharmacy mix, improved eCommerce profitability, sourcing benefits, and lower depreciation.
The FIFO gross margin rate, excluding rent, depreciation and amortization, fuel, and adjustment items decreased 9 basis points compared to the same period last year. The decrease in rate was primarily driven by the impacts from higher transportation costs, egg deflation, and planned price investments. These pressures were partially offset by favorable pharmacy mix, improved eCommerce profitability, and sourcing benefits.
The LIFO charge for the quarter was $52 million, compared to a LIFO charge of $40 million for the same period last year.
The Operating, General and Administrative rate, excluding fuel and adjustment items, increased 16 basis points compared to the same period last year. The increase in rate was primarily attributable to planned investments in associate wages and hours to enhance the customer experience, partially offset by lapping higher multi-employer pension contributions from the prior year and ongoing productivity initiatives.
Capital Allocation
Kroger expects to continue to generate strong free cash flow and remains committed to investing in the business to drive long-term sustainable net earnings growth, as well as maintaining its current investment grade debt rating. The Company expects to continue to pay its quarterly dividend and expects this to increase over time, subject to board approval.
In December 2025, Kroger's Board of Directors approved an additional $2 billion share repurchase authorization. Kroger expects to complete these repurchases by the end of fiscal 2026.
Kroger's net total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio is 1.75, compared to 1.69 a year ago (Table 5). The company's net total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio target range is 2.30 to 2.50. Kroger's strong balance sheet provides ample opportunities for the Company to invest in the business and enhance shareholder value.
Full-Year 2026 Guidance* Reaffirmed
Adjusted Metric*
FY26 Guidance
Identical Sales without fuel**
1.0% - 2.0%
FIFO Operating Profit
$5.0 - $5.2 billion
EPS
$5.10 - $5.30
Free Cash Flow
$2.7 - $2.9 billion
Cap Ex
$3.8 - $4.0 billion
Tax Rate***
23 %
* Without adjusted items, if applicable. Kroger is unable to provide a full reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP measures used in 2026 guidance without unreasonable effort because it is not possible to predict certain of our adjustment items with a reasonable degree of certainty. This information is dependent upon future events and may be outside of our control and its unavailability could have a significant impact on 2026 GAAP financial results.
** Includes approximately 130 basis points unfavorable impact from the Inflation Reduction Act.
*** The adjusted tax rate reflects typical tax adjustments and does not reflect changes to the rate from the completion of income tax audit examinations and changes in tax laws and policies, which cannot be predicted.
About KrogerThe Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is one of America's largest retailers, serving more than 11 million customers daily through a digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names. With more than 400,000 associates across our family of companies, Kroger is committed to providing America with affordable, great-tasting food and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
Kroger's first quarter 2026 ended on May 23, 2026.
Note: Fuel sales have historically had a low gross margin rate and operating expense rate as compared to corresponding rates on non-fuel sales. As a result, Kroger discusses the changes in these rates excluding the effect of fuel.
Please refer to the supplemental information presented in the tables for reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release to the most comparable GAAP financial measure and related disclosure. As noted above, Kroger is unable to provide a full reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP measures used in its guidance without unreasonable effort because it is not possible to predict certain of our adjustment items with a reasonable degree of certainty. This information is dependent upon future events and may be outside of our control and its unavailability could have a significant impact on GAAP financial results.
This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" about Kroger's financial position and the future performance of the company. These statements are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "achieve," "committed," "continue," "drive," "expect," "focused," "future," "guidance," "may," "model," "opportunities," "strategy," "target," "trends," and variations of such words and similar phrases. Various uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include the specific risk factors identified in "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for our last fiscal year and any subsequent filings, as well as the following:
Kroger's ability to achieve sales, earnings, incremental FIFO operating profit, and adjusted free cash flow goals may be affected by: labor negotiations; potential work stoppages; changes in the unemployment rate; pressures in the labor market; changes in government-funded benefit programs; changes in the types and numbers of businesses that compete with Kroger; pricing and promotional activities of existing and new competitors, and the aggressiveness of that competition; Kroger's response to these actions; the state of the economy, including interest rates, the inflationary, disinflationary and/or deflationary trends and such trends in certain commodities, products and/or operating costs; the geopolitical environment including wars and conflicts; unstable political situations and social unrest; changes in tariffs; the effect that fuel costs have on consumer spending; volatility of fuel margins; manufacturing commodity costs; supply constraints; diesel fuel costs related to Kroger's logistics operations; trends in consumer spending; the extent to which Kroger's customers exercise caution in their purchasing in response to economic conditions; the uncertainty of economic growth or recession; stock repurchases; changes in the regulatory environment in which Kroger operates, along with changes in federal policy and at state and federal regulatory agencies; Kroger's ability to retain pharmacy sales from third party payors; consolidation in the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefit managers; Kroger's ability to negotiate modifications to multi-employer pension plans; natural disasters or adverse weather conditions; the effect of public health crises or other significant catastrophic events; the potential costs and risks associated with potential cyber-attacks or data security breaches; the success of Kroger's future growth plans; the ability to execute our growth strategy and value creation model, including continued cost savings, growth of our alternative profit businesses, and our ability to better serve our customers and to generate customer loyalty and sustainable growth through our strategic pillars of fresh, our brands, personalization, and eCommerce; the outcome of litigation matters, including those relating to the terminated transaction with Albertsons; and the risks relating to or arising from our opioid litigation settlements, including the risk of litigation relating to persons, entities, or jurisdictions that do not participate in those settlements. Our ability to achieve these goals may also be affected by our ability to manage the factors identified above. Our ability to execute our financial strategy may be affected by our ability to generate cash flow.
Kroger's adjusted effective tax rate may differ from the expected rate due to changes in tax laws and policies, the status of pending items with various taxing authorities, and the deductibility of certain expenses.
Kroger assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable law. Please refer to Kroger's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties.
Note: Kroger's quarterly conference call with investors will broadcast live at 8 a.m. (ET) on June 18, 2026 at ir.kroger.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available at approximately 1 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
1st Quarter 2026 Tables Include:
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Supplemental Sales Information
Reconciliation of Net Total Debt and Net Earnings Attributable to The Kroger Co. to Adjusted EBITDA
Net Earnings Per Diluted Share Excluding the Adjustment Items
Operating Profit Excluding the Adjustment Items
Gross Margin
Table 1.
THE KROGER CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
FIRST QUARTER
2026
2025
SALES
$ 46,121
100.0 %
$ 45,118
100.0 %
OPERATING EXPENSES
MERCHANDISE COSTS, INCLUDING ADVERTISING,
WAREHOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION (a),
AND LIFO CHARGE (b)
35,493
77.0
34,551
76.6
OPERATING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE (a)
7,963
17.3
7,923
17.6
RENT
269
0.6
271
0.6
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
989
2.1
1,051
2.3
OPERATING PROFIT
1,407
3.1
1,322
2.9
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
NET INTEREST EXPENSE
(209)
(0.5)
(199)
(0.5)
NON-SERVICE COMPONENT OF COMPANY-SPONSORED
PENSION PLAN EXPENSE
(7)
-
(1)
-
LOSS ON INVESTMENTS
(14)
-
(19)
-
NET EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE
1,177
2.6
1,103
2.4
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
273
0.6
235
0.5
NET EARNINGS INCLUDING NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
904
2.0
868
1.9
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
1
-
2
-
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE KROGER CO.
$ 903
2.0 %
$ 866
1.9 %
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE KROGER CO.
PER BASIC COMMON SHARE
$ 1.46
$ 1.30
AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES USED IN
BASIC CALCULATION
613
660
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE KROGER CO.
PER DILUTED COMMON SHARE
$ 1.46
$ 1.29
AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES USED IN
DILUTED CALCULATION
615
664
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
$ 0.35
$ 0.32
Note:
Certain percentages may not sum due to rounding.
Note:
The Company defines First-In First-Out (FIFO) gross profit as sales minus merchandise costs, including advertising, warehousing and transportation, but excluding the Last-In First-Out (LIFO) charge, rent and depreciation and amortization.
The Company defines FIFO gross margin as FIFO gross profit divided by sales.
The Company defines FIFO operating profit as operating profit excluding the LIFO charge.
The Company defines FIFO operating margin as FIFO operating profit divided by sales.
The above FIFO financial metrics are important measures used by management to evaluate operational effectiveness. Management believes these FIFO financial metrics are useful to investors and analysts because they measure our day-to-day operational effectiveness.
(a)
Merchandise costs ("COGS") and operating, general and administrative expenses ("OG&A") exclude depreciation and amortization expense and rent expense which are included in separate expense lines.
(b)
LIFO charges of $52 and $40 were recorded in the first quarters of 2026 and 2025, respectively.
Table 2.
THE KROGER CO.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions)
(unaudited)
May 23,
May 24,
2026
2025
ASSETS
Current Assets
