Kroger reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share, up 4.8% year over year and ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.05, while cutting its fiscal 2026 identical-sales outlook to 0.2%-0.8% from 1%-2%. Total sales rose 2% to $34.62 billion but missed the consensus mark of $34.69 billion, and identical sales excluding fuel increased just 0.2%. Adjusted e-commerce sales climbed 20%, following 19% growth in the first quarter, with new digital customers also up 20%, and Kroger Precision Marketing profit rose 24%, its best growth rate since 2021. The company's 0.2% identical-sales growth absorbed about 265 basis points of combined pressure, including roughly 140 basis points from the Inflation Reduction Act, about 60 basis points from the shift to generic prescriptions, about 35 basis points from Cyclospora and about 30 basis points from egg deflation. Adjusted earnings guidance remained $5.10-$5.30 per share, and Kroger carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Kroger CompanyKroger cut its fiscal 2026 identical-sales outlook to 0.2%-0.8% from 1%-2% despite beating on adjusted EPS.
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