克罗格投资者日给出至2029年长期增长目标并重申2026指引，无当年业绩增量

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report:
October 20, 2026
(Date of earliest event reported)
The Kroger Co.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio
No.
1-303
31-0345740
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati
,
OH
45202
(Address of principal executive offices, including
zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code:
(
513
)
762-4000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on
which registered
Common Stock $1 par value
KR
NYSE
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging
growth company
¨
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
¨
Item 7.01
Regulation FD.
On October 20, 2026, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) issued a press release
in connection with its investor conference to be held on October 20, 2026. Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and furnished herewith,
is a copy of that release.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release dated October 20, 2026
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
The Kroger Co.
October 20, 2026
By:
/s/ George H. Vincent
George H. Vincent
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
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EX-99.1
2
tm2627753d1_ex99-1.htm
EXHIBIT 99.1
Exhibit 99.1
Kroger
Outlines Plan to Build America's Favorite Grocer and Introduces New Long-Term Financial Targets
Targets
approximately 3% comparable sales growth excluding fuel and pharmacy in 2029, 3%-6% adjusted EBITDA growth and 7%-11% adjusted net EPS
growth through 2029
Reaffirms
Guidance for 2026
CINCINNATI, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/
-- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) will host an Investor Update today in New York, where company leaders will outline a multi-year plan to
build America's Favorite Grocer and accelerate growth. The company also reiterates its guidance for full-year 2026 provided at its second
quarter earnings.
Comments from CEO Greg Foran
"Kroger has a clear opportunity
to unlock our full potential and build America’s Favorite
Grocer," said Greg Foran, CEO of Kroger. "We are making value more visible and focusing resources closer to the customer where
we see the highest returns. With our customers at the center, we are simplifying and modernizing our business to deliver a great customer
experience and provide long-term value to our shareholders."
Building America’s Favorite Grocer
Kroger’s updated strategy centers on three pillars, with a clear
focus on execution and the customer at the center.
·
Win With the Customer:
Kroger will deliver more value for customers
through a self-funded plan. The company will invest in areas of strength, including Fresh and meals, grow Our Brands penetration and Boost
membership, and expand into markets where it sees attractive returns.
·
Drive Profitable Digital Growth:
Kroger expects to grow eCommerce
sales and Retail Media revenue, winning more of customers’ online shopping and accelerating growth in Kroger Precision Marketing.
·
Modernize How We Operate:
Kroger expects to generate savings through
more direct sourcing, disciplined purchasing, streamlined processes and a more scalable operating model, with technology and AI improving
execution. These savings will fuel greater customer value and fund growth across the business.
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Kroger’s Long-Term Financial Framework
Kroger is introducing an updated financial framework intended to give
investors a clearer view of the performance of its core grocery business. The company is targeting:
·
Approximately 3% comparable sales growth in 2029, excluding fuel and pharmacy
(1)
;
·
3%-6% adjusted EBITDA CAGR for FY2027 through FY2029
(1)
; and
·
7%-11% adjusted net EPS CAGR for FY2027 through FY2029
(1)
.
(1)
Excludes the pending acquisition of Giant
Eagle.
The new EPS target measures earnings growth alone. It replaces the
previous 8%-11% total shareholder return target, which included the dividend yield, and implies a stronger earnings outlook. The company's
capital allocation strategy remains unchanged and focused on making high-return growth investments, maintaining financial strength and
returning surplus capital to shareholders via dividends, subject to board approval, and share buybacks.
“Our financial framework reflects our renewed focus on the core
grocery business and provides a clearer line of sight from operating performance to shareholder value,” said David Kennerley, CFO
of Kroger. “We are targeting higher sales by 2029, with stronger adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS growth over the next three years.
We remain focused on delivering customer value in a fully self-funded way, prioritizing high-return investments and disciplined cost savings
so we can expand margins over time while continuing to invest in growth.”
Investor Update
Kroger's 2026 Investor Update will include presentations from members
of the company's leadership team on customer value, eCommerce, Retail Media, store execution, operations and the company's long-term financial
framework.
The live webcast of the event is
scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and is expected to conclude at approximately 12:00 p.m. ET. All interested parties are invited to access
the webcast at ir.kroger.com under Events & Presentations.
An on-demand replay of the webcast
and presentation materials will be available on Kroger's investor relations website following the event.
About Kroger
The 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.
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This press release includes forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures
which management believes to be useful to investors and analysts. 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 with a reasonable degree of certainty.
It is not possible to estimate with a reasonable degree of certainty certain adjustment items because such information is dependent upon
future events that may be outside of our control. The unavailable information 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,” “continuing,” “deliver,” “drive,” “expect,” “focused,”
“framework,” “guidance,” “implies,” “long-term,” “may,” “model,”
“opportunities,” “plan,” “strategy,” “target,” “trends,” “will,”
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 adjusted EBITDA CAGR, adjusted net EPS
CAGR, sales, and earnings 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 us;
pricing and promotional activities of existing and new competitors and the aggressiveness of that competition; our 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 our logistics operations; trends in consumer spending; the extent to
which our 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 we operate, along with changes in federal policy and at state and federal
regulatory agencies; our ability to retain pharmacy sales from third-party payors; consolidation in the healthcare industry, including
pharmacy benefit managers; our ability to negotiate modifications to multi-employer pension plans; our ability to attract and retain qualified
individuals; 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 cyberattacks or data security breaches; the potential costs and risks associated
with new technologies, including artificial intelligence; the success of our future growth plans; the ability to execute our growth strategy
and value creation model, including continued cost savings, growth of our media businesses, and our ability to better serve our customers
and to generate customer loyalty and sustainable growth through Fresh,
Our Brands
, Personalization and eCommerce; the outcome of
litigation matters, including those relating to the terminated transaction with Albertsons Companies, Inc.; 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.
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·
Kroger’s ability to achieve these goals may also be affected by its
ability to manage the factors identified above. The ability to execute the financial strategy may be affected by the company’s 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.
·
We cannot fully foresee the effects of changes in economic conditions on
our business.
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.
Contacts: Media: Erin Rolfes (513) 762-1080; Investors: Rob Quast (513)
762-4969
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