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Cincinnati, OH – Carin L. Fike, Vice President and Treasurer of Kroger Co . (NYSE:KR), has sold a significant portion of her holdings in the company. According to a recent SEC filing, Fike sold 5,541 shares of Kroger’s common stock on April 3, 2025, at a price of $70.792 per share, totaling approximately $392,258. The sale comes as Kroger’s stock trades near its 52-week high of $70.95, having delivered an impressive 28% return over the past six months. InvestingPro data shows the company’s market capitalization now stands at $45.6 billion.
The transaction was conducted indirectly, with the shares being owned by Fike’s spouse. Following the sale, Fike’s spouse now holds 3,480 shares of Kroger stock.
Additionally, the filing detailed the exercise of 5,541 non-qualified stock options at a price of $22.92 per share. These options were part of a long-term incentive plan and had vested over a five-year period. The exercise of these options resulted in a transaction valued at $126,999.
Fike’s transactions were reported as part of the company’s employee benefit plans, which are considered "tax-conditioned plans" under Rule 16b-3. After these transactions, Fike’s direct ownership in the company includes 49,336.15 shares. The stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 18.7, with analysts forecasting earnings per share of $4.71 for fiscal year 2026.
In other recent news, Kroger reported significant updates in its financial performance. The company’s recent 10-K filing revealed a merchandise gross margin of 28%, surpassing the previously reported 22% margin, and introduced a new segment with a strong 60% adjusted EBITDA margin. Guggenheim responded by maintaining a Buy rating on Kroger and raising the stock price target to $73, citing the company’s accelerating operating momentum. Meanwhile, Melius downgraded Kroger from Hold to Sell, setting a price target of $58, due to increasing competition from Walmart (NYSE:WMT), which has made strides in reclaiming market share.
Additionally, Kroger announced the appointment of Ronald Sargent as interim CEO and Chairman, effective March 13, 2025, with a pro-rated annual base salary of $4,350,000 and 60,515 shares of restricted stock. The company also launched the "Elite Ate" Snack Bracket, a promotional event offering discounts on popular snacks during the college basketball season. This initiative includes digital coupon savings on various products, enhancing customer engagement and value.
These developments come amid broader retail sector uncertainties highlighted at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference, where companies discussed challenges facing the consumer market. Despite these uncertainties, Kroger continues to focus on strategic initiatives to maintain its market position.
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