The Biggest Loser: Kroger Tumbles 9.2% Kroger tumbled today after getting cut by three sets of analysts. The acquisition of Whole Foods by Amazon added to its pain. By Ben Levisohn June 16, 2017 6:38 p.m. ET Kroger(KR) tumbled to the bottom of theS&P 500today afterAmazon.com(AMZN)agreed to buyWhole Foods Market(WFM). ILLUSTRATION:GETTY IMAGES Kroger dropped 9.2% to $22.29 today, while the S&P 500 finished little changed at 2,433.15. Lost amid the noise today was the fact that Kroger was downgraded byGoldman Sachs,Telsey Advisory, andJPMorgan, even before theAmazon-Whole Foodsannouncement. JPMorgan's Ken Goldmanand Thomas Palmerexplain why they cut Kroger to Neutral from Overweight: Although our inflation thesis remains intact, we are incrementally concerned about (a) the cost of Kroger’s comps, (b) the lack of operating leverage in Kroger’s current model, and (c) cash flow. We also think management’s visibility is at a multi-year low, as evidenced by the string of recent guide-downs. We reduce our EPS estimate for 2017E by 11% and for 2018E by 17%, as we think the risk of an earnings rebase has substantially increased. Our December 2017 price target goes to $24 from $34 and is based on 12x P/E and 6x EV/EBITDA – similar multiples to where the stock traded for many years before its 2014-15 expansion. At $24, we think the risk/reward on the shares is balanced. Kroger remains a strong company but even strong companies have tough times when value players get aggressive. Kroger's market capitalization fell to $20.3 billion today from $22.4 billion yesterday. It reported net income of $2 billion on sales of $115 billion in fiscal 2017. Kroger was alsothe biggest loser yesterday. Irecommended avoiding KrogerinBarron's Tradercolumn over the weekend.
I shant believe the hype. Kroger is going to continue to rock the retail groceries. Amazon has no idea what the heck they have just done. Whole Foods is a stupid idea, what with their overcharging and employee dissatisfaction ratings. Organic this, you yuppie morons. You'll get a bounce, but then you shall fall. Because you SUCK on the retail side. $5,000 for some leeks? Bugger off mates.
I like Kroger's products. They are high quality. For now, Kroger faces intense competition from big players such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, Safeway and Supervalu, other conventional retailers and specialty gourmet retailers in respect to price, store expansion and promotional activities. From the latest data, its quarterly revenue growth was 4.50%, which is not that bad, it is ok.
Kroger's California subsidiary to bar Visa credit cards amid fee dispute Kroger announced Monday that a California subsidiary will no longer accept Visa credit cards as of mid-August as the two companies clash over payment fees and rates. The ban on Visa credit cards will take effect starting Aug. 14 and affect 21 Foods Co. stores and fuel centers in Central and North California. Though stores in major cities like San Francisco and Sacramento will be affected by the change, customers will still be able to use Visa debit cards, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards as usual, the statement added. (CNBC finance)
Grocer Kroger launches new delivery service The Kroger Co. launched a new e-commerce grocery delivery service, Kroger Ship, which will allow customers to shop online for their favorite non-perishable Kroger brands and get deliveries as quick as the next day in certain areas. To start, the delivery service will launch in four cities across the midwest and south: Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville and Nashville. (TechCrunch)
Kroger mounts an e-commerce push in China The grocery chain, which is the largest in the U.S. with nearly 2,800 locations, is partnering with e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. on a pilot test of an online store. (Crain's Chicago Business)
Kroger makes another bold move to woo grocery shoppers http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...y-shoppers/ar-BBU7j0U?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=UE07DHP