Kroger (NYSE: KR) Stock Analysis: Goldman Sachs Raises Price Target Despite Q1 Challenges

Font: Financial Modeling Prep  • Jun 19, 2026

• Goldman Sachs has increased its price target for Kroger, signaling a potential 44.85% upside.
• Despite beating revenue expectations, Kroger's Q1 earnings report showed a stock decline and a slight miss on adjusted EPS.
• Kroger maintains its 2026 financial goals, including EPS and free cash flow projections, despite profitability pressures from rising costs and strategic price cuts.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) is a leading American retail company that operates supermarkets and multi-department stores. Kroger sells groceries, general merchandise, and fuel, competing with other major retailers through both its physical stores and its growing digital platform.

On June 19, 2026, Goldman Sachs analyst Leah Jordan increased the price target for Kroger to $82.00 from $72.00. With the stock trading at $56.61, this new target suggests a potential upside of 44.85%, indicating a strong positive outlook from the analyst.

This optimistic forecast comes as Kroger faces some challenges. The company's stock recently declined 8.43% after its first-quarter earnings report. While revenue of $46.12 billion beat expectations, its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.58 slightly missed the forecast of $1.59.

Investor concerns focused on pressure on Kroger's profitability. As highlighted by Gurufocus, the FIFO gross margin, which measures profit on inventory, fell by 9 basis points. This was due to higher transportation costs and strategic price cuts designed to attract customers.

Despite these pressures, Kroger is maintaining its financial goals for 2026. The company still projects an EPS between $5.10 and $5.30 and free cash flow, the cash left after paying for operations and investments, of $2.70 billion to $2.90 billion for the year.