March 5 (Reuters) – Kroger forecast tepid annual sales and profit on Thursday, as the supermarket chain operator navigates an uncertain spending environment under a new CEO.
The company is reporting its first set of results under CEO Greg Foran, who delivered 20 straight quarters of comparable-sales growth as former Walmart U.S. chief. Wall Street analysts had last month cheered his appointment.
Kroger expects 2026 identical sales, excluding fuel, to grow in the range of 1% to 2%, whose midpoint is below expectations of a 2% growth.
It forecast adjusted profit per share between $5.10 and $5.30, largely below analysts’ expectations of $5.29, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Kroger removed CEO Rodney McMullen in March 2025 following a board investigation that found his personal conduct violated company policies.
His exit ended an 11-year tenure and triggered a prolonged leadership vacuum that ended with the February appointment of Foran.
(Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
Brought to you by www.srnnews.com
