12 Top Performing Consumer Staples Stocks in February

6. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is one of the best performing stocks to invest in.

TheFly reported on March 9 that Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez increased its price target for KR to $71 from $68, while continuing to assign a Neutral rating to the stock.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) also released results for the fourth quarter and the entire year 2025 on March 5. KR reported $34.7 billion in overall revenue for the fourth quarter, up from $34.3 billion the year before. Sales increased by 2.1% when gasoline was excluded. Sourcing efficiency, lower supply chain expenses, increased fuel margins, decreased depreciation, and decreased shrinkage all contributed to the gross margin’s improvement from 22.7% to 23.1%, which was somewhat offset by price investments and the lower-margin mix from pharmaceutical sales.

Due to similar factors, the FIFO gross margin rate, which does not include rent, depreciation, amortization, or fuel, remained the same from year to year. LIFO charges dropped from $30 million to $11 million. Excluding fuel and adjustments, the Operating, General, and Administrative (OG&A) rate increased by 21 basis points, mostly as a result of labor expenditures and cycle real estate gains from the previous year.

With fuel and Kroger Specialty Pharmacy excluded, total company sales for fiscal 2025 were $147.6 billion, up 3.0% from $147.1 billion in 2024. Due to improvements in sourcing, lower shrinkage, lower supply chain expenses, and the sale of Kroger Specialty Pharmacy, the gross margin increased from 22.3% to 22.9%. While LIFO charges rose to $157 million, FIFO margin climbed by 44 basis points. Gains in productivity partially offset the 29 basis point increase in OG&A.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is one of the largest U.S. grocery retailers, operating supermarkets, multi-department stores, and convenience stores. It offers food, pharmacy, and household products, emphasizing private-label brands, digital shopping, and customer loyalty programs across its extensive retail network.

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