---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-23-071412"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "KR"
cik: "0000056873"
company_name: "KROGER CO"
filed_at: "2023-06-15T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-14T00:41:12.288023+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Kroger Q1 adj. EPS $1.51 vs $1.45 YoY; reaffirms FY identical sales & adj. EPS guidance

## Summary
- Identical sales without fuel +3.5% (+5.0% underlying, adjusting for Express Scripts termination).
- Revenue $45.2B (+1.3% YoY); FIFO gross margin rate +21 bps ex fuel.
- Adjusted FIFO operating profit $1,669M vs $1,601M YoY; net total debt to adj. EBITDA ratio 1.34 (record low).
- FY 2023 guidance reaffirmed: identical sales 1-2%, adj. EPS $4.45-4.60; FCF guidance raised to $2.5-2.7B.
- Digital sales +15%; delivery sales +30%; share repurchase paused for Albertsons merger de-leveraging.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-23-071412
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: KR
- cik: 0000056873
- company_name: KROGER CO
- filed_at: 2023-06-15T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465923071412/0001104659-23-071412-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465923071412/tm2318560d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-071412
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-071412.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-071412.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  KROGER CO reported first quarter 2023 results: revenue $45.2 billion, EPS $1.32. Guidance reaffirmed.
  - Period: first quarter 2023
  - Revenue: $45.2 billion
  - EPS: $1.32
  - Guidance: reaffirmed
  - Result: reported results
  source text: fuel, and a negative effect on the OG&A Rate, excluding fuel and adjustment items. The overall net effect on operating profit was slightly positive. Total company sales were $45.2 billion in the first quarter, compared to $44.6 billion for the same period last year. Excluding fuel, sales increased 3.5% compared to the same period last year. Gross margin was 22.3%
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465923071412/0001104659-23-071412-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.