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BJ vs. KR: BJ's Wholesale Club vs. Kroger Stock Comparison

How do BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR) both belong to the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, though BJ is classified under Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail while KR falls under Food Retail.

Company profile comparison for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
Profile ItemBJKR
NameBJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.The Kroger Co.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise RetailFood Retail
Market Capitalization13.82 billion USD39.98 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 28, 2018January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BJ
KR
GSPC
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
MetricBJKR
Total Return (1Y)18.51%6.47%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.19%18.08%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.61%12.43%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BJ
KR
GSPC
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
MetricBJKR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.49%30.09%
Beta (5Y)0.140.36
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.12%-31.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.94M6.86M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BJ and KR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
MetricBJKR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.470.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.700.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 27.67% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Kroger (KR) at 14.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BJ.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

27.67%

Max
33.48%
BJ
27.67%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.57%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

14.44%

Max
33.48%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.57%
KR
14.44%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 2.61% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Kroger (KR) at 0.73% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.61%

Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
BJ
2.61%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-0.06%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.73%

Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.86%
KR
0.73%
Min
-0.06%
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 4.05% and Kroger (KR) at 2.98% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.05%

Max
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
BJ
4.05%
Median
3.84%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.98%

Max
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
Median
3.84%
KR
2.98%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
MetricBJKR
ROE (TTM)27.67%14.44%
ROA (TTM)7.05%5.80%
Net Margin (TTM)2.61%0.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.05%2.98%
Gross Margin (TTM)18.24%23.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 4.66% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Kroger (KR) at 0.35% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 9.50% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Kroger (KR) at -58.04% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
MetricBJKR
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.66%0.35%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%-0.14%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.50%-58.04%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.22%-20.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 0.73 and Kroger (KR) at 0.70 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.73

Max
2.04
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
Q1
1.00
BJ
0.73
Min
0.69

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.70

Max
2.04
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
Q1
1.00
KR
0.70
Min
0.69
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 1.26 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Kroger (KR) at 4.13 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.26

Max
2.59
Q3
1.83
BJ
1.26
Median
1.24
Q1
0.63
Min
0.01

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.13

KR
4.13
Max
2.59
Q3
1.83
Median
1.24
Q1
0.63
Min
0.01
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
MetricBJKR
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.730.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.264.13
Net Debt / EBITDA2.362.80

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Kroger (KR) reports a yield of 2.07%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
2.90%
Q3
1.72%
Median
0.43%
BJ
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.07%

Max
2.90%
KR
2.07%
Q3
1.72%
Median
0.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Kroger (KR) reports a payout of 77.78%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
Median
11.72%
BJ
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

77.78%

KR
77.78%
Max
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
Median
11.72%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
MetricBJKR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.07%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%77.78%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 23.94 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Kroger (KR) at 37.61 sits in the richer quartile — KR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

23.94

Max
50.75
Q3
33.64
BJ
23.94
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
Min
9.28

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

37.61

Max
50.75
KR
37.61
Q3
33.64
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
Min
9.28
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 0.61 and Kroger (KR) at 0.27 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.61

Max
1.54
Q3
0.81
BJ
0.61
Median
0.47
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.27

Max
1.54
Q3
0.81
Median
0.47
KR
0.27
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02
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BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) at 6.30 and Kroger (KR) at 6.91 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

BJ

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.30

Max
10.15
BJ
6.30
Q3
6.27
Median
3.70
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.91

Max
10.15
KR
6.91
Q3
6.27
Median
3.70
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93
Loading chart…
BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Kroger (KR)
MetricBJKR
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.9437.61
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.610.27
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.306.91
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.79%6.34%