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KR vs. TGT: Kroger vs. Target Stock Comparison

How do Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT) 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

Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT) both belong to the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, though KR is classified under Food Retail while TGT falls under Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail.

Company profile comparison for Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
Profile ItemKRTGT
NameThe Kroger Co.Target Corp.
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-IndustryFood RetailConsumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization34.86 billion USD70.79 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KR
TGT
GSPC
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT), 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 Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
MetricKRTGT
Total Return (1Y)-11.03%77.16%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.24%12.34%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.85%-5.73%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KR
TGT
GSPC
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT), 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 Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
MetricKRTGT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.39%30.64%
Beta (5Y)0.361.00
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.07%-64.40%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.51M4.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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KR and TGT 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 Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
MetricKRTGT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.542.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.743.74

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 26.41% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Kroger (KR) at 14.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for TGT.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

14.44%

Max
35.20%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.25%
KR
14.44%
Q1
7.33%
Min
1.04%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

26.41%

Max
35.20%
TGT
26.41%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.25%
Q1
7.33%
Min
1.04%
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 4.08% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while Kroger (KR) at 0.73% keeps a bottom-quartile share.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.73%

Max
5.59%
Q3
3.41%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.67%
KR
0.73%
Min
0.08%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.08%

Max
5.59%
TGT
4.08%
Q3
3.41%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.67%
Min
0.08%
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 6.04% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Kroger (KR) at 2.98%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.98%

Max
7.49%
Q3
5.99%
Median
3.97%
KR
2.98%
Q1
1.89%
Min
1.06%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.04%

Max
7.49%
TGT
6.04%
Q3
5.99%
Median
3.97%
Q1
1.89%
Min
1.06%
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
MetricKRTGT
ROE (TTM)14.44%26.41%
ROA (TTM)5.80%5.69%
Net Margin (TTM)0.73%4.08%
Operating Margin (TTM)2.98%6.04%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.90%28.38%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Kroger (KR) at 0.35% and Target (TGT) at -1.68% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Target (TGT) at -8.24% 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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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
MetricKRTGT
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.35%-1.68%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.14%-1.34%
EPS Growth (YoY)-58.04%-8.24%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-20.46%10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Kroger (KR) at 0.70 and Target (TGT) at 0.99 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.70

Max
2.03
Q3
1.44
Median
1.19
Q1
1.00
KR
0.70
Min
0.68

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.99

Max
2.03
Q3
1.44
Median
1.19
Q1
1.00
TGT
0.99
Min
0.68
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Target (TGT) at 1.08 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.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.13

KR
4.13
Max
2.65
Q3
1.83
Median
1.26
Q1
0.67
Min
0.01

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.08

Max
2.65
Q3
1.83
Median
1.26
TGT
1.08
Q1
0.67
Min
0.01
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
MetricKRTGT
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.700.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)4.131.08
Net Debt / EBITDA2.801.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Kroger (KR) at 2.53% and Target (TGT) at 2.93% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.53%

Max
2.93%
KR
2.53%
Q3
1.92%
Median
0.49%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.93%

TGT
2.93%
Max
2.93%
Q3
1.92%
Median
0.49%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and KR more so: Target (TGT) at 47.30% sits above the band, while Kroger (KR) at 75.68% exceeds every peer in its group.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

75.68%

KR
75.68%
Max
59.29%
Q3
29.94%
Median
11.72%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

47.30%

Max
59.29%
TGT
47.30%
Q3
29.94%
Median
11.72%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
MetricKRTGT
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.53%2.93%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)75.68%47.30%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Kroger (KR) at 31.62 and Target (TGT) at 16.15 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

31.62

Max
52.60
Q3
33.01
KR
31.62
Median
22.73
Q1
15.58
Min
11.78

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

16.15

Max
52.60
Q3
33.01
Median
22.73
TGT
16.15
Q1
15.58
Min
11.78
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 0.23 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Target (TGT) at 0.66 prices around its industry’s middle — KR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.23

Max
1.37
Q3
0.88
Median
0.48
Q1
0.23
KR
0.23
Min
0.03

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.66

Max
1.37
Q3
0.88
TGT
0.66
Median
0.48
Q1
0.23
Min
0.03
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Kroger (KR) at 6.32 and Target (TGT) at 3.97 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.32

Max
9.04
KR
6.32
Q3
6.32
Median
3.97
Q1
2.19
Min
0.94

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.97

Max
9.04
Q3
6.32
TGT
3.97
Median
3.97
Q1
2.19
Min
0.94
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Kroger (KR) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Kroger (KR) and Target (TGT)
MetricKRTGT
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6216.15
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.230.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.323.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.27%4.85%