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KR vs. USFD: Kroger vs. US Foods Stock Comparison

How do Kroger (KR) and US Foods (USFD) 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 US Foods (USFD) both belong to the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, though KR is classified under Food Retail while USFD falls under Food Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Kroger (KR) and US Foods (USFD)
Profile ItemKRUSFD
NameThe Kroger Co.US Foods Holding 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 RetailFood Distributors
Market Capitalization39.98 billion USD22.90 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962May 26, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KR
USFD
GSPC
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD), 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 US Foods (USFD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Kroger (KR) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricKRUSFD
Total Return (1Y)6.47%50.01%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.08%38.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.43%25.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KR
USFD
GSPC
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD), 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 US Foods (USFD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Kroger (KR) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricKRUSFD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.09%31.84%
Beta (5Y)0.360.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.07%-32.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.86M2.26M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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KR and USFD 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 US Foods (USFD)
MetricKRUSFD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.071.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.102.55

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Kroger (KR) at 14.44% and US Foods (USFD) at 18.01% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

18.01%

Max
33.48%
Q3
22.31%
USFD
18.01%
Median
15.57%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

US Foods (USFD) at 1.97% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Kroger (KR) at 0.73% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.97%

Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
Median
2.44%
USFD
1.97%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-0.06%
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Kroger (KR) at 2.98% and US Foods (USFD) at 3.89% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.89%

Max
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
USFD
3.89%
Median
3.84%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Kroger (KR) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricKRUSFD
ROE (TTM)14.44%18.01%
ROA (TTM)5.80%6.25%
Net Margin (TTM)0.73%1.97%
Operating Margin (TTM)2.98%3.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.90%17.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

US Foods (USFD) at 4.08% 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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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

US Foods (USFD) at 45.54% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Kroger (KR) at -58.04% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Kroger (KR) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricKRUSFD
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.35%4.08%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.14%5.00%
EPS Growth (YoY)-58.04%45.54%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-20.46%42.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

US Foods (USFD) at 1.11 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 0.70 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KR.

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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max
2.04
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
USFD
1.11
Q1
1.00
Min
0.69
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

US Foods (USFD) at 1.22 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
2.59
Q3
1.83
Median
1.24
Q1
0.63
Min
0.01

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.22

Max
2.59
Q3
1.83
Median
1.24
USFD
1.22
Q1
0.63
Min
0.01
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): 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 US Foods (USFD)
MetricKRUSFD
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.701.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)4.131.22
Net Debt / EBITDA2.802.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

US Foods (USFD) 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.

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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
2.90%
Q3
1.72%
Median
0.43%
USFD
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

US Foods (USFD) 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.

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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
Median
11.72%
USFD
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Kroger (KR) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricKRUSFD
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.07%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)77.78%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

US Foods (USFD) at 29.80 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.

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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

29.80

Max
50.75
Q3
33.64
USFD
29.80
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
Min
9.28
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): 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 Kroger (KR) at 0.27 and US Foods (USFD) at 0.57 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.57

Max
1.54
Q3
0.81
USFD
0.57
Median
0.47
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

US Foods (USFD) at 5.28 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Kroger (KR) at 6.91 carries an above-peer premium to book — KR is pricier on assets.

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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

5.28

Max
10.15
Q3
6.27
USFD
5.28
Median
3.70
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93
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Kroger (KR) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Kroger (KR) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricKRUSFD
P/E Ratio (TTM)37.6129.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.270.57
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.915.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.34%4.17%