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Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT)

This page compares Kroger (KR) with Walmart (WMT) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

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

SymbolKRWMT
Company NameThe Kroger Co.Walmart Inc.
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 Capitalization43.53 billion USD1,069.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaqGS
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962August 25, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

KR
WMT
Loading price history…
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolKRWMT
5-Day Price Return5.73%2.29%
13-Week Price Return-4.11%-0.41%
26-Week Price Return6.02%30.19%
52-Week Price Return-0.77%35.73%
Month-to-Date Return0.37%1.07%
Year-to-Date Return9.35%19.68%
10-Day Avg. Volume4.86M16.43M
3-Month Avg. Volume6.21M26.30M
3-Month Volatility28.83%24.10%
Beta0.450.65

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Kroger (KR) at 9.42% and Walmart (WMT) at 23.69% post Return on Equity (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on this measure.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

9.42%

Max
36.06%
Q3
23.69%
Median
14.31%
Q1
8.17%
Min
-4.97%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

23.69%

Max
36.06%
Q3
23.69%
Median
14.31%
Q1
8.17%
Min
-4.97%
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Walmart (WMT) at 3.07% posts Net Profit Margin (TTM) around its industry mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 0.69% drops into the bottom quartile.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.69%

Max
6.61%
Q3
3.54%
Median
2.37%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.25%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.07%

Max
6.61%
Q3
3.54%
Median
2.37%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.25%
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Kroger (KR) at 1.28% and Walmart (WMT) at 4.18% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.28%

Max
8.84%
Q3
4.88%
Median
3.65%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-1.18%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.18%

Max
8.84%
Q3
4.88%
Median
3.65%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-1.18%
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolKRWMT
Return on Equity (TTM)9.42%23.69%
Return on Assets (TTM)1.50%7.91%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)0.69%3.07%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)1.28%4.18%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)23.30%24.93%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Kroger (KR) at 0.88 and Walmart (WMT) at 0.79 run Current Ratio (MRQ) in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.88

Max
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
1.14
Q1
0.94
Min
0.60

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.79

Max
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
1.14
Q1
0.94
Min
0.60
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Walmart (WMT) at 0.52 carries Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) around its industry mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 2.56 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.56

Max
2.56
Q3
1.23
Median
0.54
Q1
0.18
Min
0.00

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.52

Max
2.56
Q3
1.23
Median
0.54
Q1
0.18
Min
0.00
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Walmart (WMT) at 13.12 posts Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) around its industry mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 2.76 drops into the bottom quartile.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.76

Max
20.24
Q3
20.10
Median
9.06
Q1
3.31
Min
-8.07

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

13.12

Max
20.24
Q3
20.10
Median
9.06
Q1
3.31
Min
-8.07
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolKRWMT
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.880.79
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.410.20
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)2.560.52
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)2.7613.12

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolKRWMT
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)1.22%5.60%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)0.35%4.73%
3-Year Revenue CAGR-0.14%5.27%
5-Year Revenue CAGR2.19%4.99%

EPS Growth

Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolKRWMT
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)49.08%-18.67%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)-57.80%13.49%
3-Year EPS CAGR-20.50%24.21%
5-Year EPS CAGR-14.07%11.53%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 2.03% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Walmart (WMT) at 0.71%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.03%

Max
3.79%
Q3
1.97%
Median
0.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.71%

Max
3.79%
Q3
1.97%
Median
0.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Kroger (KR) at 27.74% and Walmart (WMT) at 34.29% maintain Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around their industries’ median — balanced dividend policy on both sides, returning cash while leaving part of reported earnings available for reinvestment or balance-sheet flexibility.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

27.74%

Max
59.10%
Q3
34.35%
Median
20.99%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

34.29%

Max
59.10%
Q3
34.35%
Median
20.99%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolKRWMT
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.03%0.71%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.74%34.29%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Kroger (KR) at 42.81 and Walmart (WMT) at 48.55 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) among industry peers, indicating higher trailing earnings multiples than typical peers.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

42.81

Max
56.23
Q3
39.93
Median
20.28
Q1
15.79
Min
12.13

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

48.55

Max
56.23
Q3
39.93
Median
20.28
Q1
15.79
Min
12.13
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 0.29 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Walmart (WMT) at 1.49 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — WMT carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.29

Max
1.68
Q3
0.91
Median
0.53
Q1
0.29
Min
0.10

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.49

Max
1.68
Q3
0.91
Median
0.53
Q1
0.29
Min
0.10
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Kroger (KR) at 5.88 carries typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Walmart (WMT) at 9.93 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — WMT carries a higher book-value multiple relative to peers.

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

5.88

Max
9.93
Q3
5.88
Median
3.71
Q1
1.93
Min
0.79

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

9.93

Max
9.93
Q3
5.88
Median
3.71
Q1
1.93
Min
0.79
Kroger (KR) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolKRWMT
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)42.8148.55
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)0.291.49
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)5.889.93
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)12.5871.22