The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) is one of the largest grocery retailers in the United States, operating a nationwide network of supermarkets, fuel centers, and digital fulfillment platforms. Shares recently traded around $62 per share, giving Kroger a market value of roughly $39.4 billion.
Kroger operates in a defensive segment of retail where scale, pricing discipline, and steady cash generation tend to matter more than rapid growth. Looking at who owns Kroger and how insiders have been trading helps show how large investors may be positioning around that business profile today.
Who Are Kroger’s Top Shareholders?
Kroger’s shareholder base is led by large institutional investors, many of which tend to hold positions through market cycles. That ownership mix can help support stability, even as active managers adjust exposure based on valuation and earnings expectations.
- The Vanguard Group: 75.99 million shares (12.01%), ~$4.73B value. Reduced holdings by 357,432 shares (-0.47%).
- Berkshire Hathaway: 50.00 million shares (7.90%), ~$3.11B value. Position unchanged.
- BlackRock Institutional Trust: 36.66 million shares (5.79%), ~$2.28B value. Added 18,380 shares (+0.05%).
- Wellington Management: 33.37 million shares (5.27%), ~$2.08B value. Added 12.65 million shares (+61.08%).
- State Street Investment Management: 31.95 million shares (5.05%), ~$1.99B value. Added 386,503 shares (+1.22%).
- Geode Capital Management: 16.53 million shares (2.61%), ~$1.03B value. Added 177,003 shares (+1.08%).
- Dimensional Fund Advisors: 12.12 million shares (1.92%), ~$754.9M value. Cut holdings by 1.25 million shares (-9.38%).
- GQG Partners: 12.04 million shares (1.90%), ~$749.8M value. Cut holdings by 308,998 shares (-2.50%).
- Fidelity Management & Research: 10.07 million shares (1.59%), ~$627.6M value. Cut holdings by 871,130 shares (-7.96%).
- Norges Bank Investment Management: 7.23 million shares (1.14%), ~$450.1M value. Cut holdings by 2.56 million shares (-26.16%).
For investors, this ownership mix suggests Kroger remains firmly institutionally supported, with Berkshire Hathaway maintaining a large, unchanged stake while other managers adjust exposure based on return expectations rather than stepping away from the stock.
Hedge Fund Highlights
One notable move last quarter came from Balyasny Asset Management, founded by Dmitry Balyasny, which meaningfully increased its Kroger exposure. The firm added aggressively to its position and now holds a stake valued at roughly $200 million, which may suggest growing confidence in Kroger’s earnings stability at current price levels.
Squarepoint Ops, led by co-founder Steven Gannon, also expanded its Kroger position sharply. The firm more than doubled its holdings, bringing total exposure to around $36 million, which could reflect rising interest from quantitative and multi-strategy investors.
Another increase came from Gotham Asset Management, founded by Joel Greenblatt. Gotham raised its Kroger position by roughly 25%, which may align with a value-oriented view on Kroger’s cash flow durability and defensive characteristics.
Meanwhile, Alyeska Investment Group, founded by Anand Parekh, continued to hold a sizable Kroger position worth over $200 million value after adding shares. The measured increase suggests ongoing conviction rather than short-term positioning. For investors, hedge fund activity appears selective rather than crowded.
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Kroger’s Recent Insider Trades
Insider transactions during the period were relatively small and spread across several executives and directors, with no single trade large enough to materially shift ownership.
- Joseph Michael Kelley (Officer): Sold ~$29K (458 shares at ~$63).
- Carin L. Fike (Officer and Treasurer): Sold ~$4K (62 shares at ~$63).
- Valerie L. Jabbar (Officer): Sold ~$41K (612 shares at ~$67).
- Ronald L. Sargent (Director): Bought ~$43K (693 shares total).
- Elaine L. Chao (Director): Purchased small dollar amounts across multiple dates.
- Megan N. Shaffer (Director): Received equity awards totaling 5,175 shares, some priced at $0.
These transactions appear modest relative to Kroger’s overall market value. Several trades look tied to compensation timing or limited position sizing rather than a strong directional view. For investors, insider activity appears balanced, with no clear signal of heightened optimism or concern from management.
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What the Ownership & Insider Trade Data Tell Us
Kroger’s shareholder base remains anchored by large, long-term institutional investors, providing a stable ownership foundation. Hedge fund activity shows selective accumulation, while insider trading remains limited in scale and mixed in direction.
For investors, the takeaway is clear. Kroger continues to be viewed as a steady, cash-generating retailer rather than a high-growth story, with major shareholders appearing comfortable holding the stock while both hedge funds and insiders take a measured approach at current valuation levels.
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