Kroger Co Records $62 Million Charge for Opioid Litigation Settlement in Q1 2023, Continues to Defend Against Claims

In the first quarter of 2023, Kroger Co (ticker: KR) recorded a charge of $62 million as part of a settlement for opioid litigation claims with the State of West Virginia. This settlement resolved all the opioid lawsuits and claims made by the West Virginia Attorney General, allowing the company to proceed and maintain a stable financial position.

The opioid litigation has been a significant challenge for several organizations across the United States

and Kroger’s commitment to resolving these issues demonstrates their dedication to corporate responsibility and ethical business practices. However, the company continues to vigorously defend against all claims and lawsuits relating to opioids, reflecting its ongoing commitment to address and resolve issues related to the opioid epidemic.

Furthermore, in Q1 2023, Kroger reported sales of $45,165 million, up by 1.3% as compared to $44,600 million in Q1 2022.

The sales without fuel amounted to $40,070 million, showing a 3.5% increase, as compared to $38,711 million in the same quarter of the previous year. This growth in sales highlights the company’s overall progress and expanding reach in the retail sector.

The recorded net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. amounted to $962 million, an impressive 44.9% increase from $664 million in Q1 2022. The adjusted net earnings for the company were reported at $1,104 million, showing a 2.8% rise from $1,074 million during the same period last year. This consistent growth in earnings showcases the company’s ability to adapt to market changes and improve profitability.

In addition to its financial growth, Kroger Co. continues to invest in expanding its business offerings and improving its services.

In October 2022, the company entered into a merger agreement with Albertsons Companies, Inc. (Albertsons), with plans to close the transaction in early 2024. This partnership will result in a combined organization with a greater reach and bolstered market presence.

The company’s solid financial performance, ethical commitment to addressing opioid litigation, and growth strategies indicate a strong business outlook. This progress reflects Kroger Co.’s dedication to delivering consistent and attractive returns for its investors while maintaining responsible and ethical business practices. As the company continues to grow and adapt in the dynamic retail market, Kroger Co. shows promising prospects for future achievements and increased shareholder value.

Income Statement

Financials in millions USD. Fiscal year is February – January. source

Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 – 1992
0 Revenue 148258 137888 132498 122286 121852 123280 115337 109830 108465 98375 Upgrade
1 Revenue Growth (YoY) 7.52% 4.07% 8.35% 0.36% -1.16% 6.89% 5.01% 1.26% 10.26% 1.82% Upgrade
2 Cost of Revenue 116480 107539 101597 95294 95103 95811 89502 85496 85512 78138 Upgrade
3 Gross Profit 31778 30349 30901 26992 26749 27469 25835 24334 22953 20237 Upgrade
4 Selling, General & Admin 23848 23203 24500 21208 20786 21510 19162 17946 17161 15196 Upgrade
5 Other Operating Expenses 3804 3669 3621 3533 3349 3347 3221 2812 2655 2316 Upgrade
6 Operating Expenses 27652 26872 28121 24741 24135 24857 22383 20758 19816 17512 Upgrade
7 Operating Income 4126 3477 2780 2251 2614 2612 3452 3576 3137 2725 Upgrade
8 Interest Expense / Income 535 571 544 603 620 601 522 482 488 443 Upgrade
9 Other Expense / Income 694 866 -1131 -480 -2016 509 -2 10 19 12 Upgrade
10 Pretax Income 2897 2040 3367 2128 4010 1502 2932 3084 2630 2270 Upgrade
11 Income Tax 653 385 782 469 900 -405 957 1045 902 751 Upgrade
12 Net Income 2244 1655 2585 1659 3110 1907 1975 2039 1728 1519 Upgrade
13 Net Income Growth 35.59% -35.98% 55.82% -46.66% 63.08% -3.44% -3.14% 18.00% 13.76% 1.47% Upgrade
14 Shares Outstanding (Basic) 718 744 773 799 810 895 942 966 981 1028 Upgrade
15 Shares Outstanding (Diluted) 727 754 781 805 818 904 958 980 993 1040 Upgrade
16 Shares Change -3.58% -3.46% -2.98% -1.59% -9.51% -5.64% -2.24% -1.31% -4.52% -3.17% Upgrade
17 EPS (Basic) 3.10 2.20 3.31 2.05 3.80 2.11 2.08 2.09 1.74 1.47 Upgrade
18 EPS (Diluted) 3.06 2.17 3.27 2.04 3.76 2.09 2.05 2.06 1.72 1.45 Upgrade
19 EPS Growth 41.01% -33.64% 60.29% -45.74% 79.90% 1.95% -0.49% 19.77% 18.62% 4.69% Upgrade
20 Free Cash Flow Per Share 2.09 5.01 5.32 2.26 1.58 0.83 0.75 1.67 1.45 1.23 Upgrade
21 Dividend Per Share 0.940 0.780 0.680 0.600 0.985 0.490 0.450 0.500 0.340 0.307 Upgrade
22 Dividend Growth 20.51% 14.71% 13.33% -39.09% 101.02% 8.89% -10.00% 47.06% 10.75% 24.29% Upgrade
23 Gross Margin 21.43% 22.01% 23.32% 22.07% 21.95% 22.28% 22.40% 22.16% 21.16% 20.57% Upgrade
24 Operating Margin 2.78% 2.52% 2.10% 1.84% 2.15% 2.12% 2.99% 3.26% 2.89% 2.77% Upgrade
25 Profit Margin 1.51% 1.20% 1.95% 1.36% 2.55% 1.55% 1.71% 1.86% 1.59% 1.54% Upgrade
26 Free Cash Flow Margin 1.01% 2.70% 3.11% 1.48% 1.05% 0.60% 0.61% 1.47% 1.31% 1.29% Upgrade
27 Effective Tax Rate 22.54% 18.87% 23.23% 22.04% 22.44% -26.96% 32.64% 33.88% 34.30% 33.08% Upgrade
28 EBITDA 7011 6040 7284 6020 7095 4539 5794 5655 5066 4416 Upgrade
29 EBITDA Margin 4.73% 4.38% 5.50% 4.92% 5.82% 3.68% 5.02% 5.15% 4.67% 4.49% Upgrade
30 Depreciation & Amortization 3579 3429 3373 3289 2465 2436 2340 2089 1948 1703 Upgrade
31 EBIT 3432 2611 3911 2731 4630 2103 3454 3566 3118 2713 Upgrade
32 EBIT Margin 2.31% 1.89% 2.95% 2.23% 3.80% 1.71% 2.99% 3.25% 2.87% 2.76% Upgrade

Note that we may hold securities mentioned in this article. All data is based on recent SEC filings. Even though we have implemented various manual and automatic fact-checking and data acquisition processes, some incorrect information may have slipped through (false positive). Let us know if you find any inconsistencies!