Kroger Co (KR) has reported an operating profit of $1.5 billion, or 3.3% of sales, for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $1.5 billion, or 3.4% of sales, for the first quarter of 2022. The company experienced changes in operating profit and FIFO operating profit due to various factors and investments.
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Factors Influencing Operating Profit
One contributing factor to the increased operating general and administrative (OG&A) rate was planned investments in associates. Kroger Co also had to deal with the effects of their terminated agreement with Express Scripts and costs related to their strategic investments in various margin expansion initiatives.
On the other hand, supermarket sales leverage offset the effect of the increased OG&A rate, as a percentage of sales, alongside improved cost savings initiatives that focused on driving administrative efficiencies, store productivity, and sourcing cost reductions.
Rent and Depreciation Expenses
Rent expenses for Kroger Co exhibited consistency, while depreciation and amortization expenses rose, mainly due to the depreciation of equipment recorded under finance leases linked to the Kroger Delivery customer fulfillment center location openings. Additionally, the company recorded $3.5 billion in capital investments during the rolling four quarter period ending with the first quarter of 2023.
Fuel Earnings and Operating Profit Growth
Fuel earnings also contributed to Kroger Co’s operating profit growth in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022. Their FIFO operating profit was $1.6 billion, or 3.5% of sales, an increase from the previous year’s first quarter.
Interest Expenses and Income Tax Rate
Interest expenses, on the other hand, decreased in the first quarter of 2023 due to increased interest income earned on cash and temporary cash investments as a result of rising interest rates and an increase in the company’s investments balance. The company’s effective income tax rate was notably higher in Q1 2023, at 22.9%, compared to 18.0% in Q1 2022. This increase mainly resulted from a decrease in deductions from share-based payments.
Net Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings
Kroger Co achieved net earnings of $1.32 per diluted share in Q1 2023, a significant increase of 47% compared to Q1 2022, which recorded net earnings of $0.90 per diluted share. Furthermore, adjusted net earnings rose to $1.51 per diluted share for Q1 2023, a 4% increase from $1.45 per diluted share in Q1 2022. The increase in adjusted net earnings per diluted share primarily resulted from increased FIFO operating profit (excluding fuel) and increased fuel earnings, partially offset by higher income tax expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
In terms of liquidity and capital resources, the company held cash and temporary cash investments of $2.6 billion as of May 20, 2023, with a net cash provided by operating activities amounting to $2.9 billion in the first quarter of 2023. Kroger Co plans to meet its short-term and long-term liquidity needs through these cash reserves, cash flows from operating activities, and other sources of liquidity.
Growth and Investment
Kroger Co continues its growth with further investment in its businesses and exploration of new opportunities while maintaining its competitive position in the market.
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 |
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