Kroger Co vs Southwest Airlines Co — how do they compare? Kroger Co trades at $57.3 (market cap $35.75B), while Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.58 (market cap $23.63B). The key difference: Kroger Co is the larger of the two by market cap, and Kroger Co pays the higher dividend (2.47%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KR | LUV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $35.75B | $23.63B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Industrials |
52-Week High | $75.60 | $54.80 |
52-Week Low | $55.53 | $29.06 |
Enterprise Value | $55.85B | $26.70B |
Dividend Yield | 2.47% | 1.49% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Kroger (KR) trades at $58.39, down 0.73% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and mixed earnings history. The company maintains stable revenue near $147 billion (2025) and recently announced a $1.65 billion acquisition of Giant Eagle (Reuters, July 1, 2026). Cash flow from operations remains strong at $5.79 billion, though net income margin is thin at 0.71%.
Outlook: KR offers value with low P/S (0.25) and dividend yield, but faces margin pressure and integration risks from acquisitions. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $68.63 price target, though technical weakness and competitive threats warrant caution for near-term volatility.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $48.28, up 0.42% today, with a neutral technical signal and mixed earnings history. Recent Q1 2026 EPS missed expectations, but Q4 2025 and Q3 2025 beat. Financials show modest revenue growth to $28.06B in 2025, but net income margin is thin at 2.83%. Analyst consensus is mixed with 42% buy, 47% hold, and 11% sell ratings, and a $52.47 price target implies potential upside. Key news highlights Q2 2026 earnings due July 23, 2026, amid fuel cost volatility and travel demand resilience.
LUV presents a cautious opportunity with upside to the consensus target, supported by operational improvements and sector tailwinds, but risks from fuel price swings, execution challenges, and thin margins warrant careful monitoring. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 32.05 appears elevated relative to earnings growth, requiring strong future performance to justify current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Kroger is the leading American grocer, with 2,726 supermarkets operating under several banners throughout the country as of the end of fiscal 2021. Around 83% of stores have pharmacies, while nearly 60% also sell fuel. The company also operates roughly 120 fine jewelry stores. Kroger features a leading private-label offering and manufactures around 30% of its own-brand units (and more than 40% of its grocery own-label assortment) itself, in 33 food production plants nationwide. Kroger is a top-two grocer in most of its major markets (as of early 2021, according to company data). Virtually all of Kroger's sales come from the United States.
Read more on KR →Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →