Kroger Co vs Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF — how do they compare? Kroger Co trades at $56.2 (market cap $34.60B), while Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF trades at $84.86. The key difference: Kroger Co pays a 2.55% dividend while Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF pays none, and Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Kroger Co nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KR | VOOG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.60B | — |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $75.60 | $85.42 |
52-Week Low | $55.53 | $65.32 |
Enterprise Value | $54.70B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.55% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Kroger (KR) trades at $56.73, down 1.03% with bearish technical signals from moving averages. The company maintains stable revenue around $147B with recent earnings showing mixed results - beating estimates in Q3 and Q4 2025 but missing in Q1 2026. Kroger demonstrates strong cash flow generation with $5.8B from operations in 2025 and pays consistent dividends, while expanding digital services and AI shopping assistance.
Kroger presents a defensive investment opportunity with 2.7% dividend yield and analyst consensus target of $68.63 (21% upside). However, rising debt levels and competitive pressures in grocery retail pose risks. The stock offers value with P/S of 0.25x but trades at premium P/E of 33x, requiring earnings acceleration to justify valuation.
VOOG, the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF, trades at $85.42, up 0.68% on the day and near a 52-week high. Technical indicators show a bullish trend with strong moving average support, though the 6-day RSI suggests overbought conditions. Recent news highlights institutional accumulation, such as Apella Capital increasing its stake by 463.2% in Q2 2026, and positive coverage from financial outlets comparing its low expense ratio and growth focus favorably against peers.
The outlook for VOOG remains positive, driven by exposure to large-cap growth stocks and strong institutional interest. Key risks include high concentration in technology sectors, making it vulnerable to sector-specific downturns, and broader market volatility. Its low expense ratio of 0.07% and historical outperformance present a compelling case for growth-oriented investors, but caution is warranted given elevated valuations.
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 →VOOG is an index-based ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, composed of the growth-oriented companies within the S&P 500. It selects constituents based on three key metrics—sales growth, the ratio of earnings change to price, and momentum—offering a highly liquid and low-cost way to capture the high-performing 'growth slice' of the broader U.S. large-cap market.
Read more on VOOG →