Kroger Co vs Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF — how do they compare? Kroger Co trades at $61.64 (market cap $36.27B), while Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF trades at $91.97 (market cap $384.60B). The key difference: Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF is far larger — about 10.6× Kroger Co's market cap, and Kroger Co pays a 2.54% dividend while Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Kroger Co for 108 Days and Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF for 47 Days on average.
| KR | VUG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.27B | $384.60B |
Volume | 8,301,523 | 5,662,307 |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $75.60 | $92.64 |
52-Week Low | $55.53 | $70.00 |
Typical Hold Time | 108 Days | 47 Days |
Enterprise Value | $57.69B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.54% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Kroger (KR) trades at $61.41, up 3.65% with a bullish technical signal and positive analyst sentiment. The stock shows strong fundamentals with $147.12B revenue, 23.11% gross margins, and consistent dividend payments. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q2 2026, while Q1 2026 slightly missed. Technical indicators show the stock trading near pivot point resistance at $62 with solid support at $59-60 levels. The company maintains robust cash flow generation with $5.79B from operations in 2025.
Kroger presents a compelling investment case with attractive valuation (P/S 0.26), strong analyst support (47.72% buy ratings), and $70.62 consensus price target offering 15% upside. Key risks include integration challenges with Giant Eagle acquisition, cost pressures affecting 2026 margins, and competitive threats from Walmart. The stock's digital growth initiatives and retail media expansion provide growth catalysts, though investors should monitor identical sales performance and acquisition integration progress.
VUG trades at $91.31, down 1.2% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The ETF maintains strong long-term performance with historical annual returns around 11-12% since inception. Recent news highlights VUG's concentration in mega-cap technology stocks like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, which comprise over 36% of holdings. The fund's low 0.03% expense ratio appeals to cost-conscious investors seeking growth exposure.
VUG offers compelling long-term growth potential for investors with multi-decade horizons, though its heavy tech concentration presents both opportunity and risk. While historical performance has outpaced the broader market, current market conditions show value funds outperforming growth strategies in 2026. The ETF remains suitable for buy-and-hold investors seeking large-cap growth exposure with minimal fees.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
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 →VUG is an index-based ETF that tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, providing concentrated exposure to the largest and fastest-growing companies in the United States. It focuses on stocks with high growth potential across tech, communication, and consumer sectors, serving as a low-cost, high-conviction core holding for long-term capital appreciation.
Read more on VUG →