Kroger Co vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock — how do they compare? Kroger Co trades at $63.42 (market cap $35.87B), while Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock trades at $39.82 (market cap $11.15B). The key difference: Kroger Co is far larger — about 3.2× Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock's market cap, and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock pays the higher dividend (3.67%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Kroger Co for 109 Days and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock for 0 Days on average.
| KR | WTRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $35.87B | $11.15B |
Volume | 8,902,665 | 1,760,234 |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Utilities |
52-Week High | $75.60 | $42.00 |
52-Week Low | $55.53 | $36.25 |
Typical Hold Time | 109 Days | 0 Days |
Enterprise Value | $57.29B | $19.66B |
Dividend Yield | 2.57% | 3.67% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Kroger (KR) trades at $63.09, up 0.85% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst consensus. The stock shows robust fundamentals with a low P/S of 0.26 and positive cash flow trends, though net income margin is thin at 0.73%. Recent news highlights digital growth and a strategic shift toward everyday low prices, while earnings have mostly beaten expectations.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with a $70.62 consensus price target, but risks include integration challenges from acquisitions and cost pressures. The stock offers value with a dividend yield, yet investors should weigh slower sales guidance against operational improvements for near-term performance.
WTRG trades at $39.29, up 0.36% with neutral technical signals. The stock shows mixed earnings performance with two beats and one miss in recent quarters, while maintaining strong profitability margins (21.6% net income margin). Analyst consensus is bullish with a $44.50 price target, supported by ongoing acquisitions and pending merger developments with American Water.
The stock presents a stable utility investment with moderate growth potential through strategic acquisitions, though near-term earnings volatility and integration risks from the pending merger warrant caution. Current valuation at 20.15 P/E appears reasonable given the company's consistent cash flow generation and defensive sector positioning.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
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 →Essential Utilities Inc. is a holding company for regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities, operating under the Aqua and Peoples brands. It serves customers across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky.
Read more on WTRG →