Kroger Co vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Kroger Co trades at $57.35 (market cap $35.75B), while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $50.3. The key difference: Kroger Co pays a 2.47% dividend while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund pays none, and Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund is trading nearer its 52-week high, Kroger Co nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KR | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $35.75B | — |
Sector | Consumer Staples | — |
52-Week High | $75.60 | $53.62 |
52-Week Low | $55.53 | $42.23 |
Enterprise Value | $55.85B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.47% | — |
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.
XLB trades at $50.03, down 0.99% with a bearish technical bias as moving averages signal selling pressure. The materials ETF faces mixed sentiment with neutral oscillators and key support at $50. Recent news highlights sector rotation potential amid Q2 earnings growth, though Seeking Alpha rates it Hold citing limited upside after recent gains.
Outlook remains cautious with geopolitical and inflation risks weighing on materials demand. Infrastructure trends offer long-term support, but current valuations may already reflect cyclical recovery. Investors should monitor earnings momentum and sector rotation flows for entry opportunities amid bearish technicals.
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 →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging; and construction materials. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on XLB →