Shares of Kroger (KR 1.80%) rose sharply on Thursday, climbing more than 4%, even as the S&P 500 dipped slightly. The stock's gain came after the grocer reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results and management raised its outlook for its full-year financial performance.
There was a lot to like about the quarter. Not only were revenue and non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share both ahead of analysts' estimates, but the company's strong financials relative to its conservative valuation continued to show why the stock is attractive -- especially for investors looking for income.
Image source: Getty Images.
Strong Q1 results
Kroger was up against some tough comparisons in its fiscal first quarter. The year-ago period included a period when people were stocking up on goods as they worried about how long COVID-19-related lockdowns would last. So it wasn't surprising when Kroger said its same-store sales declined 4.1% during the period or that total sales fell from $41.5 billion in the year-ago quarter to $41.3 billion. Analysts were expecting a worse decline, with a consensus forecast for fiscal first-quarter revenue of about $39.8 billion.
Adjusted earnings per share similarly beat expectations, coming in at $1.19. Analysts, on average, expected $1.01.
But as Kroger points out, same-store sales increased 14.9% on a two-year stack basis. Likewise, though digital sales grew just 16% year over year during the period, they were up 108% on a two-year stacked basis (a measure that helps investors zoom out and view the past two years in comparison to the two years before).
Undervalued?
Looking beyond the quarter's performance, management lifted its view for its adjusted free cash flow. Previously, management expected adjusted free cash flow for fiscal 2021 to be between $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion. Now it expects it to come in between $1.8 billion and $2 billion.
Given the company's strong free cash flow generation, the company also announced a new $1 billion share-repurchase program.
With strong fundamentals, healthy cash flow, and growing sales on a two-year stack basis, Kroger looks particularly attractive trading at just 12 times earnings. Dividend investors, in particular, may like the stock, as the company currently has a 1.9% dividend yield. Further, the dividend is growing nicely, with its quarterly payout more than doubling over the past six years.
While Kroger may not be as sexy as some fast-growing growth stocks, it offers a lot of value for investors, given its conservative valuation relative to its financials. And its growing dividend is like icing on the cake.
