Kroger (NYSE: KR) reported earnings on Sep. 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Aug. 11 (Q2), Kroger met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew and GAAP earnings per share expanded.

Gross margins contracted, operating margins grew, net margins were steady.

Revenue details
 Kroger booked revenue of $21.73 billion. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $21.90 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $20.91 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.51. The 21 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.49 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.51 for Q2 were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.46 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
 For the quarter, gross margin was 20.5%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.5%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.3%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $21.48 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.42.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $96.29 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.40.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 620 members out of 689 rating the stock outperform, and 69 members rating it underperform. Among 173 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 159 give Kroger a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Kroger is outperform, with an average price target of $26.10.

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