Should Investors Avoid Kroger Stock This Week?

Kroger (NYSE: KR) shares have been trouncing the market lately, making the supermarket chain a standout performer in the retailing world. Investors are optimistic that the company can keep winning market share in today's inflationary environment, and that customer traffic will hold up even as spending shifts toward more consumer staples.

That bullish outlook will be tested when Kroger releases its fiscal first-quarter report in a few days. Let's take a look at how those results (due out on Thursday) might stack up against expectations -- and against its key rival, Walmart (NYSE: WMT).

A big factor driving Kroger's shares higher in the past year has been its shrinking growth gap with Walmart. After losing ground to the retailing titan through most of the pandemic, the chain pulled even last quarter, mainly on the strength of its produce and prepared food segments.

Source Fool.com