Surge in Oil Prices and Upcoming Economic Data Release
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 13 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Oil Price Surge: Brent crude futures have risen 40% since the war began, while West Texas Intermediate has increased by 45%, which could have profound implications for the global economy, particularly amid rising inflationary pressures.
- Economic Data Release: The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index is set to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET, with expectations of a 0.3% month-over-month increase and a 2.9% year-over-year rise, providing crucial inflation signals that will influence investor decisions.
- Food Stock Performance: Kroger's stock has gained 10% since the war started and is up about 20% in 2026, demonstrating the resilience and growth potential of food retailers in an uncertain market environment.
- Energy Company Highs: Several energy companies, including Marathon Petroleum and Phillips 66, have reached all-time highs, with increases of 16% and 13% respectively, reflecting strong market expectations for energy demand and a recovering investor confidence in the sector.
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Analyst Views on KR
Wall Street analysts forecast KR stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 73.220
Low
68.00
Averages
75.00
High
85.00
Current: 73.220
Low
68.00
Averages
75.00
High
85.00
About KR
The Kroger Co. is a food and drug retailer. The Company operates supermarkets, multi-department stores and fulfillment centers throughout the United States. It operates approximately 2,731 supermarkets, 2,273 pharmacies and 1,702 fuel centers in over 35 states and the District of Columbia while also operating online through a digital ecosystem to offer customers an omnichannel shopping experience. The Company also manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets and online. It offers Pickup and Harris Teeter ExpressLane personalized, order online, pick-up at the store services at approximately 2,412 of its supermarkets and provides delivery, which allows it to offer digital solutions to substantially all of its customers. Its delivery solutions include orders delivered to customers at retail store locations, customer fulfillment centers and orders placed through third-party platforms. The Company also offers customer-facing apps and interfaces.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Points Reward System: Customers earn 1 Fuel Point for every $1 spent, which can be redeemed for fuel discounts, a mechanism that not only enhances the shopping experience but also drives sales growth.
- Convenient Offer Access: Customers can unlock the 4X Fuel Points offer by obtaining in-store coupons or clipping digital coupons via the Kroger app or website, ensuring easy rewards whether shopping in-store, for pickup, or delivery.
- Multi-Channel Shopping Experience: Kroger offers various shopping options, including on-demand delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats, allowing customers to receive fresh items in as little as 30 minutes, further enhancing customer convenience and satisfaction.
See More
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- Spring Promotion: Kroger is launching special 4X Fuel Points events from March 27-29 and April 3-5, allowing customers to earn quadruple fuel points on grocery purchases with a digital or in-store coupon, aimed at helping families save during the spring travel season.
- Loyalty Rewards: Customers earn 1 fuel point for every $1 spent, with Kroger Plus members receiving 2X points daily and 5X during the spring events, enhancing customer loyalty and encouraging increased spending.
- Convenient Shopping Experience: Customers can easily unlock the 4X fuel points offer through the Kroger app, which supports in-store shopping, pickup, or delivery, ensuring a seamless rewards experience that boosts customer satisfaction.
- Diverse Savings Opportunities: In addition to fuel points, customers can earn extra points on select gift card purchases and qualifying prescriptions, further incentivizing shopping at Kroger and strengthening its competitive position in the market.
See More
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Customer Support Initiative: KROGER is enhancing customer experience by providing support for fueling up with their new program.
Fuel Points Program: Customers can earn 4X fuel points during weekends, incentivizing them to shop and save on fuel costs.
See More
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- Defensive Stock Appeal: The grocery stock has rallied over 8% since the onset of the Iran-Israel-U.S. conflict, highlighting its status as a defensive stock, particularly as consumer demand for food and household items remains steady during recessions.
- Earnings Report Performance: In its FQ4 earnings report released on March 5, Kroger reported identical-store sales excluding fuel increased by 2.4%, slightly below analysts' expectations of 2.5%, while total revenue rose 1.3% year-over-year to $34.7 billion, missing consensus by $300 million.
- Margin Improvement: The improvement in Kroger's gross margin was primarily due to sourcing enhancements, lower supply chain costs, and better fuel margins, although price investments and the lower-margin growth in pharmacy sales partially offset these gains.
See More
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- Intensifying Market Competition: The top four grocery retailers account for 69% of U.S. grocery spending, with Walmart alone contributing nearly 35%, creating immense pressure on independent grocers, forcing many to adapt or exit the market.
- Acquisition Expansion Strategy: Harps Food Stores plans to acquire 18 stores from Dyer Foods, with the transaction expected to close by summer 2026, which will increase its total locations to 178, marking its largest acquisition in nearly six years.
- Maintaining Local Brands: The acquired stores will continue to operate under their existing banners, including Food Rite, Save-A-Lot, and Piggly Wiggly, allowing Harps to preserve local brand identity and enhance customer loyalty through a unified operating model.
- Industry Consolidation Trend: Harps' expansion reflects a broader trend of consolidation in the retail sector, as economic pressures and intensifying competition push independent grocers to adopt acquisition strategies to survive against larger chain competitors.
See More
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- Legislative Concerns: Some lawmakers are wary of the potential for DSLs to enable dynamic pricing, with Senator Ben Ray Luján introducing a bill aimed at banning their use in large grocery stores to protect consumers from possible price increases.
- Industry Response: Despite opposition, retail consultant Scott Benedict believes consumer concerns may be overstated, emphasizing that the primary goal of DSLs is to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual pricing errors, thus enhancing the shopping experience.
- Consumer Trust Issues: As dynamic pricing expands across various industries, economics professor Roger White argues that it would be corporate negligence for retailers like Walmart not to adopt such technology, stressing that transparent pricing mechanisms are crucial for maintaining consumer trust.
See More
Kroger Launches Spring 4X Fuel Points Promotion
- Promotion Dates: Kroger is launching a special 4X Fuel Points event from March 27-29 and April 3-5, aimed at helping customers save on fuel costs during the spring travel season while enhancing customer loyalty.
- Points Reward System: Customers earn 1 Fuel Point for every $1 spent, which can be redeemed for fuel discounts, a mechanism that not only enhances the shopping experience but also drives sales growth.
- Convenient Offer Access: Customers can unlock the 4X Fuel Points offer by obtaining in-store coupons or clipping digital coupons via the Kroger app or website, ensuring easy rewards whether shopping in-store, for pickup, or delivery.
- Multi-Channel Shopping Experience: Kroger offers various shopping options, including on-demand delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats, allowing customers to receive fresh items in as little as 30 minutes, further enhancing customer convenience and satisfaction.
See More
Kroger Announces 4X Fuel Points Spring Weekend Events
- Spring Promotion: Kroger is launching special 4X Fuel Points events from March 27-29 and April 3-5, allowing customers to earn quadruple fuel points on grocery purchases with a digital or in-store coupon, aimed at helping families save during the spring travel season.
- Loyalty Rewards: Customers earn 1 fuel point for every $1 spent, with Kroger Plus members receiving 2X points daily and 5X during the spring events, enhancing customer loyalty and encouraging increased spending.
- Convenient Shopping Experience: Customers can easily unlock the 4X fuel points offer through the Kroger app, which supports in-store shopping, pickup, or delivery, ensuring a seamless rewards experience that boosts customer satisfaction.
- Diverse Savings Opportunities: In addition to fuel points, customers can earn extra points on select gift card purchases and qualifying prescriptions, further incentivizing shopping at Kroger and strengthening its competitive position in the market.
See More
Kroger Offers Customers 4X Fuel Points on Weekends to Boost Savings
Customer Support Initiative: KROGER is enhancing customer experience by providing support for fueling up with their new program.
Fuel Points Program: Customers can earn 4X fuel points during weekends, incentivizing them to shop and save on fuel costs.
See More
Kroger Stock Declines Amid Cautious Market Response
- Market Reaction: Kroger (KR) was one of the leading decliners in the S&P 500 as President Trump announced constructive talks with Iran and a five-day pause on strikes, leading to cautious investor sentiment.
- Defensive Stock Appeal: The grocery stock has rallied over 8% since the onset of the Iran-Israel-U.S. conflict, highlighting its status as a defensive stock, particularly as consumer demand for food and household items remains steady during recessions.
- Earnings Report Performance: In its FQ4 earnings report released on March 5, Kroger reported identical-store sales excluding fuel increased by 2.4%, slightly below analysts' expectations of 2.5%, while total revenue rose 1.3% year-over-year to $34.7 billion, missing consensus by $300 million.
- Margin Improvement: The improvement in Kroger's gross margin was primarily due to sourcing enhancements, lower supply chain costs, and better fuel margins, although price investments and the lower-margin growth in pharmacy sales partially offset these gains.
See More
Harps Food Stores Acquires 18 Independent Grocery Locations
- Intensifying Market Competition: The top four grocery retailers account for 69% of U.S. grocery spending, with Walmart alone contributing nearly 35%, creating immense pressure on independent grocers, forcing many to adapt or exit the market.
- Acquisition Expansion Strategy: Harps Food Stores plans to acquire 18 stores from Dyer Foods, with the transaction expected to close by summer 2026, which will increase its total locations to 178, marking its largest acquisition in nearly six years.
- Maintaining Local Brands: The acquired stores will continue to operate under their existing banners, including Food Rite, Save-A-Lot, and Piggly Wiggly, allowing Harps to preserve local brand identity and enhance customer loyalty through a unified operating model.
- Industry Consolidation Trend: Harps' expansion reflects a broader trend of consolidation in the retail sector, as economic pressures and intensifying competition push independent grocers to adopt acquisition strategies to survive against larger chain competitors.
See More
Walmart's Digital Shelf Labels Spark Legislative Concerns
- Technology Rollout: Walmart plans to implement digital shelf labels (DSLs) across all U.S. stores by year-end, which is expected to enhance employee efficiency by reducing pricing duties by 75%, thereby allowing staff to better assist customers and improve satisfaction.
- Legislative Concerns: Some lawmakers are wary of the potential for DSLs to enable dynamic pricing, with Senator Ben Ray Luján introducing a bill aimed at banning their use in large grocery stores to protect consumers from possible price increases.
- Industry Response: Despite opposition, retail consultant Scott Benedict believes consumer concerns may be overstated, emphasizing that the primary goal of DSLs is to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual pricing errors, thus enhancing the shopping experience.
- Consumer Trust Issues: As dynamic pricing expands across various industries, economics professor Roger White argues that it would be corporate negligence for retailers like Walmart not to adopt such technology, stressing that transparent pricing mechanisms are crucial for maintaining consumer trust.
See More
