Kroger unveiled a 2026 sales and profit forecast that fell short of Wall Street expectations, as Greg Foran begins his tenure as CEO during a period of economic uncertainty. The supermarket chain projects identical sales growth of 1% to 2% excluding fuel, below the 2% midpoint analysts had anticipated.

The company's adjusted profit per share forecast of $5.10 to $5.30 also trailed estimates of $5.29 at the midpoint. These projections come as American consumers face multiple pressures including elevated living costs, a stabilizing but still muted labor market, and shifting tariff policies. While lower tax rates may provide some relief, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have clouded the broader economic outlook.

Foran, who previously led Walmart U.S. through 20 consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth, now faces the challenge of navigating Kroger through this uncertain environment. The company reported fourth-quarter sales of $34.73 billion, slightly below the $34.98 billion analysts expected, with adjusted earnings per share of $1.28 beating estimates of $1.21.