Compare Stocks › KR vs MS
The Kroger Co. (KR) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)
KR
The Kroger Co.
$73.76
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
Rewards
KR
- ★The Kroger Co. scores 71/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Share count has been reduced by 16% over the past 5 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $1.87 of market value — management is creating shareholder value.
MS
- ★Gross margin of 87.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.65 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
- ★PEG ratio of 0.75 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.
Risks
KR
- ⚠Gross margin of 23.3% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
- ⚠FCF yield of 7.6% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
- ⚠Trailing P/E of 47.9x is 92% above the historical average of 24.9x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
MS
- ⚠High leverage (4.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.29 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠7 insider sales totaling $25.2M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →KR
MS
Valuation
$3.43B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
7.58%
FCF Yield
N/A
47.90
Trailing P/E
15.53
13.12
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
13.39%
ROIC
3.43%
17.12%
ROE
14.42%
23.30%
Gross Margin
87.06%
0.96
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
4.16
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.68
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
1.90%
Dividend Yield
2.52%
KR: 3Ties: 2MS: 4
KRMS
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →KR
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
MS
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →KR
$1.87
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.71B
Δ Market Cap
+$8.80B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MS
$6.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$20.84B
Δ Market Cap
+$138.59B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →KR
9.3% Margin of Safety
Price is 9.3% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $73.76
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $81.32
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MS
45.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 45.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $158.55
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $290.92
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →KR
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $74?
+7.3%
Market-Implied FCF Growth Rate
Market pricing in significantly higher growth than history — aggressive.
MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →KR
71/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. ROIC Consistency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
MS
32/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
No durable moat detected, though revenue predictability shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →KR
-2.90
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MS
-2.09
Possible Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →KR
Insiders 9.1%Institutions 81.6%Retail & Other 9.3%
No. of Institutional Holders1,815
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MS
Insiders 24.0%Institutions 62.7%Retail & Other 13.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,182
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →KR
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $5,630
PETERSON DOUGLAS L
Director
$5,630
@ $156.39 · 2025-10-17
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →KR
0
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $27.44M
MOORE CLYDE R
Director
$272,834
@ $71.61 · 2025-07-16
MOORE CLYDE R
Director
$1.89M
@ $70.50 · 2025-07-11
ADCOCK MARY ELLEN
Officer
$2.44M
@ $71.16 · 2025-06-27
ARREAGA GABRIEL
Officer
$2.75M
@ $72.44 · 2025-06-25
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$622,710
@ $74.00 · 2025-06-23
COSSET YAEL
Officer
$5.23M
@ $73.49 · 2025-06-23
FIKE CARIN L
Officer and Treasurer
$1.22M
@ $73.79 · 2025-06-23
WHEATLEY CHRISTINE STRICK
Officer
$2.16M
@ $72.07 · 2025-04-23
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$1.65M
@ $73.00 · 2025-04-22
COSSET YAEL
Officer
$2.19M
@ $73.00 · 2025-04-22
ARREAGA GABRIEL
Officer
$995,866
@ $71.82 · 2025-04-21
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$72,030
@ $72.03 · 2025-04-21
FOLEY TODD A
Officer
$989,442
@ $70.67 · 2025-04-17
JABBAR VALERIE L
Officer
$2.16M
@ $69.08 · 2025-04-16
WHEATLEY CHRISTINE STRICK
Officer
$2.08M
@ $69.44 · 2025-04-04
KIMBALL KENNETH C.
Officer
$719,081
@ $65.37 · 2025-03-21
ARREAGA GABRIEL
Officer
$1.05M
@ $65.63 · 2025-03-19
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$94,933
@ $65.88 · 2025-03-17
COSSET YAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.17M
@ $66.19 · 2025-03-17
COSSET YAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$691,190
@ $65.76 · 2025-03-14
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$86,723
@ $66.71 · 2025-03-13
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$1.97M
@ $66.56 · 2025-03-13
ADCOCK MARY ELLEN
Officer
$6.90M
@ $66.39 · 2025-03-13
COSSET YAEL
Chief Investment Officer
$7.84M
@ $68.08 · 2025-03-10
FOLEY TODD A
Chief Financial Officer
$1.87M
@ $66.62 · 2025-03-07
FOLEY TODD A
Chief Financial Officer
$1.04M
@ $61.44 · 2024-12-19
AITKEN STUART W
Officer
$8.38M
@ $63.18 · 2024-12-12
COSSET YAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.17M
@ $58.39 · 2024-12-10
COSSET YAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.76M
@ $58.54 · 2024-12-09
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$1.56M
@ $60.12 · 2024-12-06
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$386,248
@ $55.80 · 2024-10-07
JABBAR VALERIE L
Officer
$167,730
@ $55.91 · 2024-09-23
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$222,800
@ $55.70 · 2024-09-17
FIKE CARIN L
Officer and Treasurer
$167,269
@ $55.57 · 2024-09-17
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$109,060
@ $54.53 · 2024-07-19
FOLEY TODD A
Chief Financial Officer
$368,467
@ $55.69 · 2024-04-26
KIMBALL KENNETH C.
Officer
$1.69M
@ $55.98 · 2024-04-25
JABBAR VALERIE L
Officer
$832,800
@ $55.52 · 2024-04-23
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$1.71M
@ $57.18 · 2024-04-23
ADCOCK MARY ELLEN
Officer
$4.61M
@ $55.61 · 2024-04-23
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MS
7
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $62.45M
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$6.02M
@ $182.61 · 2026-01-30
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$3.97M
@ $184.00 · 2026-01-20
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.44M
@ $183.45 · 2026-01-20
YESHAYA SHARON
Chief Financial Officer
$2.94M
@ $185.77 · 2026-01-20
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.55M
@ $182.08 · 2026-01-20
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$3.69M
@ $184.55 · 2026-01-20
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$5.57M
@ $183.62 · 2026-01-20
PICK EDWARD N.
Chief Executive Officer
$16.43M
@ $164.34 · 2025-10-31
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.69M
@ $141.12 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.09M
@ $141.13 · 2025-07-17
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$2.81M
@ $140.30 · 2025-07-17
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.53M
@ $140.62 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$3.70M
@ $127.37 · 2025-05-12
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$95,459
@ $119.32 · 2025-05-02
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.80M
@ $120.00 · 2025-05-02
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.12M
@ $111.65 · 2025-04-15
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.15M
@ $138.06 · 2025-01-22
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.78M
@ $136.20 · 2025-01-21
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$5.00M
@ $136.61 · 2025-01-21
AKRAM RAJA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.38M
@ $136.01 · 2025-01-21
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.52M
@ $136.92 · 2025-01-21
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.20M
@ $136.43 · 2025-01-21
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$368,375
@ $105.25 · 2024-07-26
AKRAM RAJA
Officer
$797,764
@ $106.37 · 2024-07-18
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.26M
@ $106.54 · 2024-07-17
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$106,621
@ $106.62 · 2024-07-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$692,663
@ $99.61 · 2024-05-14
GORMAN JAMES P
Officer and Director
$9.02M
@ $90.21 · 2024-04-18
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.01M
@ $90.09 · 2024-04-17
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →KR
😏Greed(64/100)
"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MS
😐Neutral(48/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →KR
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (64)
MS
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (48)