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Kroger Delivers Strong First Quarter Results and Raises Full - Year 2021 Guidance fir.kroger.com/Corporate Profile / press - releases / press - release / 2021 / Kroger - Delivers - Strong - First - Quarter - Results - and - Raises - Full - Year - 2021 - Guidance / default.aspx Company Release - 6/17/2021 First Quarter Highlights - Identical Sales without fuel decreased 4.1 % ; two - year stack increased 14.9 % Digital sales grew 16 % ; two - year stack grew 108 % - EPS of $ 0.18 ; Adjusted EPS of $ 1.19 - Operating Profit of $ 805 million ; Adjusted FIFO Operating Profit of $ 1,375 million - Record alternative profit business growth fueled by Retail Media and Kroger Personal Finance - Kroger's Board of Directors approves new $ 1 billion share repurchase program CINCINNATI , June 17 , 2021 / PRNewswire / -- The Kroger Co. ( NYSE : KR ) today reported its first quarter 2021 results and will update investors on how Leading with Fresh and Accelerating with Digital initiatives are positioning Kroger for long - term sustainable growth . Kr Comments from Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen " Kroger is even better positioned to connect with our customers than we were prior to the pandemic as a result of our relentless focus on leading with fresh and accelerating with digital . I am incredibly proud of our amazing associates who continue to be there for our customers , communities , and each other when they need us most and who strive to deliver a full , fresh , and friendly experience to every customer , every time . " Kroger's strong execution delivered identical sales results in the first quarter that exceeded our original expectations . Customers are responding to the investments we have made in digital , as evidenced by our triple - digit growth in digital sales since the beginning of 2019 . We were disciplined in driving costs out of the business and we achieved record growth in Kroger's alternative profit business , demonstrating the power and attractiveness of our long - term model . " We are raising our guidance based on the strength of our results and we remain confident in our ability to deliver consistently attractive total shareholder return . " First Quarter Financial Results ID Sales * ( Table 4 ) EPS Adjusted EPS ( Table 6 ) Operating Profit FIFO Gross Margin Rate * OG & A Rate * 1Q21 ( $ in millions ; except EPS ) 1Q20 ( $ in millions ; except EPS ) ( 4.1 % ) ID Sales Two Year Stacked * ( Table 8 ) $ 0.18 Adjusted FIFO Operating Profit ( Table 7 ) $ 1,375 FRESH FOR EVERYONE T ger $ 1.19 $ 805 Decreased 65 basis points * without fuel and adjustment items , if applicable First Quarter Results versus Two Years Ago Decreased 108 basis points 19.0 % 14.9 % $ 1.52 $ 1.22 $ 1,326 $ 1,453 1Q21 ( $ in millions ; except EPS ) 1/18