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KR or MO or SYY
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Kroger (KR) vs. Altria (MO) vs. Sysco (SYY) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KR has shown robust year-to-date gains of approximately 16%, driven by strong Q4 revenue of $34.7 billion and improved margins, outperforming peers in recent market activity.
- MO offers a high dividend yield around 6.6%, with steady YTD returns near 12%, though recent weeks saw pullbacks amid broader tobacco sector pressures.
- SYY delivered YTD performance of about 12-13%, supported by Q2 earnings beats, but experienced sharper declines in recent weeks compared to KR.
- All three stocks operate in defensive consumer staples, with KR leading in relative momentum over the past 30 days, up roughly 6-7%.
- Valuation contrasts highlight KR's attractive positioning, while MO appeals to income-focused investors.
- Recent price data indicates KR near 52-week highs around $72-73, MO consolidating around $64, and SYY pulling back from $91 peaks to $81-82.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines KR, MO, and SYY, three established players in consumer staples with exposure to food retail, tobacco, and distribution. KR leads supermarkets, MO dominates U.S. tobacco, and SYY supplies foodservice. Traders seeking defensive positions amid market volatility and investors eyeing relative performance in staples will find value in analyzing their recent momentum, earnings trends, and sector dynamics. This overview draws from recent financial reports and price action to highlight contrasts in growth, stability, and sentiment.
KR Overview and Recent Performance
The Kroger Co. (KR), the largest U.S. supermarket operator, runs over 2,700 stores under various banners, focusing on groceries, pharmacies, and fuel. In recent quarters, KR reported Q4 2025 revenue of $34.7 billion, with identical sales growth excluding fuel at 2.4% and adjusted EPS of $1.28, beating estimates. Gross margins improved to 23.1% amid strategic eCommerce expansion up 20%. Stock performance reflects this strength, with YTD returns around 16% and a 52-week range from $58.60 to $76.58. Recent market activity saw shares climb post-earnings, influenced by positive analyst upgrades and resilient consumer spending in essentials, though competition and cost pressures temper gains. Sentiment remains supported by guidance for 2026 EPS near $5.20.
MO Overview and Recent Performance
Altria Group (MO), a leading tobacco manufacturer, primarily sells Marlboro cigarettes alongside smokeless and oral nicotine products like on! pouches and NJOY vapes. Recent Q4 2025 results showed revenue growth to $5.85 billion, beating expectations, with adjusted EPS of $1.30 slightly missing but backed by 2026 guidance of $5.56-$5.72. The stock, with a 52-week range of $52.82-$70.51, has delivered YTD gains near 12% and a compelling dividend yield over 6%. In recent weeks, shares pulled back from February highs around $70 amid declining cigarette volumes and regulatory scrutiny, though diversification into reduced-risk products bolsters long-term positioning. Market sentiment reflects stability in a mature sector, with steady distributor sales supporting performance.
SYY Overview and Recent Performance
Sysco Corp. (SYY), the world's largest foodservice distributor, supplies restaurants, healthcare, and institutions across U.S., Canada, and Europe with perishables, supplies, and equipment. Q2 fiscal 2026 sales hit $20.76 billion, up 3%, with adjusted EPS of $0.99 topping forecasts. YTD returns hover at 12-13%, within a 52-week range of $67.12-$91.85. Recent weeks brought volatility, with shares declining from late-February peaks near $91 to around $81-82, pressured by softer food-away-from-home demand and margin challenges. Positive factors include case volume growth and international expansion, fostering cautious optimism in sentiment as distribution networks prove resilient.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
KR, MO, and SYY share defensive consumer staples exposure but diverge in business models: KR's retail faces direct consumer shifts, MO's tobacco relies on brand loyalty amid volume declines, and SYY's distribution ties to foodservice recovery. Growth drivers contrast—KR leverages eCommerce and fresh formats, SYY international volumes, while MO pivots to nicotine alternatives. Recent momentum favors KR with 6-7% 30-day gains versus MO and SYY dips of 4-9%. Risk factors include competition for KR/SYY, regulation for MO. All exhibit low betas under 0.6, but MO shines in yield (6.6%), KR in valuation sensitivity at lower forward P/E around 13-16x peers.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors KR due to its superior trend consistency, post-earnings momentum toward 52-week highs, and relative stability in recent price action—up notably over 30 days amid staples resilience. Observable catalysts like margin gains and eCommerce growth position it ahead probabilistically, though MO's yield offers income edge and SYY distribution leverage. This reflects data-driven patterns, not advice.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
KR’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileMO’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s), and SYY’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- KR’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- MO’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- SYY’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
KR’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MO’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and SYY’s TA Score reflects 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KR’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- MO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- SYY’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
KR (@Food Retail) experienced а +0.29% price change this week, while MO (@Tobacco) price change was -4.76% , and SYY (@Food Distributors) price fluctuated +4.74% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food Retail industry was +2.31%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.04%, and the average quarterly price growth was +3.08%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Tobacco industry was -1.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.47%, and the average quarterly price growth was -9.25%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food Distributors industry was -0.06%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.02%, and the average quarterly price growth was +1.02%.
Reported Earning Dates
KR is expected to report earnings on Jun 11, 2026.
MO is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
SYY is expected to report earnings on Apr 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Food Retail (+2.31% weekly)The food retail industry includes companies that sell food, beverage and household products. Items sold include grocery, gourmet food, fresh produce, and frozen food. Kroger Co., George Weston Ltd., Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., and Sprouts Farmers Markets, Inc. are examples of major food retailers. While e-commerce companies like Amazon have increasingly been ramping-up offerings in the food retail space, several traditional players have also been expanding their online presence to stand their ground against rising competition.
@Tobacco (-1.34% weekly)The industry is engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products like cigarettes. In 2017, tobacco companies spent an estimated $9.36 billion marketing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the U.S. – an amount that translates to more than $25 million each day (according to a CDC report). Philip Morris International Inc., Altria Group Inc., and British American Tobacco plc are some major cigar makers. In recent times, vaping or the use of e-cigarette (does not burn tobacco) is gaining momentum – several established cigarette makers are trying to expand their footprint in this new market.
@Food Distributors (-0.06% weekly)Food distributors function as intermediaries between food manufacturers and food service operators (such as chefs, restaurants, beverage managers, cafeterias, industrial caterers, hospitals and nursing homes). Food distribution companies buy, store and then supply food items to the food service operators, thereby allowing the latter to have access to a wide range of food items from various manufacturers. Sysco Corporation, US Foods Holding Corp. and Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. are some of the biggest (by market cap) U.S. companies in this segment. Most food service operators buy from local, specialty, and/or broad line food service distributors on a daily or weekly basis. With the rise in e-commerce, consumers are increasingly expecting lower prices, faster service, and higher quality – something that potentially creates the impetus on distribution networks to raise their game.
| KR | MO | SYY | |
| Capitalization | 41.8B | 107B | 36.5B |
| EBITDA | 5.76B | 10.8B | 4.1B |
| Gain YTD | 9.686 | 13.155 | 5.051 |
| P/E Ratio | 44.28 | 15.58 | 20.56 |
| Revenue | 148B | 20.1B | 82.6B |
| Total Cash | 4.58B | N/A | 169M |
| Total Debt | 24.7B | 25.7B | 15B |
KR | MO | SYY | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 54 | 56 | 24 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 55 Fair valued | 8 Undervalued | 50 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 24 | 14 | 76 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 56 | 9 | 14 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 34 | 60 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 10 | 15 | 50 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
MO's Valuation (8) in the Tobacco industry is somewhat better than the same rating for SYY (50) in the Food Distributors industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for KR (55) in the Food Retail industry. This means that MO's stock grew somewhat faster than SYY’s and somewhat faster than KR’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Profit vs Risk Rating (14) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as KR (24) in the Food Retail industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for SYY (76) in the Food Distributors industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to KR’s and somewhat faster than SYY’s over the last 12 months.
MO's SMR Rating (9) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as SYY (14) in the Food Distributors industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for KR (56) in the Food Retail industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to SYY’s and somewhat faster than KR’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Price Growth Rating (34) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as KR (59) in the Food Retail industry, and is in the same range as SYY (60) in the Food Distributors industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to KR’s and similarly to SYY’s over the last 12 months.
KR's P/E Growth Rating (10) in the Food Retail industry is in the same range as MO (15) in the Tobacco industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for SYY (50) in the Food Distributors industry. This means that KR's stock grew similarly to MO’s and somewhat faster than SYY’s over the last 12 months.
| KR | MO | SYY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 57% | N/A | 3 days ago 57% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 61% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 35% | 3 days ago 44% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 54% | 3 days ago 40% | 3 days ago 45% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 62% | 3 days ago 40% | 3 days ago 48% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 53% | 3 days ago 31% | 3 days ago 53% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 57% | 11 days ago 53% | 5 days ago 49% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 46% | 5 days ago 37% | 10 days ago 53% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 57% | 3 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 51% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 44% | 3 days ago 23% | 3 days ago 65% |
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SYY and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SYY has been loosely correlated with USFD. These tickers have moved in lockstep 41% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if SYY jumps, then USFD could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To SYY | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYY | 100% | +3.00% | ||
| USFD - SYY | 41% Loosely correlated | +4.33% | ||
| PFGC - SYY | 41% Loosely correlated | +5.04% | ||
| UNFI - SYY | 30% Poorly correlated | +4.04% | ||
| ANDE - SYY | 26% Poorly correlated | +1.55% | ||
| CHEF - SYY | 25% Poorly correlated | +4.51% | ||
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