Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q3 behind us, let’s have a look at Albertsons (NYSE: ACI) and its peers.

Grocery stores are non-discretionary because they sell food, an essential staple for life (maybe not that ice cream?). Selling food, however, is a notoriously tough business as grocers must deal with the costs of procuring and transporting oftentimes perishable products. Plus, the costs of operating stores to sell everything from raw meat to ice cream and fresh fruit are high. Competition is also fierce because grocers and other peers such as wholesale clubs tend to sell very similar brands and products. On the bright side, grocery is one of the least penetrated categories in e-commerce because customers prefer to buy their food in person. Still, the online threat exists and will likely increase over time rather than dwindle.

The 4 grocery store stocks we track reported a slower Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

Best Q3: Albertsons (NYSE: ACI)

With over 20 well-known grocery banners spanning 34 states, Albertsons (NYSE: ACI) operates food and drug retail stores across the US, offering groceries, pharmacy services, and own-brand products under banners like Safeway, Jewel-Osco, and Vons.

Albertsons reported revenues of $18.92 billion, up 2% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

"In the third quarter, we delivered solid results and continued to advance our strategic priorities," said Susan Morris, Chief Executive Officer.

Albertsons scored the biggest analyst estimates beat of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 2.3% since reporting and currently trades at $17.51.

Is now the time to buy Albertsons? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Sprouts (NASDAQ: SFM)

Playing on the secular trend of healthier living, Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ: SFM) is a grocery store chain emphasizing natural and organic products.

Sprouts reported revenues of $2.15 billion, up 7.6% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. The business performed better than its peers, but it was unfortunately a mixed quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 20.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $81.75.

Is now the time to buy Sprouts? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: Grocery Outlet (NASDAQ: GO)

Due to its differentiated procurement and buying approach, Grocery Outlet (NASDAQ: GO) is a discount grocery store chain that offers substantial discounts on name-brand products.

Grocery Outlet reported revenues of $1.22 billion, up 10.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. It was a softer quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

As expected, the stock is down 32% since the results and currently trades at $5.98.

Read our full analysis of Grocery Outlet’s results here.

Kroger (NYSE: KR)

With a sprawling network of over 2,400 locations offering digital pickup services, Kroger (NYSE: KR) operates supermarkets, pharmacies, and fuel centers across 35 states, offering customers groceries, household items, and private-label products.

Kroger reported revenues of $34.73 billion, up 1.2% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 0.8%. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a narrow beat of analysts’ gross margin estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Kroger had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 9% since reporting and currently trades at $74.14.

Read our full, actionable report on Kroger here, it’s free.

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