Kroger Stock Rises on Resumed Buybacks After Collapse of Albertsons Merger

Core Insights - Kroger has abandoned its proposed merger with Albertsons and announced a new $7.5 billion stock buyback plan [1][2][3] Group 1: Merger Termination - Kroger terminated the merger agreement after Albertsons also announced the end of the merger following legal challenges [2][3] - Albertsons has filed a lawsuit against Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee and additional damages, claiming Kroger did not adequately address regulatory concerns [3] Group 2: Stock Buyback Plan - Kroger's board approved a new $7.5 billion buyback plan, replacing a previously approved $1 billion plan from September 2022 [4] - The new buyback plan includes an accelerated portion, with $5 billion allocated for immediate stock repurchases [4] Group 3: Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Kroger shares rose approximately 3%, marking a 38% increase since the beginning of the year [5]