Grocery chain Kroger rises after annual forecast raise

Shares of grocery chain Kroger KR.N up 1.75% at $68.24 premarket

Co raises annual identical sales forecast, expects growth of 2.7%-3.4% vs prior forecast of 2.25%-3.25%

Raises lower end of annual adj. EPS forecast to range of $4.70–$4.80, up from previous view of $4.60–$4.80

"Sales growth has been strong, led by pharmacy, eCommerce and Fresh, and we are encouraged by the improvement in grocery volumes," CFO David Kennerley says

Co beats estimates for Q2 identical sales and adj. EPS - data compiled by LSEG

Up to last close, KR stock up 9.2% YTD