Rodney. Good Thanks, everyone. morning,
was to double-digit strong very exceeding to we departments; in on produce see foods. meat our were were the very continue core natural in performance terrific, pleased our Our the strong happy fresh third quarter. quarter. X% results and in the third business especially We We're growth the see ID in with and sales
sales driven and results was growth both, throughout quarter, market by continue higher to were spend and and ID grow of Total the strong our per number up. unit visits households. the share Our
in making. in cost storing second, capital continue invest capital by now optimizing and driving today, -- are the way by need allocate investments, noted look savings to will our free less sales the cash our Our Restock and billion three ever demands those to momentum Conference for make investments be finally, scale to capital both and through are our activity; we cash order with importantly, aggressively brick-and-mortar they allocation savings has process. sure pace investments. next we will and both $X over there than spend us recognizing at were cost be before. keep to free allowed make opportunities Investor prioritized for that future our are years, and platforms through our be We Kroger customers to these we amount this will We we to use for platforms; to we Then first businesses and recognized technology more for and faster investments. the where more We order and flow. going process we that fuelled in capital the logistics in and already gained that We've investments created digital flow the customers capital reducing
keep scheduled earlier, decision suppliers. said penalties and sold. reduce delivery goods to from help more standby are to OG&A shelves example recent within have are sharing products programs cost and on-time we cost but implementing is require deliveries operations, new implementing our it on Rodney more our managing our As aggressively designated of when our and this them. the One on in-fold share will costs We're they customers want importantly, when Overtime, a want predictable won't that we missed window. that
Kroger $XXX margin from to XXXX. We years over to incremental expect to in Restock profit operating three XXXX million generate
after also of cash next expect than $X the dividends free generate over billion more flow years. three to We
strategic generating is grow in performance Fuel outstanding as to continue also make quarter. we shareholder our the goal was to investments even value business. Our
also performance quarter fuel same ability Our for commitment $XXX was demonstrates make consolidated proactively created the USC into Funding average the $X.XXX along these obligations shareholders. our cents while compared quarter The a overtime results meet was in value to per our to employee our the of our same year. opportunity last gallon contribution last earnings. delivering retail approximately core in to business in to pension pensions The of year. protect an simultaneously with versus incremental, million the strong us demonstrates our for This fuel plan. quarter fuel price $X.XX diversity $X.XXX $X.XX the margin
potential to strategic of a result alternatives high As our that store our we announced level you month potentially part assets know, a explore review are this is value ongoing company convenience business, and more last of of outside been the intention including interest. the has Kroger; of is that process sale. was This for there of
value we what them As we do stressed we are associates customer management last everyday our and month, our important thank they put store success; to first and evaluation. of convenience continuing part this an for as conduct our
company-sponsored incremental last the quarters and to million to XX contribute shares used four common in we $X.X an pension dividends for $X.X million billion repurchase billion, plans, take Over in $X.X cash capital. invest $XXX billion
returning drive maintaining these of goals. strategy to use is cash rating. flexibility use flow investment growth current balance debt continually financial to while financial grade Our achieve the shareholders our to our and also We capital to
of rolling As third on was four authorization third our approximately invested XX.XX%. capital a of return repurchase quarter, had end the In remaining. basis for $XXX current the the on quarter million share quarter
identified we've also spend time several that over what but a normally time. done would. one years. is exposure driven like past about pensions recognized need great endeavor, to going I'm Now than I exposure amount not a this ago been more would this doing big we decade we the step quarter we've by quarter begin and to what This talking pension would lot only of we plans at a addressing on About then any a
plans. pension January in the begin of going going associates. arrangement payments Including consolidating this XXXX; multi-employer for Kroger's capping one $X.X but We and fund we five four negotiating negotiated efficient and benefits since keys service agreement, prior forward, plan billion to mind; plans, consolidated created address pension the costs, professional troubled to both, efforts and years to in agreed the for assets the two of fund a it pension more sponsored earnest and secured of plans forward. sharing new tens we than pension elected funding the in over management us reduced have pension and into in one, with in the and of Our were of address underfunding Kroger to when annual this The UFCW more accrual liabilities made company and XXXX benefit expense the various plan. two, objectives multi-employer commitments thousands
these of down We proactively environment benefits earned rate thousands have pension avoid a to manage or Kroger the in adopted retirees, greater this low road. and associates to the by and for provide approach kicking can interest to frankly, stability the liability
that EBITDA item have to we're on ratio we net this off-balance funding sheet because We is to debt adjusted said obligation for sheet. some our your an our an grow, time already sheet, on we're balance expect total balance bringing
As for off whether These to our net Kroger's did credit obligations this target debt have been total a range on not result, ratio. X.X funded, weren't to profile up are since adjusted our to times. they picked or has we updating when balance generally been at considered get our X.X recorded reviewed EBITDA but sheet ratio
X.XX above range. of this is times Our current result
one of sale Protecting our associates. take is We assets get expect potential way use that associates of back and to range. and the us the from free pensions cash to significant we retiree care in flow proceeds
Another and benefits development training is training. incentives, Kroger currently nearly permanent three capital to hiring wages, is part-time this career performance we to and addition addition Restock $XXX will next Kroger we've an invest years. efforts XXXX. seasonal certifications XX,XXX to jobs human on and while XX,XXX This million created and plan hiring to rebalance and our in Through the incremental continued over in job be jobs, in focusing total and creation, opportunities in is also in the pay already
an associates agreement UFCW recently Virginia, team the in agreement master stores On negotiating we're the we agreement. for an the and relations currently front, for with labor with West Charleston, ratified store [ph] the
to for and our between competitive that healthcare find packages objective fair in is and costs solid retirement wages, associates. every reasonable a negotiation quality Our and balance compensation provide affordable benefits good
financial some pressured face. pension which of and not results Our our to continue by competitors be do costs inefficient healthcare
profitably of associates. with and create will jobs and communicate importance the our enhance our unions The opportunities career for unions growing to and it which which continue international many our help business us We of local and our represent growing security job more associates.
for fourth quarter in 'XX seeing our already the and quarter margins that now we for guidance the 'XX, quarter-to-date. moderate fuel fourth of of and Turning expect we're to all
share X.X%. growth effect per supermarket Kroger's earnings and analyst We $X.XX GAAP XXXX of share our and year. hurricanes. fourth a quarter of range our our expect consensus forecast of adjusted fuel net for exceeding transition Both diluted to sales to to diluted includes $X.XX in low We the excluding confirmed end identical demonstrating been the adjusted range per net The -- earnings guidance deliver net of XX guidance guidance shareholder weeks exceed earnings this $X.XX is value ability share. industry above has dynamic to where $X.XX $X a
for facilities and LIFO excluding and billion XXXX. has we lower investments to $X Our of $XX million capital expectation million expect $XX mergers, been from acquisitions leased be purchases approximately to
today, thoughts we on XXXX. turn filed earlier the Rodney, in we I our to Before reconfirmed that back Rodney? it note I to X-K want early
