Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) Shares Gap Up After Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC)’s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Friday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $27.03, but opened at $29.39. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage shares last traded at $28.6350, with a volume of 22,991 shares trading hands.

The specialty retailer reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.03. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage had a net margin of 3.58% and a return on equity of 23.61%. The business had revenue of $335.58 million during the quarter. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.000-2.150 EPS.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.00%.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat expectations: NGVC reported $0.49 EPS vs. $0.46 consensus and $335.6M in revenue, highlighting solid margins and return on equity. Natural Grocers Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend declared: Board approved a $0.15 quarterly cash dividend (about a 2.2% yield), returning capital to shareholders and supporting income-oriented investors. Dividend Announcement
• Positive Sentiment: Loyalty program driving sales: Management highlighted strength among loyalty shoppers as a key driver of Q1 performance, suggesting durable customer engagement. Natural Grocers rides the strength of loyalty shoppers for solid Q1
• Neutral Sentiment: New-store expansion continues: NGVC plans a Lake Geneva, WI store this spring and is targeting 6–8 new openings, which supports growth but requires upfront investment. Natural Grocers Plans Expansion to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• Neutral Sentiment: Guidance on same-store sales: Company sees up to ~4% daily comp sales growth amid a cautious consumer backdrop — positive if achieved but dependent on macro conditions. Store and comp-sales guidance article
• Negative Sentiment: Cautious FY2026 EPS range: Management set FY2026 EPS guidance at $2.00–$2.15, a range that left investors uncertain because the midpoint is slightly below some consensus expectations — weighing on the stock despite the beat. Earnings release with guidance

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently weighed in on NGVC. Northcoast Research set a $54.00 target price on shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $54.00.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. UBS Group AG grew its holdings in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 65.5% in the fourth quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 128,059 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $3,208,000 after purchasing an additional 50,677 shares during the period. Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage during the 4th quarter valued at $63,000. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 72.6% during the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 20,667 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $518,000 after buying an additional 8,695 shares during the last quarter. Green Alpha Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Green Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 64,663 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,620,000 after buying an additional 1,351 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 33.1% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 30,216 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,209,000 after buying an additional 7,521 shares during the period. 31.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Stock Down 2.0%

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $25.84 and a two-hundred day moving average of $33.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The stock has a market cap of $609.83 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.85 and a beta of 1.35.

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc operates a chain of specialty grocery stores focused on natural and organic products. Founded in 1955 by Margaret and Philip Isely in Lakewood, Colorado, the company has built a reputation on strict product standards, including certified organic produce, non-GMO groceries and dietary supplements. Natural Grocers emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods and carries a broad assortment of private-label and national brands that meet its quality guidelines.

The company’s core offerings include fresh fruits and vegetables, bulk foods, vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements, as well as natural body care and household items.