Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc logo

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc(NGVC)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
2-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 21 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+0.85% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$30.96
10/26/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1Y
  • 1M
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  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for NGVC

10/26/2026: NGVC (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc is a specialized retail chain focused on organic groceries and nutritional supplements, known for its strict product standards and health-focused brand. The company benefits from a dedicated, health-conscious customer base that prioritizes quality over discount pricing. Its primary growth story revolves around steady store expansion in selected regional markets and deepening customer loyalty. Key risks include intense competition from large-scale grocers and the impact of inflation on discretionary spending. This stock may suit investors seeking long-term exposure to the wellness trend who are comfortable with the risks of a niche, small-cap retailer that does not currently provide a consistent dividend.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company shows stable but modest growth potential rather than the rapid scaling typical of aggressive growth stocks.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock tends to trade based on long-term fundamentals rather than short-term price momentum or high volatility.
Value investorMixed fitValuation is often tied to niche growth expectations, making it a selective pick rather than a traditional deep-value play.
Dividend investorWeak fitLack of a consistent, recurring dividend policy makes it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile the business model is steady, retail sector exposure and reliance on discretionary spending present moderate risk.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumThe stock can experience swings based on grocery industry sentiment and discretionary spending trends.
Valuation riskMediumMarket pricing can sometimes disconnect from the company's moderate, steady growth profile.
Competition risk (Grocery retail)HighIntense pressure from larger retailers with greater buying power threatens market share.
Business qualityMediumThe niche focus provides a clear identity but limits the scalability of the franchise model.
Dividend incomeLow / noneShareholders cannot rely on the company for consistent passive income generation.
Execution riskMediumSuccess depends on the ability to profitably expand and manage store-level labor and supply chain costs.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 45.16%
Avg. Invested days 31
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/26/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
NGVC receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by soft unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
NGVC has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+36.9%) is partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 1.8%), moderate revenue growth (+7.2%), soft profitability (net margin 3.5%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
NGVC's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (1.8% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is NGVC's strongest growth driver at +36.9% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (+7.2%, moderate) and free-cash-flow growth (-31.8%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 41.1% and approximately 41.5% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 43.37% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 4.30%
American Century Companies Inc 2.83%
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. 2.83%
Royce & Associates, LP 2.60%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 2.32%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
NGVC generates approximately $299 of gross profit, $47 of operating income, and $18 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Soft margins explain the 2-star rating, with weak cash conversion and soft capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 21.18%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
NGVC has a high-quality profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze Risk

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 713.51M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 15.1
1Y Target Price 42.25
Price to earnings Ratio 15.1
1Y Target Price 42.25
Volume (30-day avg) 127.7K shares
Beta 1.22
52 Weeks Range 23.09 - 39.56
Updated Date 10/26/2026
52 Weeks Range 23.09 - 39.56
Updated Date 10/26/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.81%
Basic EPS (TTM) 2.05

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Retail OperationsDirect sales of groceries, vitamins, and supplements through physical store locations.Revenue comes from customers buying groceries and wellness products in-store.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 15.1
Forward PE 13.16
Enterprise Value 1.03B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.53
Enterprise Value 1.03B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.53
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.77
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 10.76
Shares Outstanding 23.05M
Shares Floating 9.55M
Shares Outstanding 23.05M
Shares Floating 9.55M
Percent Insiders 43.37
Percent Institutions 41.06

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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