Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) Trading Up 5.1% – Time to Buy?

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC)’s stock price was up 5.1% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $43.97 and last traded at $44.17. Approximately 43,050 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 53% from the average daily volume of 91,249 shares. The stock had previously closed at $42.04.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Stock Up 4.8 %

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $41.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $32.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The firm has a market cap of $1.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.78 and a beta of 1.44.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 21st. The specialty retailer reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage had a return on equity of 20.70% and a net margin of 2.73%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. will post 1.56 earnings per share for the current year.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were given a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.09%. This is a positive change from Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

In related news, insider Charity Isely sold 2,000 shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.73, for a total value of $87,460.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 12,290 shares in the company, valued at $537,441.70. The trade was a 14.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Lark Isely sold 4,000 shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.66, for a total transaction of $178,640.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 8,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $387,738.12. The trade was a 31.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 59.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC increased its holdings in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 64.7% in the 3rd quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 449,007 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $13,331,000 after acquiring an additional 176,361 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 219,301 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $6,513,000 after buying an additional 22,413 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 75.5% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 49,410 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,467,000 after acquiring an additional 21,257 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in the 3rd quarter valued at about $430,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 49.3% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 43,437 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $921,000 after acquiring an additional 14,338 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 31.99% of the company’s stock.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Company Profile

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, retails natural and organic groceries, and dietary supplements in the United States. The company’s stores offer natural and organic grocery products, such as organic produce; private label repackaged bulk products, including dried fruits, nuts, grains, granolas, teas, herbs, and spices, as well as peanut and almond butters; private label products comprising grocery staples, household products, bulk foods, and vitamins and dietary supplements, as well as organic eggs, organic flavored coffee, and organic mustard; dry, frozen, and canned groceries; meat and seafood products; dairy products, dairy substitutes, and eggs; prepared foods; bread and baked products; beverages; and beer, wine, and hard cider products.