Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) Shares Gap Down - Here's Why

Key Points

• NGVC shares fell sharply: Natural Grocers opened at $27.56 versus a prior close of $32.46, down roughly 12.9%, with trading volume of about 83,156 shares.
• The company’s latest quarterly results were mixed: earnings per share came in at $0.58, ahead of the $0.56 consensus, while revenue of $337.38 million fell short of the $348 million estimate.
• Analyst sentiment remains generally positive, with two Buy ratings and one Hold rating producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $47; however, an insider recently sold 3,000 shares at $29.04.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC - Get Free Report) shares gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $32.46, but opened at $27.56. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage shares last traded at $27.4910, with a volume of 83,156 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NGVC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Alliance Global Partners started coverage on Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. They set a "buy" rating and a $40.00 target price for the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $47.00.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Trading Down 12.9%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a current ratio of 1.05. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $28.41. The company has a market capitalization of $651.69 million, a P/E ratio of 13.59 and a beta of 1.33.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The specialty retailer reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.02. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage had a return on equity of 22.26% and a net margin of 3.60%.The company had revenue of $337.38 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $348.00 million. Sell-side analysts expect that Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. will post 2.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage news, insider Charity Isely sold 3,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.04, for a total value of $87,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 10,697 shares of the company's stock, valued at $310,640.88. This represents a 21.90% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 58.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 64.6% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 669,567 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $26,783,000 after purchasing an additional 262,831 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 646,006 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $16,183,000 after buying an additional 1,689 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 146.1% in the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 539,363 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $21,575,000 after buying an additional 320,186 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd raised its stake in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 76.1% in the 2nd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 233,167 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $9,152,000 after buying an additional 100,732 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oberweis Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 34.8% in the 3rd quarter. Oberweis Asset Management Inc. now owns 218,806 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $8,752,000 after buying an additional 56,502 shares in the last quarter. 31.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

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