Advisory Services Network LLC Makes New Investment in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC)

Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new stake in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 8,707 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $346,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 193,350 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $5,741,000 after purchasing an additional 1,983 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 67.6% during the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 22,354 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $664,000 after acquiring an additional 9,018 shares during the period. Barclays PLC boosted its stake in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 285.2% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 12,420 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $368,000 after purchasing an additional 9,196 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 11.4% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 219,301 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $6,513,000 after purchasing an additional 22,413 shares during the period. Finally, Lord Abbett & CO. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 64.7% in the third quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 449,007 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $13,331,000 after purchasing an additional 176,361 shares in the last quarter. 31.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com cut Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Stock Down 3.0 %

NYSE:NGVC traded down $1.43 on Monday, hitting $46.33. 141,417 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 107,455. The company has a market cap of $1.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.51 and a beta of 1.73. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $42.36 and a 200-day moving average price of $39.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.15. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. has a 52 week low of $15.82 and a 52 week high of $50.91.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The specialty retailer reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage had a return on equity of 21.12% and a net margin of 2.84%. As a group, analysts expect that Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. will post 1.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.04%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.57%.

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

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.