Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) Trading 5.3% Higher - Should You Buy?

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC - Get Free Report)'s share price shot up 5.3% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $42.79 and last traded at $42.47. 19,527 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 78% from the average session volume of 87,551 shares. The stock had previously closed at $40.33.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com lowered 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 Trading Up 1.8 %

The company has a market capitalization of $941.30 million, a P/E ratio of 27.74 and a beta of 1.44. The business has a fifty day moving average of $40.65 and a 200-day moving average of $31.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.90.

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

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were issued a $0.12 dividend. This is a positive change from Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.17%. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's dividend payout ratio is presently 32.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NGVC. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 15.9% during the fourth quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 53,904 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $2,141,000 after purchasing an additional 7,384 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 75.5% in the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC raised its stake in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 64.7% during the third quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 449,007 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $13,331,000 after acquiring an additional 176,361 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 285.2% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 12,420 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $368,000 after purchasing an additional 9,196 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 11.4% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 219,301 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $6,513,000 after purchasing an additional 22,413 shares in the last quarter. 31.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.