Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) Downgraded to Buy Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com lowered shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Monday.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of NGVC stock opened at $38.81 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $39.57 and a 200 day moving average of $30.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.18. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has a 1-year low of $14.31 and a 1-year high of $47.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $888.98 million, a PE ratio of 26.22 and a beta of 1.44.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.24%. This is a boost from Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NGVC. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC purchased a new position in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in the 3rd quarter worth about $361,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 22,413 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC grew its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 176,361 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 193,350 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $5,741,000 after acquiring an additional 1,983 shares during the period. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in the 3rd quarter worth $430,000. 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.