Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) Shares Down 4.1% – Here’s What Happened

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC)’s stock price dropped 4.1% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $39.64 and last traded at $39.77. Approximately 23,125 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 64% from the average daily volume of 63,628 shares. The stock had previously closed at $41.45.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $916.47 million, a PE ratio of 27.03 and a beta of 1.44. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $38.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $30.16. 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 Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 dividend yield of 1.20%. 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 (DPR) is currently 32.43%.

Insider Activity

In other Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage news, insider Charity Isely sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.73, for a total transaction of $87,460.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 12,290 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $537,441.70. This represents a 14.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Lark Isely sold 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on 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 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. 59.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NGVC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 75.5% in 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 period. 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 worth $13,331,000 after buying an additional 176,361 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its position 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 acquiring an additional 9,196 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 22,413 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC boosted its holdings in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 67.6% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 22,354 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $664,000 after purchasing an additional 9,018 shares during the period. 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.